Airport landing fees are acceptable but overflight charges are not. [Shutterstock]
Key Takeaways:
Private airports often struggle with pilots avoiding landing and parking fees, relying on an honor system, which leads owners to seek more effective billing methods.
DeLaurentis Airport (KOKH) adopted Vector PlanePass, an automated system using aircraft data to bill for landings and parking, aiming to counter pilot non-payment and support airport maintenance.
The implementation of PlanePass has faced initial challenges, including erroneous billing for aircraft that only overflew the airport, prompting the company and airport owner to address technical glitches and process refunds.
If you have been to a private airport, you have probably asked that question. There is often a mailbox in a kiosk, or the pilot is directed to the airport manager’s office. No one is making you pay, as aviation often relies on the honor system.
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
