We are an FBO. We have auto-gas with no alcohol available for sale. 95% of the pilots based here that are using auto still bring it in cans even though it is illegal on our airport. That gas typically has alcohol in it because that is pretty much all that is available at most stations.
That is just the way it is. A large percentage of "autogas" pilots are more concerned with saving a few bucks than supporting the FBO. This "thinking" does not apply to all "autogas" pilots but it is not a minority of them. Kurt The majority of pilotsOn Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:08:01 -0500, Jerry Eichenberger wrote > > John - > > We could argue this all day. We don't have any spare tanks. We have a 10K > gallon tank for 100LL, and another for JetA. > > We have to remember that the entire 100LL program began back in the late > 1960s when large FBOs needed storage tanks to put Jet A in, as turbine > airplanes became more prevalent in General Aviation. > > Even at our relatively small airport (runway only 4300 feet) there are many > months when we sell as much or slightly more Jet A than we do Avgas. With > the coming VLJ revolution, and more turbine singles (Meridian, TBM, PC-12, > etc.) coming on line all of the time, I predict in another 5 years we'll > probably sell twice as much Jet as 100LL. > > As for the truck idea, again, it's a matter of hassle. Buy the truck, insure > it, license it for road use if you go after the gas rather than have it > delivered, insure it for road use, maintain the truck (that's a hassle > because A&P mechanics don't want to fix cars, trucks, lawn mowing equipment, > etc.) all are hassles not worth it for VERY LITTLE auto fuel to be sold. > > Yes, if a pilot is adamant on using auto fuel, he'll have to get with the > "can program". If that's more important than supporting the FBO who is there > to support him, so be it. > > Jerry E. > -----Original Message----- > From: John Cooper [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Friday, February 29, 2008 1:40 PM > To: 'Jerry Eichenberger'; [email protected] > Subject: RE: [ercoupe-tech] Re: support your local FBO (was Plastic Gas Cans) > > > > > and the labor cost to pay a lineman to put 6 to 10 gallons in a typical > > user of it. > > Sounds like you dont want these customers regardless of whether they buy > MoGas or AvGas > > Many FBOs Ive seen in the past use the fuel tanks from the 80 they no > longer carry, of course as time marches on more of those tanks are being > taken out and not replaced. I knew one operator who bought an old fuel truck > specifically to use to pick up and dispense auto fuel. > > Fuel without alcohol is available. The alcohol has to be added late in the > handling process as it is not very stable. > > While I can sympathize with the idea, I feel that if you dont want to take > the steps to accommodate the desires of the customer, it really isnt fair to > complain when he doesnt buy something he doesnt really want from you > instead of getting what he does want somewhere else. When I was based at a > field that had autogas, I bought it from them. I even paid up front for the > discount and after hours access. When I was based at a field that did not > have auto fuel, I did not buy 100LL very often, even though my employer was > selling it > > > John Cooper > Skyport Services > 518 797-3064 > www.skyportservices.net > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of > Jerry Eichenberger > Sent: Friday, February 29, 2008 1:17 PM > To: John Cooper; [email protected] > Subject: RE: [ercoupe-tech] Re: support your local FBO (was Plastic Gas Cans) > > > Trying to sell auto fuel at an FBO isn't very easy. > > > > First, of course, you have to have a storage and delivery system. Even above > ground tanks and pump are very expensive, tens of thousands of dollars. > > > > And, the numbers of airplanes that still use it aren't that numerous. > Everything made since the 1980s, maybe even back into the 1970s if you count > 172s and 152s need 100LL. Larger older airplanes like most twins, Bonanzas, > Comanches, and the like have needed 100 oct. fuel since they were made. > > > > Lastly, the types of airplanes that use 80 oct., and thus use auto gas, with > the sole exception of old 182s and really old other airplanes using a Cont. > 0470 engine don't use much fuel anyhow. Champs, Cubs, etc. typically buy > less than 10 gallons at a pop. Maybe an old 172 may buy 25 gallons at a time. > > > > Then, finding auto gas to sell that doesn't have alcohol is a pain. > > > > So, all totalled, selling auto gas at an FBO is FAR more trouble than it's > worth - at our place, I presume we'd sell less than 1,000 gallons a month of > it even if we did have it. > > > > And, it wouldn't be much cheaper than 100LL, given the costs of buying small > quantities at a time (you pay thru the nose for loads of less than a full > tanker at a time which is 8 to 10 thousand gallons - freight costs, per > gallon, get prohibitive), the costs of the storage and delivery system, and > the labor cost to pay a lineman to put 6 to 10 gallons in a typical user of > it. > > > That's why you see very few FBOs stocking auto fuel. > > > > Jerry E. > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of John > Cooper > Sent: Friday, February 29, 2008 10:49 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: RE: [ercoupe-tech] Re: support your local FBO (was Plastic Gas Cans) > > > If you expect him to be there for you when you need him, support him when > > you don't. > So, Jerry, way has your FBO chosen not to offer auto gas? > There are those who use auto gas primarily because they feel it is a better > choice for the engine. I happen to be one, but then I fly off my own property > so Im not really cutting into anyones business. > We all make business decisions and tradeoffs. I dont blame the coupe owner > for buying something from someone else if I cant make him a competitive > offer. I appreciate those who buy from me even if they could save a buck at > Aircraft Spruce. In fact, often, after shipping is factored in, they dont > pay any penalty. But there will always be those who dont. The only time I > let it get to me is when someone calls and asks how to install the part they > go from Univair ;) > > John Cooper > Skyport Services > 518 797-3064 > www.skyportservices.net >
