The board of directors of Chicago Executive Airport have again rejected pilots’ request for self-serve fuel, continuing a stalemate over high gas prices. According to a story in the Chicago Tribune, the board voted unanimously against offering self-service aviation gas, despite a petition from nearly 200 pilots asking for it.
According to one board member, self-serve fueling stations would compete with the airport’s FBOs.
Read the full story here.
I agree…there is something(s) that the FBO is not releasing or have been gagged by Corporate. The same thing happened out here a few years ago (airport to remain nameless). Like Chicago Exec., there were three (3) other airports within 20 miles and everyone started going to these other airports. Then, six (6) months later…SURPRISE!!!…self serve pumps appeared but the damage had already been done and most pilots are still avoiding them. Good luck Chicago Exec., pilots have very good memories.
How many members of the “board”are pilots ?
What happened to good old, American, market driven, capitalism? DuPage is 20nm SW and Waukegam is 19nm north. Both are controlled airporst and both have SS 100LL.
Why don’t those 200 pilots, who signed the petition, shop their options? KPWK has made it clear they don’t want your business so, take it elsewhere. KPWK may miss those pilots or they may not but, that isn’t about those pilots.
Moving the stuff in your hangar is a hassle, no doubt. But, all else being equal, they’ll be happier somewhere else.
Just my 2-cents.
With 200 members, you could easily form a self serv fuel coop. Our airport has no FBO and the cit wasn’t interested in installing a self serve fuel system. We formed a coop and have been providing self serve Avgas for ourselves and the public from a professional quality and state licensed facilty for the last 40 years. Standard Avgas credit card reader and pump system. Coop members get a fuel discount.
They over charge the crap out of the FBOs so they have allow the FBO to over charge the hell out of the customers.
They aren’t going to allow any competition to their cash cow.
They dont give a rat’s rosy red rectum about you or aviation.
They care about collecting money.
Of course there is something up and that would be to keep all these pesky little airplanes away so that the FBO’s could deal with the “real” aircraft. I’ve seen it a LAX, SFO and alot of other mid-to-large airports over the years. These idiots just don’t seem to realize that everybody driving a big airplane started in a smaller airplane. Wake, the fxxk, up. Blue skys and tailwinds.
Wow that not a good decision. Several airports I fly to and Farmingdale Republic ( KFRG) I `frequent the most,have three fueling choices.
FBO`s , a roving fuel truck mostly during busy periods or on request, and self – fueling.
I really don`t see how self- fueling hurts FBOs since they own the fueling anyway.
I like it as it frees up we smaller lot to top off, and leaves the FBOs the bigger A/Cft. to deal with.
there`s something more here to that vote ?