Has to be ramp.

Jason-

do you call ahead 100% of the time and negotiate the ramp fees? is there a better way to work it- ie to keep the turbine single fees low?

I've been holding off partially because it peeves me to pay more "property tax" on a turbine...(NC).

Oh, ha, hahahahahhaha Um, yeah, that's for spot on the ramp. Hangar at ASE for the PC12 is $480 a night. I've paid it before...... to melt the ice to get out of there. Yes, de-ice is the same price or more. Might as well spend the night in the hangar.

I've never booked hangar space. It was outrageous even in the Bonanza. How many of you guys buy hangar when on the road?

Yes. I've always done this even in the Bonanza. I want to know the FBO is open and they have gas etc.

I don't bother with a hangar on the road. I'm sure I would if I ever get to cold locations, but I've been basking in the sun since 1996 and not sure when/if I'll go back to the cold

From my experience, the U.S. has low costs for private flyers. I just paid $1400 for a two day stay at Guarulhos. I got the fuel for 3.23 $US/g which evened out the costs when compared to other stops.

In the US I have yet to pay a ramp fee or anything other than fuel at an FBO. I usually do buy a bunch of fuel though and I always plan stops around fuel costs if at all possible.

Yes. I've always done this even in the Bonanza. I want to know the FBO is open and they have gas etc.

It's true that many FBOs adjust their rates according to the perceived depths of the owner's pockets. I think that's wrong. It would be like a parking meter charging 5-6 times for a Ferrari vs a Toyota, for the same parking space and service. Then, there is the 'bait & switch' which some unscrupulous FBOs try to pull. That's the reason I will NEVER use Hill Aircraft at KFTY. They are downright crooks. At least in Aspen, they are upfront about how they are going to put it to you.

I have a pretty good network of FBOs I use regularly who 'do it right,' and avoid the gougers. Of course, sometimes I just want to fly into an Aspen. The last time I was there, the hangar cost more per night than my 5 star hotel room. Their charge just to sit outside on the ramp it was ridiculous. Still, it's better than flying around Europe!

I think this argument is valid at privately owned airports. I have a harder time making the connection when it concerns a public airport built with taxpayer's dollars. Now, if the airport offered a "public ramp" with no services and you could choose to park on the "fbo ramp" in order to receive services, then we would be back to the argument about capitalism.

Private monopolies on public facilities makes a twisted argument for capitalism.

Craig, I see your point, but here's my take, and this I stopped to think about after landing in Portland, ME. Portland has a really nice municipal airport where there is no free place to park because all space has been leased to the only FBO by the municipality. The municipality chooses to collect money to run itself by renting the space to the FBO. If the money for the building of the airport and airport operation comes from local taxes, the only people getting screwed are locals. Still wrong, but not my fight. If any of the money is federal, than it's inappropriate for the municipality to rent all the space the way they do and I'm still not going to fight because it's not cost effective.

Here's the net effect: I won't land nor buy gas at Portland's airport. They reap what they plant.

I think the way that works is that the vast majority of the money is federal tax dollars with a small amount of local matching funds required. I think I have heard that a common ratio is 90/10. I also am under the impression that a lot of the federal dollars are from fuel taxes set aside for airport improvement. If this is in error, I am quite sure that someone will be along to correct me very soon.

If I am correct in my thinking, it would be analogous to the federal government providing 90% funding, and a city providing 10% to build a bridge that the city subsequently leases to a private firm that charges whatever toll they like because it's the only way to cross the river into the city.

If that's true, I agree: it's bullsh!t. That said, if I let my blood pressure go up every time a government agency ripped me off I'd have stroked out many moons ago.

Hey Craig, at the risk of hijacking my own thread here, I see you're from NC as well. Is there a special tax for turbines, or is it still the same percentage of hull value?

I'm no tax expert, but my understanding is that the property tax on aircraft is charged on their assessment of value independent of aircraft type. The only exception to this rule that know of is one fellow who got a break on his rate because they classified his J-3 and Fleet as antiques.

Be sure if you are in NC on Jan 1st. that you notify the airport manager that you are transient or just there for maintenance because they will turn in your registration number to the local taxing authority on that date.

The people who assign value have a little leeway, so if they grossly over value your plane, they are usually open to an explanation of why your particular aircraft may not match their book values. I've had good luck running a value through the trade-a-plane evaluator and presenting that to the tax collector.

I'm based at JNX, I'll be there and I should pay tax. No worries there. Thanks for the heads-up though.

Costa Rica just changed their fee from 12 dollars a night for a private airplane from USA to 12 dollars /hr
they believe airplane owners have a lot of cash around to distribute
no sympathy from the government

I disagree. I'm at PGV. I don't think you (or I) should pay tax. Why is it fair to pay tax on an asset you've already purchased and paid sales tax on? That's BS. The main reason i'm not upgrading right now.