KBCT

[David Mazer]

I'm thinking of flying in to KBCT tomorrow morning to visit my mom. I usually go to KPMP since the people are very nice and the fuel is a little cheaper, if I even need some, and they don't charge a ramp fee. However, KBCT is a little closer for my mom and I thought I'd ask the FBOs at KBCT what their deals are. Holy cow! One place charges $30 or 10 gal at $7.28 and the other charges $35 or 15 gal at $7.27. I'm planning on stopping at X04 for $4.50 fuel before I head south. Let's see, free at KPMP with 100LL at $6.87 or $30 - 35 at KBCT. Hmm, I know, KPMP, here I come.

Anybody have a better answer at KBCT or is this just the way it is?

[Dale]

It is just the way it is there. I hate KBCT and wouldn't land there unless I had an emergency. I flew in there a couple of times, just to pick up my cousin for a couple of flights. I shut down the engine long enough to get him in my Mooney and a lineman came out and told me to shut down so I could pay the $30 landing fee. I shut down, went inside and told them I was just picking up someone, I wasn't even in their ramp area and the still charged my $30. Ridiculous. This has got to be one of the worst airports and worst FBO's I have ever run into. There is literally no where to land and stop to pick up someone without paying $30 to $40 for the privilege of landing at KBCT. I do not like anything about this airport or the FBO's. I will NEVER go back there. Just my opinion of the place.

[jlunseth]

Well, is it the airport that charges the fee or the FBO. As an example, at KMSP there is a $60 landing fee for GA. It is the airport's rule/fee, but the FBO gets stuck with charging it to anyone who lands.

[David Mazer]

From the FBO's reputation that may matter but from my perspective, I don't think I care. I know PBI charges a fee and the FBOs pass it on but I don't know about BCT.

[BlueWeasel]

Sounds like there should be a sticky thread of airports to avoid...

[Becca]

Ha, I just posted on BCT on that other thread. We went there for the same reason, its just way closer to my family in Boca than any other option. If your mom is mobile enough, have her meet you at Pompano Exec., its worth it. BCT owes us a free ramp fee for my experience there last time, we don't plan on going back ESPECIALLY at a busy holidy time which is when we'd be flying to Boca (unless its to park our plane in a friends hangar there which would be free), so you're welcome to use my name and try to get your ramp fee waived

Frankly "our kind" is not BCT's primary business any more and it shows. Though I have heard from others that if you are willing to pay the price, they treat even the lowliest Mooney driver like they arrived in G5 (so long as you pay their prices). Still, its a shame. I learned to fly there back in 97, when they had 10 C-152s and an active flight school. There was a big controversy about them putting in a tower because it was going to drive the little guys out and replace them with corporate jets, and it did. It really changed the character of all of Boca too, you can't sit on the east side of Boca without jets passing by at low altitude in a steady stream. I don't get it, if I had that kind of money, Boca wouldn't be my first stop (we also stayed at the high end Boca hotel too and if I had paid $700/night for a room there I would be livid at how horrible the place was - mainly due to the unwieldly crowds, luckily we were staying their on rewards points). But maybe growing up there familiarity leads to contempt?