When booking a charter there are basic facts that must be given to form a trip sheet and itinerary; where from and where to, who is going, on what aircraft?
None of the basic information above is as hard as deciding what you will eat once on board. However, you may make it more difficult, and expensive, than necessary when deciding where to this holiday season. When flying into larger cities you may be primed to select a major airport. However, unless you are enthralled by large crowds, jacked up landing fees, and traffic exiting and entering the airport grounds there is most always a better option.
Fixed Base Operators, or FBO for short, is an organization granted the right by an airport to operate at the airport and provide services; such as fueling, parking, and hangar access. They are more abundant than you think and very nearly always provide easier access to your desired location. While some are found down the road at smaller airports others share runways with major commercial terminals. In addition, they most always have less traffic and are a single unit building making it easy to navigate when arriving.
While many guests request to land at airports like LAX there are plenty of outside options. For LAX Mira Vista Aviation suggests Van Nuys Airport, a location that provides FBO access 45 minutes north of LAX. In the case of John Wayne Airport landing at an FBO places you right next door as the local FBO shares runway space with John Wayne. In New York Teterboro Airport provides arrivals and departures with an easy out option from using major airports like LaGuardia, what Presidential nominee Joe Biden once called a third world country. Teterboro is 40 minutes from LaGuardia across the Hudson River in New Jersey and preferred by politicians and celebrities alike.
Proximity and economical, that is why most prefer the FBO. The landing fees are almost always well below what landing at a major airport would cost. To use LAX as an example again, it currently costs $5.08 per 1,000 lbs. of maximum gross landing weight (MGLW) for each landing by a Permitted Air Carrier Passenger (passenger aircraft) having a MGLW of more than 25,000 lbs. For reference a Gulfstream IV is 35,500 lbs. empty. On top of landing fees there are also ramp charges, on average this hovers above $100 dollars per 15 minute increment. Van Nuys in return costs $618 dollars in total with no additional charges outside of fuel or other services.
When it comes to traveling during busy times cut your time in line both at the ticket counter, the runway, and on the ground by selecting to fly in to the FBO of your choice. If you care to do your own research before you travel the Pilots Choice Awards offers a list of 50 American FBO locations considered the best in the United States. For travel advice allow our Mira Vista flight crew to find the best FBO location for your desired arrival. Our sales team works directly with flight crew to ensure all your needs can be met at the selected location to ensure your to and from this holiday season is without stress. We look forward to spending this magical season with you.