Originally Posted by Fuji Abound
I struggle with the comments about wasting the controllers time, particularly if it is for a jolly
1. The controller is getting paid to do a job, and if you are paying the landing fee you are contributing to his salary. If the airport authority agrees you are paying your way commercially frankly the controllers views are pretty irrelevant.
Perhaps it's due to the fact that ATC in different areas is operated and funded in different ways. In the U.S., Landing fees collected by the airport generally have nothing to do with controller salaries, which are paid in part by fuel and ticket taxes. Landing fees fund local airport operations and improvements. Controllers at major airports are Federal employees. At most larger airports, if you're properly rated and equipped, and have business at the large airports, you'll be handled appropriately. If you give the impression you're just "joyriding" though, and the field is busy, you'll often be turned down, which is completely in accordance with U.S. ATC procedure. Most airports in the U.S. have no "Landing" fees. There may be a fee for parking though, often waived if you purchase fuel at outrageous prices...
