Honest pilots

[lefssa]

To 90% of the guys that flew to Hoedspruit today, presumably from or to the hippo pools flyin. Come on guys the landing fees at Hoedspruit is not that much. only R50.00 for a single engine aircraft. There is an Honesty Box on the airfield for landing fees. There is a large board showing you where and what to pay. Hoedspruit airfield is self funded. No help from the municipality or anyone else. We may now take the policy of taking a Photo of your plane and posting it on avcom asking for donations to pay for your landing fees. Approximately 10 aircraft didn't pay their landing fees. Thanks very much to those that did. Thank you ZU-FHT and others for paying. I thought most pilots are honest, that is why we have an honesty box.

[Africa]

Tell them Deon!! Sorry to hear about Johan! very sad! hope you and Ro are doing well. I miss you guys and all the fun we used to have.

[JJJ]

R50.00!!!??? is more expensive than FAGM with a tower and everything. No wonder the guys did't pay.
JJJ

[Big Man]

JJJ, ek staan ook verstom oor sekere velde se beheptheid met landingsfooie!!
En sommige grens aan die absurde.
Hippo pools se R50 is belaglik ; so ook Parys se verdubbeling in fooie.
Miskien moet ons maar met ons afwesigheid 'n stille protes begin.

[John Young]

Hi,

Just to comment on our area.

FAPM - R 20.00.

All other airfields - no charge and free coffee.

Regards
John ZU-sEXY

[lefssa]

As i said before we are TOTALLY self funded. Someone must pay to keep the airfield in a good condition. This obviously costs. I don't make have the say of what landing fees are. But the fact is the landing fees is R50.00. If you are not prepared to pay this then use an alternate airport. We also pay rates and taxes for the airfield as the airfield is within the municipal area. If some airfields don't charge landing fees they are either maintained by the municipality or have some very wealthy pilots. Our hanger fees went up by 300% this year to try and balance the books.

[DarkHelmet]

I hear you lefssa... Please post the banking details for your field and I am sure those pilots that were not aware will make a transfer.

A call the pilots that flew in and did not pay the fees, please make a transfer! R50 is not a lot to pay, obey the local rules or land elsewhere.

My personal opinion is that it is over-rated to charge landing fees but funding airfields (and websites) is a costly exercise, BUT, the field needs to be maintained!

I was at Aeroden yesterday and a lot of folk flew in, but Aeroden is funded with other revenues, and many fly in for a brekkie et al. My first time at a field in more than 6 months! I have not been following the RAASA/CAA rules and things because my license lapsed just over a year ago, went out there to make a plan to get current. Noticed something on the wall, think it is the Red Book with the field rules. New to me... Needless to say, Basie was quick to summarise it for me. A while later we had an awesome fly-over and one in the formation did a proper no-no by overflying a neghbour clearly stated in the red book!

The pilot need not be named, the info was not available to him in advance, the formation was flawless and in hindsight, we should probably fly in, read the book and then go accordingly.

Hoedspruit on the other hand is isolated and they need to keep their field going so we can all fly in there once a year if needed. Please keep supporting the field and add the R50 landing fee to your trip budget.

I go to Hoedspruit once a year and normally trailer my trike down, have been anxious to fly to Hoedspruit (having been there by car), I was not aware of the fee.

[John Young]

As i said before we are TOTALLY self funded.

Hi,

I don't know any airfields in our area that are not totally self-funded.

Regards
John ZU-sEXY

[Africa]

John, being from Hoedspruit I know the situation there. because the airfield is in town and being its in one of Sa's biggest tourist areas everything is expensive, so the up keep there is way higher than most other places. Also there is only a handfull of pilots that hangar there so the chaps have to do something to keep the field or they will be forced to move to the AFB and pay 3 times that for the use of Kapama's terminal. R50 is only $7 and thats not that much

This field also is very close to shopping centres and restuarants and is a lekker place to land with all that it offers.

[DarkHelmet]

Agreed, Hoedspruit airfield is within walking distance from the Garage, Spur and the rest of the "very" big town of Hoedspruit! I'd rather fly in than drive in!

[Splinter]

If there is a landing fee to be paid sure pay it, dont just leave but lets be honest, R50 for landing on that runway is crazy! So the guys that fly from there have to pay for maintenance... so what... The guys that fly from Brakpan, Springs, Heidelberg, Kliprivier, Kitty Hawk ect aslo maintain the airfields, some far bigger and smaller than Hoedspruit, through club fees and special levies but they dont charge landing fees! Charging R50 landing fee you will not get visitors there anymore and you will have to pay the same maintenace yourself and not have the pleasure of new friends flying in! My 2c

ZU-RED

[RV4ker (RIP)]

Why do you pay rates and taxes? Should be exempt. Maybe talk a bit harder to the Mun. (If you have in the past talk again). We have to re negotiate every time there is a new Municipal manager or a new council/chief wip. (sometimes 3 or 4 times a year).

The runway should be provided same way as roads. We have a deal where we self funs what we can and the balance we try to use municipal equip with out own labour.

PS
Who owns the hangars? If the fees increase by 300% why are you paying rates? (Just curious). SOunds like you are getting ripped off.

R50 is high in "relative" terms BUT I have funded a couple airfields and even at R50 you need a moer of a lot of traffic just to mow the grass..... I would tackle the council....

[Hak]

GUYS what is R50help the hoedspruit guys (IT COULD BE YOUR AIRFEILD

[Big Man]

by demon » Sun Aug 01, 2010 10:14 pm

Its simple...if the landing fee is R50.00, or R500,00, or R5000.00 - thats the fee and the local rule. If you dont like it, as Deon says, land somewhere else
SImple as that surely?Barry Culligan

============================================================================================
Sorry, I don't see the logic in your argument!!!

Are you saying it is the new trend - so be it ??
Are you saying that you have no problem with landing fees - how outrages it may be?

You, of all people, should no that microlighting is 40% socialising and 60% pure pleasure!!

Charging of landing fees all over will kill just that!
I will NOT encourage landing fees - it will kill our lovely sport!

[Big Man]

Hoedspruit guys, see this:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=13723

I rest my case!