Migth become an FBO operator

[swoeric]

Long story ends with I may become operator of a local FBO. Looking here for help in areas of services that are considered must have and those that are not. Also would be interested in unique forms of income aside from fuel sales and maint.

This airport does receive funding so it must have fuel available 8-5 7days...does having a self serve function or call out option on sundays satisfy this requirement??

We do have regular turbine traffic.....few a week. Is there anything that this crowd has seen as a unique service that they would pay for or wished they had?

[aktango58]

Courtesy car and find a local place that can make the best burgers or food to go possible, if word gets out that you have great take out food available, they will make an effort to stop. Let them know if they call ahead, it will be waiting so while they are getting fuel, they can eat.

We covered lots of this on a thread for someone in the dakotas, can not remember thread... place to nap/sleep, place for flight plans, showers.

[Iflylower]

Been seeing wifi with no password or a posted password. That's nice for the iPad crowd looking at wx.

[behindpropellers]

24 Hour Fuel
Unicom Freq. to get in the door during closed hours.
Wifi.

[Patrol Guy]

(I-40) our local airport had guy set up a grill (out door kitchen under a tent) and picnic tables. He makes great burgers and has good ice cream. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday only. The Airport pays nothing. and it is busy with traffic for the easy eating, and of course they are topping off most of the planes while the passengers eat.

He did that for three years. This year they built a lean to roof for the kitchen part, and they are doing breakfast on certain Saturdays. It appears to at least triple the traffic.

[Anne]

Clean bathrooms, separate men's & ladies.
Friendly, knowledgeable employees that understand sometimes the pilot is female (I know, not often, but better to be polite).
List of local motels.
Clean courtesy car.
Couches, chairs, tables.
Fair fuel price.
Accessories, ie fuel strainer & oil.
Camping area.

Good luck!

Anne.

[OLDCROWE]

• Clean accessable rest rooms with at least one CLEAN shower
• GRASS
• SuperCub.org calendar on the wall. Go visit Custer County in Custer SD!
• GRASS
• More than one crew car, all with after hours check out
• GRASS
• Camping area
• GRASS
• SS fuel. AS or call out and I will avoid unless during normal business hours
• GRASS
• Search the thread for the New Holstein airport for a bunch of comments.
• GRASS
• weekly updated fule prices on ForeFlight & AirNav, etc.
• GRASS
• Grill with the ability to light it up and toss a burger on with a unicom call or order a pizza for delivery.
• GRASS
• Tiedowns with fresh rope (not plastic) good hint for this is to use S hooks on one end so they can get pulled and put out of the sun but available right next to the pile of chalks when not in use.
• GRASS
• If fuel hose is not on a reel and just strung about put a zillion short sections of PVC pipe over it to keep the sun damage at bay and so it will slide across the ramp.
• GRASS
• List of stuff to do and see in the area for weather-ins. Maps are handy
• WI-FI & Weather stuff
• Oh and lastly, GRASS

[Bill Rusk]

Oldcrow

+1

Bill

[S2D]

This airport does receive funding so it must have fuel available 8-5 7days...does having a self serve function or call out option on sundays satisfy this requirement??

Is this State funding? Local Funding? Not a fed requirement.

[aktango58]

a good report on where to catch fish can also be helpful...

some basic repair stuff: nuts, bolts, screws and duct tape is always a good idea also. Even if you don't have a mechanic, having a couple of screws to put back in can save the day sometimes.

[swoeric]

Perfect... I checked out becks that place is awesome...I have grass but should advertise....I talked to the Oklahoma Aeronautics Planner today and there is not a requirement but suggested..Looks like i might have to educate board members here...grill is on the way...I like the rope idea in a neat box by the chalks...i also like the bunks and real food idea....fore flight airnav anywhere else to advertise?? does somebody really need to be there all day saturday or how late does flying really go on for the recreational folk??? Kirby does Jones stay that busy late afternoon saturdays or sundays

[OLDCROWE]

Perfect... I checked out becks that place is awesome...I have grass but should advertise....I talked to the Oklahoma Aeronautics Planner today and there is not a requirement but suggested..Looks like i might have to educate board members here...grill is on the way...I like the rope idea in a neat box by the chalks...i also like the bunks and real food idea....fore flight airnav anywhere else to advertise?? does somebody really need to be there all day saturday or how late does flying really go on for the recreational folk??? Kirby does Jones stay that busy late afternoon saturdays or sundays

Eric, I forget hich airport are you at?

Riverside can be busy on the weekend afternoons especially for locals unless hot biggest traveling is weekdays. SS fuel will give you flexibility. Just hang the tie-downs in view.

Kirby

[P.o.P]

Over the years I've encountered some very good CFI's & A & P's that TRIED to make a go as a FBO.

One thing in common is that they had no business background.

You WILL have to look at things like; "What does that hamburger ( or Annual or flight time, etc) REALLY

cost ME?"

Insurance, Workmens Comp, Unemployment are issues you would have to face ifthere are employees.

Hard to do an Annual while plowing snow & you can't provide dual while cutting grass.

Obviously; these machines break when you need them most.



The Small Business Administration has a branch known as SCORE ( Service Core of Retired Executives).

These are folks that can help you analyze your business plan.

Free or reasonable.

Check it out BEFDORE you are in financial trouble.

[Cajun Joe]

Small bag of ice, two bottles of water and a cold snickers with fuel-up.
Good, strong 8 foot ladders for high wing self fuel.
Well lighted tie down ramp.

[S2D]

What do you have for competition?
Are you planning on owning or leasing aircraft as part of your business ?
What niches are available in your town?
Its a College town, how do you tap in on that?
Banner towing, sightseeng, fly-ins, Parachute jumping, Etc ?

[aktango58]

Its a College town, how do you tap in on that?

Pretty attendants for Anne to gawk at while she waits for the plane to be fueled, (not looking like the avatar above).

Seems most small airport business comes after work, or on weekends. When I was a flight instructor, early morning until late in the day was dead...

Saturdays and sundays things got hopping.

Any hunting around? Fly in bird hunts?

[swoeric]

it is KGMJ we are on a major lake and there is a bird farm nearby...Yep mechanic tried to make a go at it and not really a businessman..this is were i was asked to step in and bring some management. I have looked at putting together some aircraft..Id probably own and rent back to a club..Looked at float and possible glider to mix it up. town is a for tourist and lake crowd in the summer...seems like most flying here is very early morning..(older crowd) the full service stuff comes in friday or middle of the week and they seem to want it topped off just before sunday sometime. Thank you for the SCORE I was unaware of that..i previously used some folks near by...I have looked into several of the packages the casinos and golf courses near by offer. Im also in the chamber with another business i help run and they are working hard to help me put a plan together....If an FBO were to package learning weekends such as bringing in a high performance two seat acro and instructor....j3 on floats....heli....etc would many jump at it?? also some sort of regular flying contest...similar to rodeo or playdays that happen monthly....possibly a regular poker run that would base here but rotate through several local airports...wonder how many tincan guys would like to fly some bushwheels if there were areas scouted out measured etc with instructor??

Im in the process of gathering other FBO lease agreements so that i can negotiate mine...Thee board is pushing for full service 8-5 361 days a year...also the term is only 5 years before going out for bid again,,,not real easy to establish something or willing to invest much if it could all be lost..im also looking into a bit of a AP program..the area has a juco and tech school wishing for one due to the very low rate of kids going to large college in this area..

[aktango58]

I would be willing to make a trip south for instructing floats and tailwheel in February...

[OLDCROWE]

Eric, I thought you were talking Grove but was not sure. Been there many times, Father-in-law lives there... You've got the basics to build from with a fair sized local fleet and some travelers but you've also got competition with 2 other fuel selling lake airports but being at the north end I think is good. GMJ could definitely use some upgrading it is a regional assets vs just a lake stop and word will spread especially if you keep fuel prices in check. I've always thought that an awning and some outdoor seating on the ramp would make it much more inviting at very little cost. Seems like the airport is in quite good shape itself, check the master plan...

With the new hospital check into the status of maybe being a life flight base.

I would think that you could propose a X % coverage during the hours they desire at the airport but with SS fuel and a cell number posted you'll never leave anyone stranded, especially if you're allowed outside opportunities based out of the airport.

You have some fair flight options with Grand and Hudson being the only major lakes in Oklahoma that are sea plane friendly for training and coordination with TCC in Tulsa on its training could work well with the Lake Anfib they have or a cub on floats would be a draw, but you'll never retire on that... Also make contact with GRDA they burn a lot of Jet Fuel at times and you should be able to get your share, I know the new Law Enforcement head and you should contact him as well as the City's rep. On the Board.

Good luck, it will take all of the above but I think you could make a go of it with a good bit of energy... Look around at the other airports, get creative and you might get some draw from Pittsburg, Joplin and Arkansas with the right hook.

Oh and for a public contract in Oklahoma 5 years is not out of line (be glad they have an authority as Cities can only do one year contracts) but you might be able to get an additional 2 extension by mutual agreement.

[P.o.P]

A Part 147 A & P (AMT) schoool is a VERY expensive & complicated endeavor.