A question, do all counties in nc have a personal property tax? I have a bird registered there but never heard of this or got any mail on the subject?

Btw craig, i flew the Eclipse from FL to AZ and all my brain could think about was how to stuff an extra 100 gallons into it. I think you 100% made the right move on the MU2 as the range on these little jets is laughable at times, especially bucking a 100kt headwind. Even the baron was a 1 stop trip, this took 2.

Mike

This is what caused me to cancel my Costa Rica trip. I called the FBO and they told me this and acted like it was odd I would want to leave my plane on the ramp more than an hour. FBO said, "drop your pax and go". I am the pax!!! Oh well...... Mexico here I come.

I heard mexico is bad too on fees, have you figured out a spot thats not?

The DR supposedly has zero fees, might plan something there.

This is what caused me to cancel my Costa Rica trip. I called the FBO and they told me this and acted like it was odd I would want to leave my plane on the ramp more than an hour. FBO said, "drop your pax and go". I am the pax!!! Oh well...... Mexico here I come.

I just did it for the first time to keep it warm and permit us to troubleshoot in comfort. $65 per night is more than I care to pay, but they were nice enough to cap it at $250 for a little more than a week, including Thanksgiving. I'm mentally adding it to the cost of maintenance.

There's a guy in the UK who keeps a little list of the English fields rating them by how much they cost to land and park, if they demand mandatory handling, if they're GA friendly or have business jet hubris (a very common thing in Europe) etc. Great tool that's actually prompted some of the worst offenders to lower their price.

I've often wished there would be a similar thing in Foreflight or as a separate app. Maybe this will come in the future. Only clue today is to read a comment left on FF about an airfield.

The things I'd like to know are:

GA friendly?
Transient parking?
Landing fee's
Ramp fee's
Mandatory handling
Any state taxes (Teterboro)
Do they suffer from business jet hubris?
Gauging on fuel?

But there is a clue in FF. If the fuel price is low, then you most likely have transient parking and no landing fees etc. If the price is high, expect to get gauged on everything.

Fuel in Chicago is more than double of most of my stops. I don't know why they just don't simply say "we do not sell 100LL and do not want you here." It would be more polite than the price they post for fuel.

Always hangar on the road...safety, security, wear and tear, etc. Even hangared at Aspen. Cost of doing business IMO. Mostly fly for business anyway.

I don;'t recall that to be the case. My last trip wasn't too bad though. I think my total bill was $2K and that was with about 250 gallon fill up too and 5 days parking.

Yeah. DR is good. $.20 a day to park. Gas is super cheap too. Be sure to email the FBO before you go though and double check. Also print out your fees so when they start hassling you after landing you can show it to them.

Gary Indiana is my stop when I need to go to Chicago. They bend over backwards to help, there fuel prices are great, and there is a train stop about a mile away they will drop you off at and pick you up at to be able to get you to down town Chicago.

As far as I know, all counties have personal property tax. Cities do also, and if the airport is in the city limits, you get to pay both! You should see the PPT forms. They have a place for furniture, silverware, dogs, chickens, etc.

The county collects the tax for the state (although the rate differs by county). Also, cities (like Greenville) collect an additional tax that is roughly equal to the county rate.

so to help us, the city offsets most of the tax with hangar and fuel credits.

If you've not seen a bill yet, I highly recommend you register it, because they will find it, and when they do the fine/penalties/interest is a kick in the nuts (ask me how I know...)

one thing you can do is choose an airport outside of city limits.
Probably not a retirement state...

(edit grammer)

I always call or have someone call ahead whenever possible. I will hangar if $100 per night or less. More than that, I may do one night after skiing or if the weather looks like a storm may pass through. Some places have ramp fees more than what a nice hotel as has been mentioned. Usually, one can go 20 or 30 miles farther and rent a cars cheaper than staying at the Big airport. If not on business where time is critical, that's what I'll do if they are real expensive. Did that in Fayetteville, NC recently. Called them and the ramp was about $150 a night. I landed and left the plane in Lumberton. Got a rental car and more than paid for it in savings. They also had expensive fuel. The worst locations are where there is a single FBO with certain names (g).
Get Colt Card, CAA and whatever else. Call ahead. If you're not on a tight business schedule, say just outside the big city if the closer airport won't negotiate. Some folks really want your business and will bend over to work with you at reasonable prices. The other places I just go to when I must. The Citation is worse than the KA, but same principles apply. Many don't seem to understand owner flown, older personal AC v. company stuff where it's just a business expense.

I also like JA at KARR if going to chicago. They treat you great!