With Las Vegas airports in full preparation for a Super Bowl surge of general aviation traffic, AOPA is crying foul over the special event fees being levied.
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With Las Vegas airports in full preparation for a surge of general aviation traffic this weekend for Super Bowl LVIII, AOPA is crying foul over the special event fees being levied on aircraft operators by local FBOs and the county airport authority.
The organization, along with the support of numerous pilot groups across the country, is encouraging the U.S. Senate to support an amendment by Sen. Ted Budd (R-North Carolina) that would allow pilots access to public-use airports with “fair, reasonable, and transparent fees.”
Similar to the extra fees placed by Las Vegas airports and service providers on aircraft arrivals during the city’s recent hosting of the Formula 1 Grand Prix, special event charges this week at its airports will set operators back $750 and up into the thousands of dollars depending on the size of the aircraft. To AOPA, fees such as these are highlighting a growing trend among service providers.
The Clark County Department of Aviation—which operates the FBOs at Henderson Executive (KHND) and North Las Vegas (KVGT) airports—explained to AIN that the event fees will offset costs for the additional staff and equipment required. It is expected that the airports will be handling an unprecedented level of traffic as Las Vegas hosts the NFL championship game for the first time.
During the Grand Prix event in November, the chain FBOs at Harry Reid International Airport (KLAS) noted that, in addition to increasing ground service equipment, they also brought in highly trained staff from other locations at a time when area hotel rooms were at a premium.
“Today, the FAA is required to ensure airport fees are fair and reasonable and clearly that is not happening at many airports,” stated AOPA president Mark Baker. “We support FBOs and airports, but we need some guardrails around these fees or at a minimum have the FAA enforce current rules and regulations or change current rules and regulations.”
With Las Vegas airports in full preparation for a surge of general aviation traffic this weekend for Super Bowl LVIII, AOPA is crying foul over the special event fees being levied on aircraft operators by local FBOs and the county airport authority. The organization, along with the support of numerous pilot groups across the country, is encouraging the U.S. Senate to support an amendment by Sen. Ted Budd (R-North Carolina) that would allow pilots access to public-use airports with “fair, reasonable, and transparent fees.”
Similar to the extra fees placed by Las Vegas’ airports and service providers on aircraft arrivals during the city’s recent hosting of the Formula 1 Grand Prix, special event charges this week at its airports will set operators back $750 and up into the thousands of dollars depending on the size of the aircraft. To AOPA, fees such as these are highlighting a growing trend among service providers.
The Clark County Department of Aviation—which operates the FBOs at Henderson Executive (KHND) and North Las Vegas (KVGT)—explained that the event fees will offset costs for additional staff and equipment required. During the Grand Prix event, the chain FBOs at Harry Reid International Airport (KLAS) noted that, in addition to increasing ground service equipment, they also brought in trained staff from other locations at a time when area hotel rooms were at a premium.