To get back on some of the points made:
1) I did ask when booking PPR and was told £19 I kicked up a fuss at the time of being charged double and am taking it up in writing
2)Yes I am bitching, thats partly what these forums are for. But also I am informing fellow fun flyers that StM is no fun on the wallet. There have been many threads on rip off fees, had there been one sooner on St M I would not have bothered going.
3)Hear hear on Perranporth.Cheap friendly helpfull and a few miles down the road from StM. I went a few weeks ago and wanted to go somewhere different this time.
4)As to the future of StM. when I got there there was me + a PA28 - 4 BA staff, a whole stack of Serco staff there must have been firemen somewhere, bored girlie in the kiosk.Two hours later add a jetstream.It must have cost them a fortune to opperate that day.But it doesnt take a genius to work out that the way to make a profit is to encourage business not scare it away with overpricing.Would I be sad to lose another field to GA -no. So far as I'm concerned its lost anyway. Perranporth has my business.
5) Is local authority blind to the benefits of GA, of course read 100's of similar threads. I went to LTK on Sunday even with a major airshow taking place I was welcomed the landing fee was 15 euros.The place was packed with GA mostly brit.Aren't most small airport in France run by the Chamber of Commerce locally?Must be worth a fortune to the local economy.
6) £38 is a flea bite in the context of the overall cost of the day , thats no reason to condone a rip off.
What a shame we even have to discuss such topics.
To pick up on some of the points made:
1) I did check on booking ppr and was quoted £19. I did kick up a fuss on being charged double and have taken it up in writing.
2)Hear hear on Perranporth, went there a few weeks ago, cheap friendly welcoming amd where I will go when next in that part of the country.
3) yes I am bitching, isnt that what these forums are for, plus I'm telling the rest of UK GA what to expect at StM.
4)Facilities at a premium at StM. No way when I got there it was me and a PA28 plus 4 BA staff, 1/2 doz Serco staff, some bagage handles,a girlie at the ciggy kiosk,+ there must have been a fire crew somewhere. It must have cost a fortune to opperate that day. There was no handling marshalling or facilities offered for my £38. It doesnt take a genius to work out that to be a sucess you shouldnt chase business away.Perranporth was doing a roaring trade if radio traffic was anything to go by.
5) Do I care if StM is lost to GA no, its lost anyway so far as I,m concerned.
6)Are UK local authorities blind to the potential of GA yes. By contrast I went to L2K on Sunday even with a major airshow on i was made welcome, charged only 15 euros and the place was packed with GA mostly Brits.