Courtesy Car Etiquette

[Bill Dunn]

Coffee is already there or I would go nuts! Bathroom is good, I feel no bathroom is clean enough.

[Alan Fox]

Is that cool cat still in the Hanger....I bought a Sundowner there last year , and rented space in your hanger to annual it....That cat scared the crap out of me....Snuck up on me for some attention....

[JohnB]

I always top off mine and the courtesy cars tanks, and try to return the car in better condition from when i borrowed it. I feel that the nicer i am, the more likely that a courtesy car will be available for the next pilot landing here (which might be me), and the more airports we can have available with people willing to lend us their cars.

 

And courtesy cars in remote areas are the best, as we want to get around and see the town, but the smaller the city, the harder it is to get a rent a car place to come to your airport for pilots. Great for business.. and we pilots like to spread the word about fun places with courtesy cars for our getaway trips or $100 hanburger fix!

[Bill Dunn]

The cat is still here. Just pulled a bell OH-58 in the other day and she was inside the cockpit before we finished pushing it inside!

[Jim Peace]

I don't care if you drive it a block or use for the whole day , you add more fuel than it started with.....if not don't use it....

Actually it depends on how much fuel you buy.  I know we are talking Mooneys here but if I were to buy 5000 gallons to top off a GV I would not top off the crew car, and I would sleep well with that decision.

 

Jim

[carusoam]

Jim,

You wouldn't be using the crew car if you were topping off a GV...

Best regards,

-a-

[Bob_Belville]

@ KMRN the FBO is owned by the 2 counties & 2 cities who own the field. With 5500' we're the closest access to Boone, Blowing Rock etc for heavier corporate planes and often have a few jets and turboprops parked on the ramp. We have a really nice lounge and at least 2 courtesy cars including a big Suburban. The manager has been known to let someone keep it overnight even. He's made that offer for folks coming to our Fly In 11/15 who want to stay at the Switzerland Inn which is about an hour away up on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

 

http://themooneyflyer.com/events.html

[Jim Peace]

Jim,

You wouldn't be using the crew car if you were topping off a GV...

Best regards,

-a-

Did it all the time.....maybe you do it differently when you bring in a gulfstream for a top off.....

[carusoam]

Thought you were the owner, not the driver...

They don't let you expense a rental car with that?

My bad,

-a-

[Jim Peace]

They don't let you expense a rental car with that?

My bad,

It would depend on how long you are on the ground.  If you are only there for a couple of hours and buying a lot of fuel are you really going to want to pay for a rental to run out to the "bada bing?"

[Seth]

Example:

 

I found out about a memorial service for a good family friend in Margate, NJ on Monday night.  A few of my family members flew up with me for it. 

 

I was at the Atlantic City FBO on Monday night.  I called ahead to see if they had a crew car I could use vs getting a taxi or rental for the few hours I'd be in town.   I let them know it was for a trip 6 miles from the airport for a meorioal service, not heading to Atlatic City to gamble.   They could not have been happier to let us use one and said for us to call 15 minutes out on their frequency so that they could call us a taxi should the three crew cars all be used - but they expected one to be avaialble. 

 

I let them know it would be closer to 3-4 hours, as there was the service and then probably some food afterward, and they said it was a slow night and not to worry.  I purchased 10 gallons avgas (7 minimum to waive their $45 ramp fee), paid my $10 landing fee, $10 parking charge ($10 for every 12 hours on the ramp), and $5 security fee which ended up being $25 total plus the fuel,  Because we had the car more than two hours, we also put a few gallons in it, but for the cost of the avgas, I was thinking I wouldn't, but they let me use the car vs getting a rental or taxi so I did it anyway. 

 

I think having a crew car/courtesy car makes a huge difference and is a large added bonus - I try to take care of the establishment that provides them.

 

Every time I've been to ACY now (three total) I've been impressed with them, even though they are the only player on the field.  Good quick service and they get a lot of traffic.

 

-Seth

[carusoam]

KACY were very nice for the MAPA training last year as well. My plane arrived a week earlier and stayed a few days after that...

Best regards,

-a-

[Bravoman]

One of my favorite courtesy cars was at Cross City Fla in the late 80s. It was a late 50s pickup with three on the tree. The proprietor of the bar/restaurant on the field kept a "domesticated" wild pig which had the run of the place. Those were the days....

[fantom]

One of my favorite courtesy cars was at Cross City Fla in the late 80s. It was a late 50s pickup with three on the tree. The proprietor of the bar/restaurant on the field kept a "domesticated" wild pig which had the run of the place. Those were the days....

I've driven that pick up, and met that , who I, at first, thought was a loud Cezzzna student pilot.

[rubixcube2k3]

A few times a year I fly into Marco Island on Florida's gulf coast (just below Naples). They have a courtesy car but it's hit and miss whether it's available upon arrival. The last time I flew in the car was out but the airport manager gave me the county pickup truck to use, rotating yellow light and all.

 

I've used the "Field truck" at more than one airport. It's actually pretty fun to get looks in those. On the other extreme, I've also been to places where they put you in a current model year Benz, BMW, or Land Rover.

Is anyone familiar with Landmark Aviation in New Orleans at KNEW?  Remember when they only kept Rovers for "courtesy" cars? May actually be part of the reason I bought one recently, but it helps the automobile maker and not the FBO when that happens. 

When using any courtesy car, my policy is to top it off, and leave it nicer than I found it (as much as practical). I'm sure in many places where the AVGas prices are extremely reasonable they are losing money between the gas and maintenance of the vehicle, I at least want to help them continue to help me. 

[rorythedog]

One of my favorite courtesy cars was at Cross City Fla in the late 80s. It was a late 50s pickup with three on the tree. The proprietor of the bar/restaurant on the field kept a "domesticated" wild pig which had the run of the place. Those were the days....

I was weathered in at cross city for a few hours in '95.....the pig was still there. not sure about the restaurant as the fbo manager and i drove into town for lunch. there are a million stories in the naked city  general aviation......this is one of them!

[fantom]

They used to have a wonderful airport pooch at Cross City, too. His name escapes me.

[fantom]

Same period. The cute little mutt wasn't there all the time. I think he was owned by the person working the desk.

 

I also suspect he ate the pig.

[jlunseth]

I fill the tank in the car and the plane.  I want them to remember me when I come back. 

 

We have a standing joke though.  It is not a courtesy car unless the Check Engine light comes on.  Sometimes we get retired squad cars and they have the bumpers and spotlight.  One even had the number-to-call but the insignia was gone.  People always slow down when you approach from behind on the highway.