California county fights 'crippling and excessive' FBO prices
Baker calls Orange County an example of how communities can fight egregious pricing
AOPA President Mark Baker sent a letter to California’s Orange County Board of Supervisors May 19 praising their recent actions to “guard against crippling and excessive pricing by a fixed-base operator.” Following an influx of member complaints regarding egregious fees at certain FBOs across the country, AOPA began investigating the issue and is working with community leaders, pilots, and the FAA on possible solutions.
Earlier this year, the Orange County Board of Supervisors voted to remove Signature Flight Support from John Wayne Airport because of high fuel prices and replace them with ACI Jet. In February, Signature filed a complaint with the FAA and continues to push back against "bias" by the Orange County Board of Supervisors.
He went on to say, “These requirements for FBOs are a major focus area for AOPA nationwide, and Orange County serves as a beacon for the entire general aviation community on this subject.”
Baker’s letter noted the 140,000 jobs and $30.2-billion-dollar industry GA supports within the state of California, along with nearly 175,000 operations at John Wayne Airport.
AOPA will continue to highlight and fight egregious FBO prices to ensure fair and reasonable access for GA pilots across the country. If you think you have experienced unreasonable pricing, please submit a report to AOPA.
