The worst FBO's

[coloneldan]

Hey Johnny, I agree with all Signatures. Even the ones where they aren't the only one on the field. They are guaranteed to have the highest ramp fees, highest fuel prices, and worst customer service. One of the things I hate the most about them is the passengers usually like them. They walk in off the ramp, head to the back door, it looks real nice, they get in the limo and leave. They don't have to deal with all the bullsh*t.

About the INT deal.
The last time I was in Winston-Salem, I was doing some contract work for a guy based there. I had an 0800 departure. I called the night before, around 1900, and gave a 0700 pull up and fuel order. I got to the airport a little before 7 the next morning and the airplane wasn't in sight. About 7:15 they had it on the ramp. For the next 30 minutes I tried to get fuel. When my first passenger showed up, I headed across the ramp to the fuel truck that had been parked there all morning. I was going to fuel the thing myself. I got about half way across the ramp and a lineguy came out of the line shack and got in the truck. I thought, finally. I went back to my airplane and he drove up to the Citation parked next to me. I went over and asked him when he was planning to fuel me. He said I'll get you next, this Citation is leaving in an hour. I said I'm leaving in 10 minutes and my passengers are already starting to arrive. He went right ahead and hooked up to the Citation and fueled it first. He finally pulled in front of my airplane and started fueling. He got about 15 gallons in and the truck ran out of fuel. By the time I finally got fuel, it was almost 0900. He was so *amn slow, I had the passengers on and one engine running before he moved the truck. Not long after that, the owner moved the airplane to Greensboro.

The short version of the HPN incident goes like this. We called on the flite phone about 2 hours out. We give them our eta and told them we needed a quick turn. 2 hours and 45 minutes after we land I pay the ramp fee, start up, taxi to Avitat, buy fuel and leave.

I also have a agree about JimsAir in SAN.

 

[tracearabians]

I don't get it ! Even with competition on t
he field, I see lots of corporate aircraft parked there. Highest ramp fees, highest fuel prices, poorest attitude and ugly women !

Amen!! Signature at KLGA was the absolute worst FBO I've ever seen. I understand they're gone now. Good riddance.

I fail to see how Signature stays in business. They seem to have ZERO goodwill within the flying community.

 

[coloneldan]

I know. I don't understand it either. I don't know how they win Pro Pilot's best flight service every year, unless they buy it. I have never heard one single pilot say they were even indifferent about Signature. EVERYBODY hates them. They suck moldy green stump water. If they had good looking gals around that did a good job flirting, I would think.....well.....maybe. Most of the gals that work at Signature wouldn't give you the time of day and look like they could be cooking down at the Waffle House. (No offence to Waffle House.)

 

[tracearabians]

I personally like waffle house and don't think they would hire any gal that would consider Signature!

I know. I don't understand it either. I don't know how they win Pro Pilot's best flight service every year, unless they buy it. I have never heard one single pilot say they were even indifferent about Signature. EVERYBODY hates them. They suck moldy green stump water. If they had good looking gals around that did a good job flirting, I would think.....well.....maybe. Most of the gals that work at Signature wouldn't give you the time of day and look like they could be cooking down at the Waffle House. (No offence to Waffle House.)

 

[tracearabians]

Snooty linemen, fat ugly women behind the counter that you w
ouldn't F**K with someone elses d**k WHY, WHY, WHY !??

I know. I don't understand it either. I don't know how they win Pro Pilot's best flight service every year, unless they buy it. I have never heard one single pilot say they were even indifferent about Signature. EVERYBODY hates them. They suck moldy green stump water. If they had good looking gals around that did a good job flirting, I would think.....well.....maybe. Most of the gals that work at Signature wouldn't give you the time of day and look like they could be cooking down at the Waffle House. (No offence to Waffle House.)

 

[leardawg]

Signature DET
Mercury PDK
Jimsair SAN
Northern Air (?) PVD
Jackson TN (MKL) - no FBO to speak right now, pilots must sit in "airline terminal" area reserved for pilots. Try doing a 8:00 a.m. arrival/4:00 p.m. departure there. Talk about looking for hanging strenth rope!

Smiley faces? WTF! Not my doing.

 

[n757st]

Signature DET
Mercury PDK
Jimsair SAN
Northern Air (?) PVD
Jackson TN (MKL) - no FBO to speak right now, pilots must sit in "airline terminal" area reserved for pilots. Try doing a 8:00 a.m. arrival/4:00 p.m. departure there. Talk about looking for hanging strenth rope!

Smiley faces? WTF! Not my doing.

I have to second northstar PVD, those people suck.

 

[mcjohn]

....................

 

[flyboycpa]

Signature! Signature! Signature! (particulary BOS, BWI, SFO, LAS, MIA)

minor caveat: I like many of the folks at Signature-BNA (I used to be based there with a previous company) and also the "new" Signature-TRM (formerly Million Air). The TRM folks are still so new at the Signature mentality that they are still actually nice (Million Air influence) since they haven't had their dose of brainwashing yet!

Mega dittos to JimsAir-SAN and the previous comment about Million Air-TEB (what up with whats-her-name always getting CSR of the year?)

Every year I send in my card voting for best (usually Wilson, for me) but I always put in the comment section that these are nothing more than popularity contests. You just never remember the super mom-n-pop places at smaller fields that would do anything to help you out. Same goes for catering. Who really remembers the name of that great caterer in Timbuktoo? Everyone always remember Rudy's, or whatever. Like I said, it's all a popularity contest.

 

[414Flyer]

I will third Jimsair at SAN. Some serious retards working behind those counters there. Goto Gillespie or Montgomery instead. I'm surprised no one has said Signature SBA yet. $30 to park a single and eat at the Elephant bar accross the street and depart two hours later.

I will vote for Mercury at Ontario Cali, for charging $500 dollars for parking a Shorts from about 945pm to 615am the other night.

Signature at SBA, well service is okay, but the cookies and coffee are great.

 

[coloneldan]

I agree with you Flyboy. The Mom N Pop places are where you get the best service. The problem is, you don't get 3 or 400 people through there a day, so there is no way they can get the votes to compete.

Catering is another subject. Rudy's is good, there is also a place at SNA that has the best chicken salad sangwiches on the face of the planet. On the other hand, I was in Lebanon NH once. I ordered a fruit and cheese tray for 2. The lady at the FBO told me that since there was less than 4 hours notice, the caterers would charge a $100 rush fee. I thought that was pretty unreasonable, but for what ever reason, I said OK. When I got to the airport, the bill was $298!!! I couldn't believe it. $100 for a rush order and $198 for $10 worth of fruit and cheese. That learned me. When the rush fee is unreasonable, ya better check on the rest of the road kill.

 

[GeeThree]

San

JimsAir, SAN is notorious for Catering issues! They charged me $57 / quart of OJ, not too long ago. They will not allow other caterers on their property so you have to get the other caterers to deliver your stuff to the hotel.
Pain in the rear! They and all Signatures get my vote!

 

[ACT700]

Million Air @ MDW.

Although I haven't seen any live rats in the lobby lately.

I think Atlantic, MDW is an upscale joint compared to that MillionAir dump. Doesn't help that it is run by an idiot not even his employees like.

I say tear down MillionAir for more (productive) ramp space!

 

[infiniti757]

SGF Regional

If you stop there and are a freightdog then be prepared to be treated like a second class citizen. I was given very dirty looks and almost wasn't allowed into the planning room when I diverted there. And all at the expense of the taxpayer since it is run by the airport authority.

 

[Darkhlmt]

About the INT deal.
When my first passenger showed up, I headed across the ramp to the fuel truck that had been parked there all morning. I was going to fuel the thing myself. I got about half way across the ramp and a lineguy came out of the line shack and got in the truck. I thought, finally. I went back to my airplane and he drove up to the Citation parked next to me. I went over and asked him when he was planning to fuel me. He said I'll get you next, this Citation is leaving in an hour. I said I'm leaving in 10 minutes and my passengers are already starting to arrive. He went right ahead and hooked up to the Citation and fueled it first. He finally pulled in front of my airplane and started fueling. He got about 15 gallons in and the truck ran out of fuel. By the time I finally got fuel, it was almost 0900. He was so *amn slow, I had the passengers on and one engine running before he moved the truck. Not long after that, the owner moved the airplane to Greensboro.

The short version of the HPN incident goes like this. We called on the flite phone about 2 hours out. We give them our eta and told them we needed a quick turn. 2 hours and 45 minutes after we land I pay the ramp fee, start up, taxi to Avitat, buy fuel and leave.

I also have a agree about JimsAir in SAN.

It may be faster if you attach some bike peddles to your engines and peddle your way to the next airport.