Hello all,
I had to divert to an alternative airfield recently due to the weather becoming IMC around the home airfield, I was PIC (No IR rating) and was flying with a friend who is a current ATPL who agreed that the diversion was the right and safest decision to make and an instrument approach was not available for him. The diversion airfield were very accommodating and did not charge for landing or parking.
In the UK, Mr. Strasser, (then?) chairman of AOPA, convinced almost all airfields to subscribe to what is known as the "Strasser Scheme". It means that if a GA aircraft makes a genuine diversion due to technical or weather reasons, no ATC or landing fees will be charged. I have had the pleasure of needing this scheme myself as well, after an in-flight minor technical problem.
There's only a handful of airfields not subscribing to this scheme, Heathrow being one of them - and I can understand why.
After arriving back at the club (Member for over 7 years and done all my training with) via road, the owner told me they would collect the aircraft the next day, so I paid for the flying hours I did on the aircraft that day.
Since then, I have received a large bill for ‘repatriation costs’ occurred in collecting the aircraft. This charge was not discussed with me at the time, and since the airfield is only around 15min flying time from home base amounted to significantly more than the cost of standard aircraft hire and landing had I collected it myself.
Just wanted to ask if this seems to be standard practice, given that it could place pressure on the members to opt to fly in unsafe conditions due to the financial burden of incurring a substantial cost for aircraft repatriation. I understand that there was a cost involved with returning the aircraft but feel it is a bit unjust not to consult me before passing this on and part of the business risk of renting aircraft is that this occasionally will happen. Has anyone got any thoughts on this or have experience of this?
As an aside, another club aircraft also diverted at the same time with a club instructor onboard.
Did you discuss the method of repatriating with the owner? As a hirer, you are at the very least responsible to make a good effort in trying to get the airplane back to home base. If you just dump the problem in the owners lap then I think the owner is entirely justified in charging for all the costs, plus the labour, associated with getting the plane back. It may just be 15 minutes by air, but it may take an hour or more by car, and then somebody has to drive the car back as well. Public transport, if available at all, might be even more problematic.
If you hire a car, you are also supposed to bring it back to the place where you rented it. If you just leave it somewhere and mail the owner the keys, then they are entitled to charge repatriation costs as well. Why would an airplane be any different?