While Uber and Lyft may have gone miles toward solving the “last mile” dilemma for general aviation pilots, a Northwest-based private pilot has launched a new program that could be a more complete solution. As reported by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Shahzad Satter launched GoCrewCar last year, so far limited to a few airports in Sattar’s Pacific Northwest location. But, he has ambitions to grow the concept within the region and hopes it will eventually expand throughout the nation.
B.C. still favours the cartel of unsafe, dishonest, poor service companies - but if you claim to have zero-emission cars you go to the head of the lineup. Then when you discontinue service in a key city you get to keep the license.
(One of the cartel in Victoria BC advertised itself using the name of a new competitor, gummint regulator chastised it nothing more. (Paid to list it at top of search page. Offender claimed an employee did the deed - was s/he fired?
Same outfit has a taxi driving in rain with front tires whose tread depth is below limits.)
Sounds like a good plan and I wish you all the best. But beware of a flaw in this crew car business. After flying for several different companies in their private aircraft, we would ask for a crew car while the company owner was still in the waiting area. He noticed it was so easy to get keys to the car instead of renting a car or making other arrangements. So the next trip the company owner hit the desk before we did, and got the last crew car. They were advised of the two hour limit, and off they went for the DAY!. Leaving the crew stuck at the airport without transportation for the day. When the owner returned, he apologized that he lost track of time and then informed the desk people the car needs fuel before it goes out again. Hated these people, but we had ways to make up for our inconvenience when we turned in our expense report.
Another rental agency? My wife has a special phone number for Enterprise Rent-a-Car and, using that number, she can get a car, papers, and keys dropped off at the FBO desk so that it’s waiting for us when we arrive. We did that at Ryan Field, Tucson, AZ. Just drop the keys with the FBO and Enterprise will come and pick the car up.
At Las Vegas, NM airport, a local pilot, frustrated by transport difficulties at many other airports, placed an older (but not junk) car at the airport for transients’ use. There’s some good Mexican food at KLVS!
Ruidoso (KSRR) has two cars for pilots and it’s a short drive to Capitan (home of Smokey Bear, really!) and a multi state fair winning green chili cheese burger. It’s worth the trip!
We flew in to Tradewinds airpark in Amarillo, TX to get a burger at the Big Texan, you know, the place that advertises a 72 oz steak for free if you can eat everything (including gristle and fat) within one hour. The lady at the desk said that she’d get the crew car for us and, when we walked out front, there was a 7-series BMW! Not a wreck.
At Aztec, NM they have two cars at the unattended airport (at least nobody was there) and a sign that said to keep the car for up to a week! Go fishing in Colorado! We just got lunch, topped up the tank and flew home.
I’ve driven a wreck or two as well. At one unnamed airport they said that I shouldn’t drive the car above 55 mph due to the sloppy front end suspension. But the bridge into town was out and I had to drive on the interstate highway, an exciting ride!
The cheapest thing some flight departments can put in the corporate aircraft is the boss. If your boss is pulling crew cars out from under you to save a couple bucks before you get to the front desk, your boss is also probably a skimper on safety as well. Time to look for a job with a flight department whose leadership has bought into both operating safety and operating ethics.
John, I can agree with what you mentioned, but in my flying corporate, my bosses did not skimp on maintenance costs. They knew if I did not like the plane, I would not fly it. I have parked a plane or two in my time, because the guy in back was calling the shots when the plane needed repairs, and I informed him that I was not flying it until the repairs were made. Never lost an argument nor did I get fired. I know I was one of the lucky ones when it came time to put my foot down.