Landing Fees

[skippydiesel]

I have just received a statement from AVDATA purporting to be for "Airport landing and usage at Goulburn Airport (YGLB)"

 

A tad surprising as I have not landed at YGLB within the last 5 years or so (would have to check logbook for precise date).

 

Called AVDATA,  charming lady (CL) answered - Turns out the charge was for doing a low pass ? WTF?  Who knew you could be charged for an aerial manoeuvre ?

 

I  explained to CL, that not only had I no intention of landing but there was also a high wing (Foxbat?) backtracking on the runway at the time, so I couldn't land and no I definitely wasn't training.

 

Apparently YGLB charge for any fly past under 1000 ft AGL. I checked ERSA - no mention of this innovative Toll on the airspace.

 

My thanks to CL who has waved the fee.

 

Was the Forum aware that you could be charged for a fly past??😈

 

 

[skippydiesel]

Is it true that I am the only pilot, on the Forum, that didnt realise you had to  pay a  toll for passing over some airfields, in Australia??😈

[facthunter]

No you are not, but what Maintenance is associated with the airspace? In  CTA you are using paid People so can be justified.  Nev

[Blueadventures]

2 hours ago, skippydiesel said:

I have just received a statement from AVDATA purporting to be for "Airport landing and usage at Goulburn Airport (YGLB)"

 

A tad surprising as I have not landed at YGLB within the last 5 years or so (would have to check logbook for precise date).

 

Called AVDATA,  charming lady (CL) answered - Turns out the charge was for doing a low pass ? WTF?  Who knew you could be charged for an aerial manoeuvre ?

 

I  explained to CL, that not only had I no intention of landing but there was also a high wing (Foxbat?) backtracking on the runway at the time, so I couldn't land and no I definitely wasn't training.

 

Apparently YGLB charge for any fly past under 1000 ft AGL. I checked ERSA - no mention of this innovative Toll on the airspace.

 

My thanks to CL who has waved the fee.

 

Was the Forum aware that you could be charged for a fly past??😈

 

 

Sounds like your in the circuit zone not over flying.  What calls were made by you?

[skippydiesel]

16 minutes ago, Blueadventures said:

Sounds like your in the circuit zone not over flying.  What calls were made by you?

Yep! Did a x wind join from the dead/non operative side, following a small high wing, turning Base. Made my intentions known - not landing. On Final, asked the high wing, now backtracking,  if they minded me doing what was in effect a go round over them - no they didnt. Mission accomplished. Went home from there.

 

Note: YGLB has no tower or traffic control/assistance. It's a privately owned, former public owned airfield, given away by the Feds, I think to Goulburn Council, who on-sold it to a private entity.

 

As I pointed out,  ERSA has the AD having landing fees (sort of complicated involving charges for certain taxiways) nothing about charging for the air above- not even sure this is allowable/legally enforceable.

 

At no time did I use any YGLB services or assets.

 

Do any other airfields charge for the air above??😈

[BurnieM]

They charged me $12 for a single touch and go a few weeks ago.

 

I understand that the charging is done from radio recordings.

They pretty much had to wave it but I would have thought it should have been obvious you did not actually land.

 

 

Edited March 28 by BurnieM

[SGM]

Yes charging from radio is what I understand.  Once I announced I was taxiing at Murwillumbah (YMUR), but after run ups, I looked aTt rain developing, so taxied back to the clubhouse and waited for an hour before departing.  I got charged twice for that.  Potentially, this would demotivate people from providing full registration in radio calls?  I would be intrigued to know how they record  and process CTAF and why CTAF recordings never seem to emerge in accident investigations.

[BurnieM]

I thought they only charged for landings ?

 

They have been used in incidents before but I understand ATSB do not specify the source due to lack of proof of chain of custody.

 

 

Edited March 28 by BurnieM

[KRviator]

I continue to get nasty-grams from Avdata claiming I owe money for landings at places I've never been.

Tried to sort it out with the morons there to no avail, so simply wrote back "When you work out which fees are legitimate and issue a true and correct invoice, it will be paid". Till then, my dollars haven't become their dollars.

Parasites. Bottom dwelling pond scum.

[skippydiesel]

1 hour ago, BurnieM said:

They charged me $12 for a single touch and go a few weeks ago.

 

I understand that the charging is done from radio recordings.

They pretty much had to wave it but I would have thought it should have been obvious you did not actually land.

 

 

Yes from radio calls (in my case specified no landing) that the pilot makes giving aircraft type & registration ALSO  AVDATA alluded to a recording of my track & altitude???? Referring to this, the charming lady, agreed I had not landed, mentioning my arrival & departure altitude.😈

[Moneybox]

3 hours ago, skippydiesel said:

Yes from radio calls (in my case specified no landing) that the pilot makes giving aircraft type & registration ALSO  AVDATA alluded to a recording of my track & altitude???? Referring to this, the charming lady, agreed I had not landed, mentioning my arrival & departure altitude.😈

 

That's a deterrent from making radio calls. Not exactly promoting safety is it. 

[Moneybox]

Wait until I get my airstrip done with a trip wire on either end triggering a camera. I'll make a fortune off the kangaroos and emus 😁

[Bernie]

They tried to charge for overfly at Hervey Bay years back... went nowhere. It was pointed out that they don't own the air.

Bernie 

[Geoff_H]

Always make a radio call, use a Qantas &^& call sign, just say "Cessna  xxx" in front of it.  All around know what type of aircraft, but identification is uncertain.  Switch off aircraft ID before, it worked in the old days before aircraft identity systems.  I believe that it happened a lot at Cessnock where landing fees were exuberant. 

[facthunter]

I would NOT advise that, though I understand the anger.  Nev

[skippydiesel]

So is Hervey Bay the only other airfield where a use of circuit charge has been attempted/failed?😈

[Red]

Id be tempted to announce myself as an RAAF PC-21 intending a low and slow pass next time...just add 'tally ho!' at the end of the call and none would ever know

[Moneybox]

15 minutes ago, Red said:

Id be tempted to announce myself as an RAAF PC-21 intending a low and slow pass next time...just add 'tally ho!' at the end of the call and none would ever know

Unless you forgot to turn the ADSB off 🤣

[skippydiesel]

IF! there is a next time, I will land, visit with the locals (hostiles?), get my $12+ worth & depart😈

[spacesailor]

With inflation ! , what would you get for for ten bucks .

spacesailor

[facthunter]

AVDATA are a Monopoly debt collecting show that profits from getting the Money for the Aerodrome Operator but you should be offered an alternative way to pay  DIRECT, and reduce the cost to you. I suggest this situation is ILLEGAL and should be tested. Aircraft operators have Never signed a consent form with AVDATA. They don't listen to your statement that the Plane couldn't be yours. Make a STAT Declaration , Don't PAY THEM and let them charge you for Perjury. Nev

[facthunter]

 spacey...A plastic hand pump on special?  Nev

Edited Sunday at 12:29 AM by facthunter
clarity

[Moneybox]

1 hour ago, facthunter said:

AVDATA are a Monopoly debt collecting show that profits from getting the Money for the Aerodrome Operator but you should be offered an alternative way to pay  DIRECT, and reduce the cost to you. I suggest this situation is ILLEGAL and should be tested. Aircraft operators have Never signed a consent form with AVDATA. They don't listen to your statement that the Plane couldn't be yours. Make a STAT Declaration , Don't PAY THEM and let them charge you for Perjury. Nev

 

A bit like the toll roads?

[BurnieM]

But AVDATA do have a contract with the Airfield owners.

Most airfield owners have a website where they state their charges.

Really this argument should be with the airfield owners if you are being charged for usage that did not occur.

 

Edited Sunday at 01:16 AM by BurnieM

[skippydiesel]

9 minutes ago, BurnieM said:

But AVDATA do have a contract with the Airfield owners.

Most airfield owners have a website where they state their charges.

Really this argument should be with the airfield owners if you are being charged for usage that did not occur.

 

There is no argument - this is but a question/debate.

I was/am shocked at an attempt to charge for the use of the airspace above YGLB.

Going by the Hervey Bay comment (above), at least one other Australian airfield has tried & failed, to charge for using the airspace above it.

"Most airfield owners have a website where they state their charges." - are you suggesting that; if stated on a website, its legitimate/fair/reasonable?

".......this argument should be with the airfield owners if you are being charged for usage that did not occur." I did fly through (use) the air above YGLB 

Seems to me we should all be shocked by such a move.

What's next, a charge to breath?😈