I have an MU2 Solitaire that takes up just a little less surface area than an Aerostar.

Why the fu(k do these places I visit think I'll pay three times as much for a hangar? I've bargained my way around this, but honestly, I feel like kicking someone's ass. Is it just me? Maybe I'm just cheap...wasn't this way in the 90's when I had my Cheyenne IIXL...

It's got short field capabilities and is semi bush - just go to a smaller field with transient parking. Or do you need the facilities?

Frankly, that's one of the reasons I'm getting the Turbo Commander, so I can go into fields my Aerostar can't go to comfortably. And hopefully avoid any silliness. With Uber, the need for rental cars etc (which was always the killer app at FBO's) has kind of gone away. Sure, maybe in a smaller town it's not an option and in those cases it might be better to bite the bullet at an FBO.

Is the MU2 really a smaller footprint than the Aerostar? I thought the MU2 was slightly larger. Landing fees are the same.....last year stayed in upstate NY to visit family. The FBO thought I was a turbine, overnight fees for the ramp were $100/night. Lucky it was a more reasonable $20/night for the piston Aerostar. Go figure, like the powerplant should make some difference as to the price of parking.

I hate this crap. The eclipse is no bigger than my baron but key west popped me for $200 a night, the baron was $30, got them down to $100 but come on.

Jet tax, no other explaination.

Time to put a prop on that eclipse when you park it! Jet tax, I guess they see $$$ rolling out of your pockets because you burn jet fuel. Sad.

Also why do twins pay more than singles?

Yes, read some of Dave's posts about the turbine tax. There are plenty of places that charge $$$$$$$$ for turbines and exploit whatever monopoly they have.

I think the decline in GA volume has forced a lot of people into fairly rapacious business practices towards turbines. Sutton's Law at work.

It works just like taxes - have more money = pay more tax. The clown plane owners pay little to nothing just like most citizens for taxes.

Of course there are those out there that would cite the "Don't feel sorry for someone who owns an airplane" line, and tell you to suck it up!

But I'm not one of those folks. It absolutely chaps my A$$ when I have to pay, what we around here call, "The Pinehurst Tax". It's pretty well known that the local companies and service providers will try to charge us more for repairs and services than folks in the neighboring Aberdeen or Southern Pines.

I've gotten in the habit of making my phone calls, looking for the best deal, and simply tell folks that I live in Moore County.

I don't mind paying a little extra for above average service or goods. I DO mind paying more because of my zip code.

Almost saw a fist fight at destin. 2 dudes land. One in a malibu and the other in a meridian. Mallibu due pays $50, meridian guy is charged $200. You can imagine the exchange. I will spare you the expletives but imagine away. Unfair.

Mike

In fairness to the FBO's, I think some sort of turbine "tax" is appropriate. They're more expensive, they are often easier to break and more expensive to fix. And it's difficult to price out granular charges model by model. So piston singles get averaged. And turboprops (likely single and double) get averaged. The system sacrifices accuracy for efficiency ... and the PA46/P46T comparison is a great example.

Using size as the matrix, should an Eclipse have less of a ramp fee than a C421 since the C421 is larger?

There's no easy way to please everyone in this case. Someone will always feel that they're getting the shaft. In the case of PA46 vs PA46T, my guess is that if you take your argument to the manager of the facility, they'd work with you.

Now, on the other hand, if one goes into a facility, buys no fuel, and then squawks about the ramp fee, I think they have no leg to stand on. Especially so if one does as way too many do -- use their meeting room, crew car, restrooms, eat their cookies, etc. then complain about the ramp fee, all while taking no fuel.

Craig,
If you haven't already, sign up for all the contract fuel cards, UVAir, Colt, CAA, etc. In addition to better fuel prices some will waive the ramp fees for card use. CAA especially. However, in my experience, they won't get you any discounts for hangar.

I think Charles has a valid point with the hangar prices.

However, at the end of the day, for what these machines can do, it's worth it.

I think we call this capitalism.

Nikes cost $3.00 to manufacture.

Cost has nothing to do with market price.

That sounds a LOT to me like "they have the money so charge them more".

Personally, nothing pisses me off more than anyone who thinks that "he can afford it so charge him more". That INCLUDES taxation, and FBO's who charge me extra because I own a Bonanza & the rest of the planes on the grass field are all tail draggers.