FTC Private Air Terminal Morristown...BEWARE

[Capt1124]

I guess the lesson is all those smiling helpful people in nice uniforms cost money and there are times when the cheapest is not the best. I think I have been there once and everything was fine but with just the two guys if anything goes wrong or they are busy you could run into snags. Which makes *you* look bad.

At a previous job we used to go to Fletcher at Hobby. One day I had to get a rental car for the boss, so I arranged with the FBO for a Hertz Gold drop off. I was repeatedly assured it would be there. It was not. I will skip over the next 15 minutes- they were not pretty- but the bottom line is Hertz doesn't drop off cars at FBOs at Hobby, or they say they will but they won't. I could blame that on Hertz, but the FBO should know that. I think the girl working was a part time college student and a nice kid but not experienced with the little details of the FBO business.

 

[LegacyDriver]

I've used FTC for three of the last five years (with an unfortunate two years using Signature in between as my 91 DO thought Signature was the be-all and end-all of the universe no matter how badly they ripped us off on fuel). Never had a single problem and they save us a *TON* on gas.

They also have an awesome pilot lounge inside.

That being said, since Dimitri left it hasn't been the same. He would bend over backwards to take care of the client. I haven't sensed that same urgency since his departure.

For my money it still beats Signature KMMU hands down.

Sorry for the OP's bad experience. Just goes to show the importance of customer service. Anger one client and you'll lose ten times that many at least.

 

[icefr8dawg]

Unfortunately Alex owns the place pretty much so he's gonna tell you to f off if he feels like it. They get plenty of avantair business there.
He's also a mechanic so you might want to think twice about really pissing him off, most mechanics know how to put a lean on the plane and chain it asap.

Tell Jen at Signature that you're thinking of using her FBO instead of there and she'll try to get the prices down as much as she can just to compete.

 

[LegacyDriver]

One thing that works against FTC now...

I spoke to a Signature FBO Manager in Florida (won't say where) and she said HQ finally gave them some lattitude to negotiate fuel prices individually vs. a blanket edict from on high. I guess enough people boycotted 'em for long enough to get their attention. The flexibility didn't seem to be much, but it is more than they had before...

Just more grist for the mill.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

For a while now Signature has been very competitive on fuel.

 

[BoilerUP]

One thing that works against FTC now...

I spoke to a Signature FBO Manager in Florida (won't say where) and she said HQ finally gave them some lattitude to negotiate fuel prices individually vs. a blanket edict from on high.

I'm gonna guess ISM?

At least that's who I got a call from one day saying they'd match anybody's prices to gain our business...

 

[LegacyDriver]

For a while now Signature has been very competitive on fuel.

At KMMU or in general?

 

[TimsKeeper]

signature fuel pricing

In general they are starting to be quite competitive to get your fuel business. Have you seen the ramp in KHPN lately? it's like a ghost town...they had to start coming down.

 

[thatpilotguy]

I actually never thought that I would see the day that Signature allowed a negiation on fuel price. I'm guessing that it's still more than our tankered fuel price...but it's a start. And if they are willing to bring down their fees to a level close to FTC that would be real fuel to my fire. You can't argue that Signatures typically do have great facilities, but the price of gas is much more controlling over a 46 inch plasma in a waiting area. An FBO manager at another major FBO chain told me recently that he is interested in volume...that drives his price...so why not negiate. It's a lot of work for the us, but it's our job and it always takes several phone calls, but in the end, this particular FBO sells gas to us at a reduced rate, and business continues! Simple logic, and a sound plan in my opinion.

 

[icefr8dawg]

I actually never thought that I would see the day that Signature allowed a negiation on fuel price. I'm guessing that it's still more than our tankered fuel price...but it's a start. And if they are willing to bring down their fees to a level close to FTC that would be real fuel to my fire. You can't argue that Signatures typically do have great facilities, but the price of gas is much more controlling over a 46 inch plasma in a waiting area. An FBO manager at another major FBO chain told me recently that he is interested in volume...that drives his price...so why not negiate. It's a lot of work for the us, but it's our job and it always takes several phone calls, but in the end, this particular FBO sells gas to us at a reduced rate, and business continues! Simple logic, and a sound plan in my opinion.

Same logic for us. Especially when the owner dosn't care what the FBO looks like. If it's so bad that I can't be in it I spend the $36 an hour on the APU and watch movies in the plane...

 

[LRvsH25B]

We were just at FTC this morning and have used them many times. I've never experienced nor heard of anyone having the problems you describe. It's definitely a small, mom & pop type operation but that's one of the reasons we choose to go there. Rental cars/limos are always waiting within feet of our aircraft and fuel and catering are delivered as quickly as any FBO I've ever been to. Certainly faster service than anywhere at TEB. Saving >$1.00 per gallon vs. Signature is also a big incentive.

Your interaction with Alex sounds like a nightmare. This is so far from anything I've experienced that I wonder if there's not more to the story? Regardless, there's no excuse for an employee acting that way.

As for the "legal letter"- are you referring to the "membership agreement" that everyone using FTC has to sign? Since FTC is a "Private FBO" you have to be a "Member" to use it. Membership is free of charge, available to anyone and renewable month-to-month (only have to fill out the paperwork once). My understanding is that the whole membership deal is to get around a city ordinance(?). Regardless, it was a pretty easy decision for me to become a member in order to save $2,000+ per top-off.

Is it really worth it? Signing something like that saves you 2K per top-off, but when they ding your airplane and then tell you you're on your own to get it fixed (and this place souds like that is exactly what they would do), you've saved nothing, probably including your job. I've always look at it and I instruct those I work with the only thing they are allowed to sign is a confirmation of services, as long as it is not tied into a hold harmless. As pilots, we are not the aircraft owners, thought we are the owner's represenative. Because we are tasked with its operation, most of what we sign is potentially binding, even if someone tells you it's not in an effort to get you to sign it. I believe, as well as most pilots worth their salt, that a large part of our job is ensuring the best interests of the aircraft's owners are well represented by its crew. Signing an argeement disolving the handling party of any liability is not looking out for the owner, not to mention your job. The discounts on fuel are great, until something gets damaged. Just my thoughts. HMR I pop in and out of these forums 2 or 3 times a year, and I've always enjoyed reading your posts. Cheers..............

 

[LegacyDriver]

Is it really worth it? Signing something like that saves you 2K per top-off, but when they ding your airplane and then tell you you're on your own to get it fixed (and this place souds like that is exactly what they would do), you've saved nothing...

My boss seemed to think it was worth it. I think at one point we were saving more than $2 a gallon.

When you upload 2-3000 gallons at a whack twice a week for 52 weeks out of the year that's quite significant.

Signature probably wouldn't fix your airplane either. They always try to sneak that "we are not liable" paperwork by you just like every other FBO.

 

[SansPlane]

[FONT=&quot]The following is on their website: [/FONT]Simply fill out a membership agreement that is pilot-executable and non-binding.

[FONT=&quot]Let me get this straight. Everything else besides fuel aside. And IF fuel expense is an issue in your operation. And YOU won’t sign an agreement with a company that will save you/owner/operation money. Because you have concerns about signing a document that the company states is non-binding? And you are entrusted to fly an expensive piece of equipment along with the owner/CEO, their family etc. but are worried about signing a non-binding agreement?[/FONT]

 

[jet2work]

Au Contraire

You can't argue that Signatures typically do have great facilities

I CAN argue that Signature does not have great facilities.

Not to pick a fight here, but lets take a look at KDET (worst FBO in the USA ?????), KDTW, KSEA, old KBOS trailer, KCLT (before Wilson Air), KBED, KTEB, KSTL, KDSM, KIND, KJAX.

At one time or another many of these sites and more were operating out of trailers SEA, BOS, JAX etc..) or out of their competitors old facilities. Arguably DET is the worst FBO in the country (according to the PRASE Survey score in the 4 range).

Service can be hit or miss (some places great, some places terrible), but the one thing you could always count on at Signature was high fuel prices and outrageous fees. Hell, Signature invented the ramp fee, which started to spread like a cancer throughout the industry (of course guys who tanker all their fuel and don't buy courtesy fuel don't help the situation).

Signature's business practice was one of going into an airport where they were the only game in town, and making sure it stayed that way. It's funny when you read the comments on AirNav. Typically it is from GA piston drivers who bought 10 gallons to waive the $35.00 ramp fee, and they are all wet in the pants happy about a red carpet and popcorn.

When you are buying 1000 gallons at an extra $2.00 a pop, you could get day rooms at the Four Seasons for a day; a limo to drive you there, and still have money left over if you use contract fuel from one of Signature's competitors. I for one dislike their anti-competitive behavior and avoid them to the best of my ability.

But after reading this thread I would probably suck it up at KMMU.

“The bitter taste of poor quality and service lingers long after the sweet taste of a cheap price is forgotten.” ?????

 

[2EASYPilot]

I actually never thought that I would see the day that Signature allowed a negiation on fuel price. I'm guessing that it's still more than our tankered fuel price...but it's a start. And if they are willing to bring down their fees to a level close to FTC that would be real fuel to my fire. You can't argue that Signatures typically do have great facilities, but the price of gas is much more controlling over a 46 inch plasma in a waiting area. An FBO manager at another major FBO chain told me recently that he is interested in volume...that drives his price...so why not negiate. It's a lot of work for the us, but it's our job and it always takes several phone calls, but in the end, this particular FBO sells gas to us at a reduced rate, and business continues! Simple logic, and a sound plan in my opinion.

The problem I now have with the various Signatures is I get many calls from Signatures wanting us to return but the calls are only from locations where there is competition. No calls from MSP, BOS, ORD, etc. This "new" Signature does not appear to be chain wide. Maybe I have missed those other calls.