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Senate Measure Would Link FBO Pricing To Airport Grants https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-06-28/senate-measure-would-link-fbo-pricing-airport-grants?utm_hsid=28755669&_hsmi=264357913&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--Kt4CsT0mHyKeHIHKHnElqcl_49YknDcgywuhA0X_bNTr0iW7zBJk0mtG1n9OGhzI7uj2bQFB88jaYxo51HrE2lrrgxA In a move that continues an ongoing dispute between pilots and FBOs and airports, the Senate has included a provision in its version of the comprehensive FAA reauthorization bill that would tie pricing and disclosures for fuel and other services to Airport Improvement Program fund grant assurances. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has long pushed for full disclosure of FBO pricing and has contended actions taken by FBOs on that front have not gone far enough. Further, AOPA has urged Congress to mandate airports to provide ramp space for aircraft that do not need services without having to pay FBO fees. Earlier this month, Sen. Ted Budd (R-North Carolina.) introduced a bill—the General Aviation Airport Access Act (S.1847)—that would essentially accomplish that. The bill would permit the airport to charge a fee for the use of a transient apron but require FBOs and airports to provide free access between the apron and the outside perimeter. AOPA indicated that some 600 organizations backed the measure. “Addressing this issue is long overdue, it’s more than fair, and it’s the right thing to do,” said AOPA president Mark Baker. FBOs and airports, however, have argued that a blanket mandate would not work at all airports and that it does not take into account insurance and other expenses FBOs must pay to accommodate transient aircraft should operators need to use their space. The Senate provision does not go as far as to require mandatory transient ramp space—however, talks of such an amendment have been floated. It does, however, call for FBOs that operate facilities at three or more public-use airports where fuel, parking, and other services are offered to general aviation aircraft to publicly disclose all prices and fees in an “open and conspicuous manner,” including at the point of purchase, in print, and on the internet. This covers all retail, discounted, or other prices and whether they are accepted as payment in full. Along with disclosure, the provision says, “the airport owner or operator will not impose unreasonable fees for transient aircraft parking that exceed the airport’s cost to operate and maintain the area where such transient aircraft may park.” The National Air Transportation Association has expressed opposition to the language and said it was working with a bipartisan group of Senators to offer an amendment that would strike the language from the FAA bill. Separately, the measure addresses fuel availability, calling for the airport owner to make all types of fuel available to general aviation aircraft that was available during 2022 until the earlier of either Dec. 31, 2030, or when a drop-in replacement for 100-octane low-lead aviation gas is widely available. These requirements would be tied into airport grant assurances. Spanning more than 450 pages, the Senate’s FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023 would authorize the agency’s programs for five years and cover a host of measures designed to address a range of safety, modernization, workforce, and other issues. The Senate Commerce Committee had scheduled consideration for this month but that has been pushed off until after the Fourth of July break after a dispute arose over whether to include a measure to count some simulator time toward the requisite 1,500 flight hours for pilots on Part 121 scheduled carriers. While the bill touches upon many of the similar themes as the House bills, the two FAA reauthorization bills have numerous differences. The FBO provision is not included in the House bill.

The consolidation of FBOs and the proliferation of single FBO airports is worrisome to me. These big FBO chains provide excellent support for jet operators, but we have to share in their "jet prices". https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2022-03-23/signature-aviation-acquire-tac-air-fbos?utm_hsid=28755669&utm_campaign=AIN Alerts&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=207896218&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--PEgJl2EMGlT1lWcboTvLuUJCpzI08Y95UTNDrVxjfP5yljJy_3rUX8oC6o0YZyj03sJTLLDI4LXKEqoW5A6F1PK__ZQ&utm_content=2&utm_source=hs_email ************************* Signature Aviation, the parent company of Signature Flight Support, has entered into an agreement to purchase the FBO holdings of TAC Air, which consist of 16 locations throughout the U.S. The Signature Flight Support FBO chain has more than 200 locations globally. Among the locations are six where TAC Air is the sole service provider: Buffalo-Niagara (New York) International Airport; McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, Tennessee; Texarkana Regional and Fort Smith Regional airports in Arkansas; Shreveport (Louisiana) Regional Airport; and Rick Husband Amarillo (Texas) International Airport. At Denver Centennial Airport, Signature is already present on the field, as well as at Dallas Love Field, where Signature has three facilities among the several service providers. At three other locations—Bradley International Airport in Connecticut, North Carolina’s Raleigh-Durham International Airport, and Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Nebraska—the move will make Signature the only FBO operator, which may result in the company having to divest one facility at each of those locations. The agreement also includes TAC Air’s hangar complex at Arizona’s Scottsdale Airport, adding some 65,000 sq ft of aircraft shelter to the existing Signature facility there. This marks Signature’s first major acquisition since it was purchased last year by a consortium of three private equity firms. Subject to regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to close in the second half of this year.

My daughter and husband are moving to South Bend for a year, for a work assignment. The wife has directed that we WILL go up there about once a month. I'm looking for recommendations for a good airport, FBO, place to park, etc... Thanks in advance

Hey Everyone, I may be relocating to the space coast area. (is Melbourne part of space coast?) Looking for some information on what Hangar rent is in the area. I will be living in Melbourne and be working at the Melbourne airport. But I'm sure the airport Hangar are probably out of my price range. Any information about hanger rent for airports in the area would be appreciated.

Florida Mooniacs, I have a story to tell you about a great FBO. I had a lunch meeting scheduled in Cape Coral, so I called the FBO (Base Operations) at KFMY yesterday and let them know I would be coming in and needed a rental car. I followed that crazy cold front down the west coast and arrived at Ft. Myers as the clouds were dispersing. When I pulled up to the ramp, the line guys flagged me over to a tie down spot and helped me push back and tie down (I had pre-arranged shutting down at my parking spot because I will no longer allow a tug to be used on my Mooney). While I was unloading, one of the guys brought my rental to the plane and offered to help with my bags. These guys were waiting for me and did exactly what I had requested the prior day. I went into the FBO building and changed for my meeting, signed the rental documents and was off to my appointment. When I returned, I got to spend some time admiring the building. There is a full scale replica of a P51 hanging in the lobby, a T6 out front and numerous memorabilia relating to WWII (Page field was used by the United States Army Air Forces Third Air Force for antisubmarine patrols and conventional bomber training in the B-24). The restrooms are clean as a whistle, there is a pilot gift store, a snack room, lounge and the pilot's recreation room even has a pool table. Everyone was polite, accommodating and made me feel appreciated. They also have free cookies and make hot dogs every Friday. Oh, and 100LL is only $3.65 (self serve) and they waive any tie down fees even if you do self serve, try finding that at any of those fancy east coast airports. Page is the most convenient airport to Sanibel, Captiva, Bokeelia, Cayo Costa and Pine Island sound. If you are looking for a weekend getaway or a month long vacation, there is no more beautiful area in Florida. So don't delay, fly on down to KFMY and say hello to the nice folks at Base Operations.