Deal at Norwich
I generally consider landing fees in the UK unacceptably high - but for an airport with the given level of equipment and service 24 quid is quite a bargain. Over here in BE one would pay double, more or less. Whether one wants or needs said level of service is another matter - but (as always) to each their own. @alex90 is quite right to ask about handling, though.
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From the other side:
SaxonAir in conjunction with Norwich Airport are currently offering a weekend rate to light aircraft pilots for a trial period of 3 months finishing 01/04/17. The rate is £20.00 plus VAT for landing and handling, and in order to qualify for this, you must book in advance either by telephone on 01603 518111 or email at [email protected] , this is to help promote light aircraft to use Norwich Airport and SaxonAir.
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Jan, you can tell the people who have been stung by "handling" can't you!?
I remember landing, and being charged £45 for the landing, and then £250 for "handling".
I am still trying to figure out what they do for that money for general aviation. I can understand it for commercial business jets wanting to have someone come meet the passengers with umbrellas, luxury car etc... All waiting on the tarmac next to the jet with customs officials, then once you get in the car - it takes you straight into town... Sorting out the booking out for the pilots, and sorting out all sorts of additional paperwork...etc....
But for GA? I still don't know.... I go in, they're generally nice... Give you free wifi (for the 2minutes you're there), give you a sheet with local procedures prior to departure.... That's what... £15 tops isn't it? Where does this occasionally extortionate price tag come from? Wouldn't it be better for them to accept general aviation and set a low price to welcome them, you could easily get a few hundred landings and handling a year, rather than set an extortionate price and get 2 or 3 planes a year!
I remember landing, and being charged £45 for the landing, and then £250 for "handling".
I am still trying to figure out what they do for that money for general aviation. I can understand it for commercial business jets wanting to have someone come meet the passengers with umbrellas, luxury car etc... All waiting on the tarmac next to the jet with customs officials, then once you get in the car - it takes you straight into town... Sorting out the booking out for the pilots, and sorting out all sorts of additional paperwork...etc....
But for GA? I still don't know.... I go in, they're generally nice... Give you free wifi (for the 2minutes you're there), give you a sheet with local procedures prior to departure.... That's what... £15 tops isn't it? Where does this occasionally extortionate price tag come from? Wouldn't it be better for them to accept general aviation and set a low price to welcome them, you could easily get a few hundred landings and handling a year, rather than set an extortionate price and get 2 or 3 planes a year!
Thanks, Alex, but no, not really. Flying a (3-axis) microlight, I am not allowed even to enter the CTR of the "big" airports, far less to land there. But frequenting the forums does bring certain insights...
As for 45 pounds for landing, that seems outrageous to me, even without handling fee... at most fields around here I pay 5 € ...
As for 45 pounds for landing, that seems outrageous to me, even without handling fee... at most fields around here I pay 5 € ...
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Or in NZ, most of the landing fees there are generally $10NZ to $20NZ for SEP planes. (which back when I was there was £1 to $2.5(ish)NZ). Exception was Ardmore and the international airports (and milford sound too actually).
I always wonder about those claiming to be stung, at least in the UK. Before you land anywhere surely you do a bit of homework and find the cost. If you then accept the cost and land there, you aren't being stung. Of course if the cost was in any way opaque simply refuse to pay more than a reasonable fee, provide your details and invite them to put their case in the county court where you can argue reasonable vs exorbitant charges. If they cannot justify their charges they wont win.
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Sometimes one needs to divert unexpectedly and though the landing fee may be waived under the Strasser Scheme (if the airfield has signed up to it), the handling fee almost never is.
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Sometimes one needs to divert unexpectedly and though the landing fee may be waived under the Strasser Scheme (if the airfield has signed up to it), the handling fee almost never is.
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Sometimes it is not easy prior to actually flying in what the final visit charge is going to be. I am not saying this applies to Norwich but all need to be thought about before visiting a larger airport in the UK.
There can be a Landing charge.
A Handling charge.
A Parking charge. Fixed figure or by the hour.
A Service charge.Can be a percentage total of the other charges.
all this is plus vat.
Any or a total of the above will be the final visit fee.
There can be a Landing charge.
A Handling charge.
A Parking charge. Fixed figure or by the hour.
A Service charge.Can be a percentage total of the other charges.
all this is plus vat.
Any or a total of the above will be the final visit fee.
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After years of lobbing into 'C' in the pax terminal and paying my £9 landing fee, a few years ago I discovered Saxonair had been tasked with extracting payment from GA arrivals.
The final straw was when I did a single practice ILS approach with go- around, and when paying by phone later I discovered I had been charged 'handling', even though the wheels hadn't touched the ground. Total charge just under £40.00.
'Well you could have landed and had the free coffee and biscuits'
Haven't been there since.
But any price reduction is to be applauded even though it expires before the good flying weather will be here.
The acid test will be if this price offer is extended to the spring/ summer months.
I'm not holding my breath.
The final straw was when I did a single practice ILS approach with go- around, and when paying by phone later I discovered I had been charged 'handling', even though the wheels hadn't touched the ground. Total charge just under £40.00.
'Well you could have landed and had the free coffee and biscuits'
Haven't been there since.
But any price reduction is to be applauded even though it expires before the good flying weather will be here.
The acid test will be if this price offer is extended to the spring/ summer months.
I'm not holding my breath.
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Cusco - maybe you should have invoiced them for £40 for a free flight with you. The opportunity was there - it wasn't your fault if they chose not to use it ! ;-)
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I always wonder about those claiming to be stung, at least in the UK.
There are however, occasions when you have little choice with regards to your destination. For instance, if there are no other suitable airfields nearby and you need to go there, such as options around Norwich actually! Or you may well have to clear customs at a customs airport. Or you decide to do a precautionary diversion without checking the landing fees (which why would you?). Or you may very well have no out - and NEED to land whether emergency or not!
I still don't understand how it is acceptable to charge upwards of £50 for "handling" which for private GA is nothing more than providing a payment facility. Sure the clean toilet, free coffee and biscuit is a nice plus - but surely charging £5 to £10 commission on taking the payment more than covers the cost of taking the payment, the VAT, the loo, the coffee and the biscuit! Where does the rest come from? (please someone enlighten me) We GA types don't need a posh waiting room with flat screen TV, wifi etc... All we need / want is a place to pay our dues!! (and maybe a loo too)
Wouldn't the place be much more vibrant, filled with aviators by offering cheaper landing fees, encouraging people to come visit?
