Rhino Park to charge landing fees !

[RV4ker (RIP)]

Is the ground runway still there. If u use this maybe they give you dipscount....

We tried a while back to charge landing fees at similar "small" strip. Ended up costing more to pay the guy to record the landings, find out from AVDEX who owns the aerie and post the invoice (which is usually not paid) than we got back, so we just left it.....

[Low Level]

Is the ground runway still there. If u use this maybe they give you dipscount....

Was wondering if I take off from the tar runway and landed on the gravel if they still gonna charge full landing fees.
.
.
.
.
.

Sadly think they will just neglect the gravel runway untill it is unusable, therefore "forcing" one to use the tar.

[Pietb]

What is the use of such a fancy runway and the rest is still dusty and full of mud.
So you still end up with a dirty a/c.
How can they want the same fees as Wonderboom????????????????????????????????

Exactly !!

[Asterix]

Hello all - I am back online - as reported under Hangar Talk. First time I am reading this.

A while ago - shortly after my pc was stolen, I flew to Rhino from Microland after hearing 09/27 was being tarred. I arrived overhead, and could not believe my eyes - I was expecting a litle tar covering with dodgy edges spread across the runway . Instead I found a long and beatiful runway for BIG aeries. The final tarring was still setting, so there were tyres and a big white cross over the runway - I proceeded on (I Think?) 10/28 - any event this is not the point - I landed on the dirt runway to the south.

As I taxi'd in to Alex's office to go and greet and sky a cup of coffee the magnitude of this runway sunk in - and later I heard about the cost.

I still cannot make sense of spending millions for a runway just a hop away from Kittyhawk - but also - if I understand correctly - Alex and all the other tenants are not the owner - and the owner - not our fellow pilots - decided to build this runway. Sorry if I am wrong - I am not meaning to step on toes or be a "know - it - all" just trying to make sense.

If my inference is correct, it HAS to mean that the OWNER OF THE LAND has bigger plans - airport? Aero estate? I don't know.

All I know is that you don't spend millions in the middle of nowhere, and expect to make a profit from landing fees. I have heard figures of two million and 8 million and and.

I Assume for purposes of the following that the runway cost only 1 million. A pre-tax risk free return in our current environment is about 5,5% Therefore a Rand return of R 55 000 per annum, pre tax, on the absurd assumption that your outlay was R 1 million. That means that you will have to have 1100 landings, billed, to compete against a Money Market account with your bank. If the cost is more than a million (which it is!) the sommetjie becomes even more absurd.

My conclusion - there is something bigger afoot in terms of what the investors of the runway have in mind. What this is, I don't know - but I know that you have to be very, very, stupid to build something like that, there, and expect landing fees to cover your return on investment.

My guess: Someone has applied for zoning / services / erfs / - aero estate. Just a shot in the dark. Lets see.

[RV4ker (RIP)]

My guess: Someone has applied for zoning / services / erfs / - aero estate. Just a shot in the dark. Lets see.

Eggzakely.....

ROI on a runway is KAK even at a million....

[Tumbleweed]

Maybe wants to accomodate the Wonderboom and Laseria tenants in time.

At least if the investment collapses, the supplier can't repossess the runway.

[mak]

The owner told us a while ago that he wants to attract charter companies to Rhino, so yes he is hoping for a second or third Wonderboom or Lanseria. The hangers still need a bit of work before that can happen. Don't know if it will then still be microlight friendly?

[fransstrydom]

Landing fees were only a dicussion between a handfull of people in an informal manner.Lets us wait untill Kobus is back.All i can say at the moment is that there is definately bigger plans for Rhino park.Pipes for cables under the runway for lights was provided for.The intention is to extend the runway to 2000m with paved taxiways and eventually a tower for ATC.Self catering units will be build around the hangers for overnight facilities.Hangers to be the most modern with hydraulic operated doors.Not just a hanger.Proper ablution facilities.
Remember that the Aircraft fraternity is a very small portion of the Rhino park income.The new restuarant is being expanded already and Rhino Park is a very Popular venue for Quad and motorcycles,with picnic facilities,in time angling and maybe a caravan park.This estate has a lot of wildlife and recently a loapard was spotted here.Mcarthy's hire a big piece of land for 4 track vehicle traing and has a very nice facility for radio controlled aircraft.
It may all be one man's dream,But i can see all the potential.It may be detremental to the aircraft ownwers who reside there or visitors to the extend that the park will not be the same anymore.I personally love the place for it is a paradise and it will be sad if it becomes commercialised.Let us not speculate now,it may take years yet.
franss

[Blue Max]

a loapard

[Cacofonix]

A sad state of affairs i love landing there. Anyone no the proposed implementation date

[Rudix]

Ok, lots of theories here

Lets not run away with this guys....

Yes, there are plans to charge landing fees, BUT, the main reason is to prevent schools for other airports coming to Rhino and spending hours doing touch and goes before leaving again. If they want to do that they will pay for it. The plan is NOT to let everyone pay! Only to stop what can only be called abuse.....

As far as the cost and the ROI goes, the plan is NOT to pay for the runway with landing fees, clearly it will never cover the cost (8+ mil)! The plan is to get a good ROI by building more hangars( construction has started on the eastern side) and attracting more local planes, more activity at the field that will bring more business to the restaurant. Yes, there might be a few houses in the future, but that would need re-zoning and so on.

The plan is to make Rhino Park a great destination, some wild animals, bikes, quads, 4x4's, fishing, a great destination for a day or a weekend! Kobus sure is heading in the right direction to get that right

The new runway (soon to have lights at night) is AMAZING! A far better, and safer, runway than Kittyhawk or any other runway in the area.

Come and visit and have a look!!

Fly safe,
Rudi

[Pietb]

Thanx for clearing it a bit Rudi

[skybound®]

Yes, there are plans to charge landing fees, BUT, the main reason is to prevent schools for other airports coming to Rhino and spending hours doing touch and goes before leaving again. If they want to do that they will pay for it. The plan is NOT to let everyone pay! Only to stop what can only be called abuse.....

Same situation at our airfield. The commercial users we have a set rate for them to use the airfield. Recreational pilots - we pay them to come to us