[Eric Parks]

Eric Parks on August 30, 2024 at 4:32 pm #22731

One trip I did as a corporate pilot had us flying the Cessna 414 to COS (Colorado Springs). For some stupid reason I booked the Holiday Inn near the airport. We were staying several days and after the first night I was WAY over it. I called my boss and told him I was changing hotels and got myself booked into a Bed & Breakfast and got a rental car and got myself moved over. I had a very nice time staying at the B & B and driving around Colorado Springs. But that first night was pretty bad! Boss never said a peep about the change in hotels. 

Later the same boss (and wife) flew up to Jackson Hole, WY to stay at Jenny Lake Lodge. I went with them and even did a morning breakfast horseback ride with them. The rest of the time they did their own thing and I got a rental car and drove all around the valley near Jackson Hole. Beautiful area! I later got to fly into JAC as Captain on a A319 but that was a different experience, although still a great overnight.

[Eric Parks]

Eric Parks on August 30, 2024 at 4:25 pm #22730

When I flew as a corporate pilot (nothing exotic, Cessna 414 and Beech Baron) the Courtesy Car was known as the Crew Car and I was always thrilled if one was available. A car could mean the difference of getting a lunch or supper or just going hungry. Corporate passengers were notorious for not sticking to their “schedule”. So waiting was the name of the game. More than once I sat around an FBO with nothing to do except read OLD magazines. This was well before internet or even cell phones. One of my favorites was Dallas Love Field where I would be able to get a ride on a van to a local steak house, Dunfies. I NEVER had a bad steak at Dunfies! You got to pick out the actual steak you wanted from the counter and then tell them how to cook it. I would go again in a heartbeat! So at least I had that to look forward to when going to Dallas!

[STEVE]

STEVE on August 30, 2024 at 8:06 am #22728

A couple of years ago I landed for the evening after a long leg across the Sierras and the Rockies, with a refuel stop at Evanston, WY (KEVW) to  Alliance, Nebraska (KAIA). That’s around 7 hours in the saddle with half the route flown at 13,500 in my 180 Comanche (amazing XC airplane) so I was pretty bedraggled. The FBO let me use it’s airporter; a rusted out dirty Chevy Van.
I drove through town to the nicest motel there–a shiny new Holiday Inn Express just off the highway.
I pulled my little roller bag out and dragged it toward the motel.
Once inside, I asked the clerk if there were any rooms available.
He looked at me-needing a shave, gray of hair, bedraggled and tired–and the van–rusty and dirty and quite seriously informed me that the rooms were $129 a night.
I grabbed one. Tickled me that he almost instantly decided I couldn’t possibly afford to stay there based on how I looked and what I drove.
The Chevy got me back to the airport the next day, and I flew on to Oshkosh.

[Eric Parks]

Eric Parks on August 28, 2024 at 3:30 pm #22727

STEVE ELLS wrote:
I landed at Tucumcari, NM many years ago on an XC to Oklahoma.
The courtesy cars–there were two–were tired old police cars. 
I got in one and drove the three miles into town and pulled into the nearest restaurant.
As I got out, a patrol car pulled up, the officer rolled down his window and started telling me stories about all the adventures and mis adventures he had experienced while driving the car I was driving. 
Memorable.

Steve,

I bet almost everyone that has used courtesy cars has some sort of story. In the past few months I had one FBO that gave me a VERY tired Ford Taurus that barely had any gas in it. They told me to be back in an hour. We ate our lunch at a restaurant maybe 4 miles away and I gassed it up on the way back. Probably more than doubled how much gas was in the tank. They let me know they were concerned because I got back about 10 minutes past the hour. And yes, they did have another car and no it was not used so I certainly didn’t keep anyone else from using it. Then more recently I was given a practically brand new Honda Civic and told I was fine to keep it overnight and just return sometime tomorrow. And they were serious. So you never know!

[STEVE]

STEVE on August 27, 2024 at 9:21 am #22724

I landed at Tucumcari, NM many years ago on an XC to Oklahoma.
The courtesy cars–there were two–were tired old police cars. 
I got in one and drove the three miles into town and pulled into the nearest restaurant.
As I got out, a patrol car pulled up, the officer rolled down his window and started telling me stories about all the adventures and mis adventures he had experienced while driving the car I was driving. 
Memorable.

[Eric Parks]

Eric Parks on August 26, 2024 at 7:50 pm #22723

One of the nicest parts of General Aviation is how pilots help each other. If you have been flying for any decent time frame you’ve most likely had some other pilot give you a helpful hand in some way.

A favorite for me is getting what are known as Courtesy Cars or Crew Cars. Yes, you got to your destination quickly in your plane… or did you? You really wanted to see that sight or eat at that restaurant or stay at that BnB and you are stuck at the airport. Then again, maybe not because you checked ahead and found out that the airport has cars available for you! Now you can get those last few miles done riding in style. Well, at least riding! I’ve had everything from broken down old jalopys that looked like they were on there last few miles (typical) to almost brand new sedans that I felt like I was test driving it off a dealer lot (very NOT typical).

Here’s the rules as I know them:

1. A free car is never guaranteed. First come, First served.

2. Don’t keep it longer than agreed on unless it’s an emergency. If the FBO says an hour stay with that. If they say overnight and return in morning respect it.

3. Leave it better than you found it. Put some gas in the tank if reasonable. Sometimes you are buying a lot of expensive AVGAS from them and maybe they are making enough to cover your quick drive but think about it. Pick up the trash so everyone gets a clean car (or sorta clean!). I always try to put just a little more gas than I burn if possible. If the gauge is banging on “E” I don’t try to top the tank but if I think I used 2 gallons I’ll put 4 or 5 in. Let’s all make it work for everyone. You aren’t paying for ANYTHING (maintenance, insurance, tires, etc) so put a little gas in and clean it a little if if needed!

4. If no car is available, no whining. We all wish for things we can’t get. Courtesy cars are one you can’t whine about. The corallary here is don’t complain about how bad the car is (dirty, run down, no A/C, orange engine dash lights blinking). If it runs you are happy. If you don’t like it don’t take it.

So basically the “Golden Rule”: Treat others the way you’d like to be treated. (Not the Golden Rule that the one with the gold makes the rules!)

Finally, I always try to buy fuel from any FBO that I borrow a car from. They are a business and gotta make a few bucks somehow to stay in business. I want them to be there next time I come and still offer me that courtesy car so I think that’s the least I can do whenever possible. I don’t include this as a “rule” because you can’t always add AVGAS to the tanks. However, if you do fuel up many times you avoid other fees (parking, overnight) and that helps you too. So consider buying at least a little AVGAS. A few dollars extra in buying AVGAS is way cheaper than paying for a rental!

Of course there are times where you can’t get a courtesy car or you need a car that doesn’t fit their “rules”. That’s when you are happy to rent a car, just remember, no whining! The only whining in aviation should be the jet turbines spooling down.

Now for a great resource (since you read this far!):

Home

This web site is a nice list of airports with courtesy cars available.

Another excellent resource is AirNav: https://www.airnav.com/

This one is great for lots of info and it will include a number to call the FBO to check for car availability.

Now you can plan your next $100 hamburger trip!