AOPA Action: AOPA’s fight for fair pricing continues

Highlighting egregious FBO prices across the nation

July 1, 2017

In its ongoing effort to call attention to egregious fees and prices at a small number of FBOs, AOPA voiced support recently for competitive pricing at two Western airports. AOPA sent letters to the Jackson Hole airport board in support of Wyoming Jet Center’s application to establish a second FBO at Jackson Hole Airport and to Orange County, California’s board of supervisors praising actions to “guard against crippling and excessive pricing by a fixed base operator” at John Wayne Airport.

Camshaft AD needs clarification, AOPA says

AOPA and several stakeholder organizations have submitted a response to an airworthiness concern sheet that deals with camshaft gear-tooth failures in Continental Motors IO-520/550 and some IO-470 engines. The comments detail users’ concerns about the potential effect of provisions contained in a mandatory service bulletin, if they were to be incorporated into an airworthiness directive. AOPA coordinated a discussion with the FAA, American Bonanza Society, Cirrus Owners & Pilots Association, Savvy Aviation, and the Twin Cessna Flyer group “to better understand the issue and help quantify the risk the ACS is trying to mitigate.”

Web: www.aopa.org/pilot/camshaft

5,500+ : The number of course completions for eligibility in BasicMed (as of May 25, 2017).

AOPA has received more than 500 complaints concerning locations where FBOs may be imposing unreasonable prices on pilots. Reports to AOPA of high fees at a relatively small number of airports are not new, but the number of reports and the cost of the reported fees has spiked significantly over the past year.

Jackson Hole Airport is in Grand Teton National Park and near Yellowstone National Park, and AOPA has received complaints about the FBO and high fuel prices and fees there.

One Embraer Phenom 100 pilot wrote to AOPA about a $260 handling fee at Jackson Hole “for a quick turn.” Another complaint noted the airport does not have self-service fuel and has “the highest prices within 50 miles.” According to recently published prices, jet fuel at Jackson Hole’s only FBO is $6.66; avgas is $6.69.

AOPA’s letter reminded the board of federal requirements to ensure reasonable pricing and avoid explicitly or implicitly giving a single FBO “exclusive right” to operations at the airport. The airport in the past has supported two FBOs. Jackson Hole Aviation is currently the only FBO on the field. AOPA’s letter said a second FBO would “better ensure more reasonable and competitive pricing and fees for all classes of users.”

Earlier this year, the Orange County board of supervisors voted to remove Signature Flight Support from John Wayne Airport and replace it with ACI Jet because of Signature’s high fuel prices. Signature filed a complaint with the FAA and continues to push back against what it calls its “unfair” treatment in Orange County.

“It is imperative that the governing boards of airports provide rigorous oversight to ensure FBO prices are reasonable, fair, and nondiscriminatory,” said AOPA President Mark Baker.

AOPA is asking members to contact the association if they believe they have seen unreasonable prices at airport FBOs.

Web: www.aopa.org/pilot/excessivefees

BAKER ON THE NEWS
“Pilots are not looking for a free ride. We’re willing to pay our own way, but any fees need to be reasonable and in sync with the services delivered. This is an area where we are not going to give up.” —AOPA President Mark BakerAOPA helps ensure BasicMed info is transmitted correctly

FAR Part 68 or BasicMed—the FAA-approved third class medical reform passed by Congress in July 2016—is in effect as of May 1, 2017. As pilots visit their doctors to complete the Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist followed by completing the AOPA Medical Self-Assessment online course, AOPA offers a few tips to make sure everything is in order when submitting information to the FAA through the online course. BasicMed rules require the user to provide some basic information about the pilot and the physician who conducted the exam such as name, address, and telephone number; the date of the exam; and a few certifications as to the pilot’s fitness to fly.

Note that the date of visit to a state-licensed physician to fill out the BasicMed checklist cannot have occurred before April 24. The FAA will not accept any exams before that date because the required Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist that the physician needs to sign was not released until that day.

Pilots cannot use the last date of their first, second, or third class medical, even if it is still valid. Pilots who want to fly under BasicMed must complete the Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist and online aeromedical course regardless of whether their medical certificate is expired. Also, pilots can’t use the date of just any doctor visit. The physician must follow and fill out the Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist, available in AOPA’s Fit to Fly resources online.

Pilots who are eligible for BasicMed must have held a valid medical certificate, special issuance or regular, on or after July 15, 2006. The most recent medical certificate or application for a medical certificate could not have been revoked, suspended, or withdrawn. In addition, pilots must have a valid U.S. driver’s license and comply with all its restrictions. Pilots who developed certain cardiac, neurological, or mental health conditions after their last valid medical will need to get a special issuance medical one more time.

Web: www.aopa.org/fittofly

ACTION IN THE STATES

AOPA continues support for Santa Monica airport

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied the National Business Aviation Association’s motion to halt an agreement between the FAA and the city of Santa Monica, California, to close the city’s airport by 2028 while the settlement’s legality is reviewed. The court referred the question to the judges who will decide whether the settlement agreement was reached in accordance with law. AOPA had previously sought recognition by federal courts that would allow airport users to hold the airport to its responsibilities and obligations under federal law.

Web: www.aopa.org/pilot/santamonica

Don’t handicap NY authority, AOPA says

AOPA is working with state aviation organizations to rally opposition to legislation pending in New York state that would require a public referendum before the East Hampton Airport could accept state or federal funds for airport improvement projects. AOPA, which has approximately 11,000 members in the Empire State, emphasized that airport grants from the FAA are usually based on safety needs, and require prompt action from airport sponsors to meet state and federal safety standards. “This proposal is a wolf in sheep’s clothing that serves only to handicap local authority,” AOPA said.

Web: www.aopa.org/pilot/easthampton

Maine hosts first aviation advocacy day

AOPA and the Maine Aviation Business Association joined together at the Maine State House in Augusta to tell general aviation’s story at the state’s first Capitol Advocacy Day for aviation. “Airports and local aviation industries have needs. One way to fill those needs is by promoting aviation locally and reminding our elected officials of what we bring to the table—essential transportation, jobs, and economic activity,” said Sean Collins, AOPA Eastern regional manager, who represented the association at the event.

Web: www.aopa.org/pilot/maineday