Crappy FBO's

[flyinlow67]

JFK is horrible. No service at all! Went in for a Lifeguard trip, and there was no crew lounge, no weather, no tugs, nothing. Just some crappy airline terminal seats and a spanish fishing show on the very old TV. The fuel was by some contract fuel company that had to come from somewhere else on the field and looked baffled by a single point recepticle!

 

[leardawg]

JFK is horrible. No service at all! Went in for a Lifeguard trip, and there was no crew lounge, no weather, no tugs, nothing. Just some crappy airline terminal seats and a spanish fishing show on the very old TV. The fuel was by some contract fuel company that had to come from somewhere else on the field and looked baffled by a single point recepticle!

That ain't no FBO. It's a penalty box for making the decision to go in there.

 

[CheeseDick]

I believe it's county or city run, but the Naples airport APF, the FBO there totally sucks wang.

 

[Raskal]

Sheltair LGA-unbelievable
Atlantic LAS whenever it's busy at all (even lost our airplane once)
Signature BOS-One day that jacka$$ at the friggin really necessary metal detector is gonna get hit by a pax
Signature DET
Signature anywhere

 

[400A]

I believe it's county or city run, but the Naples airport APF, the FBO there totally sucks wang.

We have just the opposite experience there. We have been going there 5-6 times a month for 6 1/2 years and we get AWESOME service.

Maybe it is because they know us, but I rarely see unhappy pilots at the counter. To be as busy as they are, I think they do a good job.

We land, kick out the boss, grab the crew car (they have 2 now) and by the time we are back from Rib City she is fueled and the GPU is on and running.

We had one bad experience that I brought to the line service manager's attention, and the next time we landed that employee (one of their best) was standing at the door when I opened it and fessed up and apologized to me, my partner in crime and the owner. I thought that took guts!

 

[LegacyDriver]

I second the Naples bashing. BLECH.

Oh and don't get me started on that (#&$(#*&$ metal detector in KBOS. Grrrrrr.

 

[xdrvr]

While we are Signature bashing, lets throw Signature DET in the mix. The place is loud, old, dirty, smells like a rancid popcorn oil and you stand a pretty good chance of getting shot at if you go off property. And thats during the daylight hours!!!

Boy aint that the truth, always gotta watch your back in Motown

 

[coloneldan]

Yeah. Make sure your TCAS is working and keep your eyes open. They need a tower in a big bad way. You have military jet traffic across the bay, banners being pulled along the beach right off the end of the runway, student pilots, doctors in their Bonanzas and corporate traffic trying to get in and out. It is an accident waiting to happen. I cringe every time I see DTS on the schedule.

I haven't been in there in years, but....

You used to have to contact Eglin to get your clearance. They would say contact approach when you're number 1. You call Approach and they would say Released for departure. You wouldn't believe how many times I have had people pull out on the runway in front of me. They think it's a clearance to take off. I even had one guy try to chew me out because I almost hit him. He told me he had a clearance to takeoff and I must have not been talking to approach.

The last time I was in there, Approach was saying something like, when traffic allows, you're released for departure.

 

[Batplane]

JFK- Did the best they could with what little they have.

Signature- I don't even bother with them unless they are the only option,

But the worst FBO we deal with on a regular basis is Dolphin Aviation in SRQ. They never cease to amaze me with how inept they are. Never have the plane pulled up in time. Always lose the paperwork on us. It takes three requests before they do anything (sort of like the Will Ferrell Character from Austin Powers). Not sure why we keep subjecting ourselves to these guys.

 

[Lear Wanna Be]

While we are Signature bashing, lets throw Signature DET in the mix. The place is loud, old, dirty, smells like a rancid popcorn oil and you stand a pretty good chance of getting shot at if you go off property. And thats during the daylight hours!!!

I agree, any FBO that has a Signature sign above the door. However, Signature DET has moved to the vacant terminal as of Super Bowl weekend. They are remodeling their old building in a project that is suppose to last a year. They do seem to be making a better effort these days. Perhaps the Super Bowl got something fired up over there.

IMHO

Large Airport- DFW city GA Facility
Medium Airport- SHV Tac Air...the only Tac Air that I have ever had a bad experience at and I have had several there.
Small Airport- JXN Skyway Aviation...bad attitude

 

[tracearabians]

ALL SIGNATURES !!

Just wondering if anyone can shed some insight on who they think has the worst FBO! Some categories to consider
1.) Courtesy of employees
2.) Overall condition of the place (cleanliness)
3.) Services available (internet/courtesy car)
Midge

 

[kingairyahoo]

man...how in the world have y'all overlooked bullhead city!!!

 

[Mercury]

I agree, any FBO that has a Signature sign above the door. However, Signature DET has moved to the vacant terminal as of Super Bowl weekend. They are remodeling their old building in a project that is suppose to last a year. They do seem to be making a better effort these days. Perhaps the Super Bowl got something fired up over there.

"I did not know that....." (Johnny Carson voice) Thanks for the heads up, We have been encouraging our pax to use DTW as much as possible (cheaper fees) and therefore I have not been to DET since they moved. It sounds like a step in the right direction, but I think I'll still have to pass.
Have a great weekend!!!!:beer:

 

[leardawg]

"I did not know that....." (Johnny Carson voice) Thanks for the heads up, We have been encouraging our pax to use DTW as much as possible (cheaper fees) and therefore I have not been to DET since they moved. It sounds like a step in the right direction, but I think I'll still have to pass.
Have a great weekend!!!!:beer:

The "Homies" (and I use that term with the greatest affection!) have been trying hard to improve the service at Signature DET. They work against an antiquated facility, the afore-mentioned smell of popcorn oil, and the fact that they operate in the middle of "Baghdad West". They really have improved their service in the past year or two, and a shiny new facility can only improve the situation. I, for one, will continue to give them a chance until and if they prove me foolish, armored McDonalds and severed head in a dumpster aside. Sometimes, one just has to have a sense of daring and adventure!

 

[EngineThunder]

My vote is Signature MIA. They operate in two speeds: slow and stop! We were in MKE last week for an overnight in which we needed hangar space because of the thunderstorms. Total bill $750 for hangar and handling!! I think someone should make a law that every airport should have at least two FBO's that is the only reason Signature is still around. No competition at most of their airports.

 

[SoundBarViolatr]

For some reason FL just has a lot of people that do not belong in an FBO -- Worse customer service I have seen worldwide. Hell, I even got better care in Kuwait with a local fueler that had a picture of Osama Bin Laden in his fuel truck while he was pumping gas into my C5.

 

[mazawakhan]

Yeah KBOS licks donkey balls! Went in there several years ago early in the morning. We were the only people in the place and I went out to grab a smoke! I walk right by the smacktard sitting behind the security desk and we exchange greetings. I finish and come back inside and he asks to see my license. I show him my company ID and he says its not good enough. He needs to see my pilots license. So my partner has to go back to the plane to get my wallet out of my bag so I can get back inside!

Another place that is one of my favorites is KLDJ. Just 4 miles south of KEWR. The airport and FBO lick balls!

 

[popgoesbubble]

Worst fbo ever was JZI! they first of all do not have newpapers! you have to drive 2 miles to get one. Their coffee was burnt. The desk girls was a real B*tch! The line guys had no idea what a door caret was and well they did not have any! Their trucks are older than dirt! The runway was like driving down a back road in the country! Hands down the worst fbo ever! Then to top it off they nail you with a mondo fee!

Hey KSUPilot or is it Bill? Arn't you the guy that had Mommy and Daddy send you too Gulfstream Academy too buy your job? Also isnt it true that the real reason you dont Like the CSR girl in JZI is because she denied all your advances. Grow Up Boy I hear your a compulsive liar as well from your fellow employees at Corprate Air up in KPIT. I like the stories you tell all the CSR girls how you also fly for Atlas Air flying 747 all at the ripe old age of 24 and with 4000 T.T.

 

[SoundBarViolatr]

Doh! This looks like an action promising thread afterall!

 

[RNObased]

Livermore, CA.

we stopped in there a while back, 20 minutes on the ground and a 100 dollar ramp fee. We were just going to be in and out but after getting hit up for that kind of ramp fee I made the guy actually get off his ass, get us a power cart, bag of ice and all the papers he had, we were leaving out empty by the way. I understand these fbo's have to make money, in the days of cheaper gas, one could buy a few courtesy gallons, but in today's market you can not afford to do that. I try to be respectful to the places we go, but when they start being asses about things, I can be one too.

Wow, you got a power cart and ice from them!!!!!!!! I gave up trying a long time ago. Those guys blow....

However I think you guys are forgetting one of the worst on the west coast, the fbo at SAN sucks crap. Now for east coast, the worst is the Signature at BWI. Have to be escorted to the ramp, back from the ramp, takes 30mins just to place a fuel order and a dumber bunch of people I have never met.