can a public airport keep you out?

[busted]

I'm looking at the Aeroteck plane which has the folding wings like Kitfox etc. If I bring it to an airport do they have to let me in? Pre 9/11 it wouldn't have been much of an issue but now they are fenced in pretty good. I don't know if the local FBO is going to be real happy to go out and unlock the gate for me everytime I pull in. That's even if he/she are even around. If I go to a bigger class C airport they might go tell me to pound sand? Just doing my homework....... thank you

[CTLSi]

......

[CharlieTango]

Because of the commercial service at our field now we have to deal with TSA and get an ID card to access and escort to our hangars. I'm the only one that fuels on the field with my own fuel so there isn't any big effort to control that.

[busted]

I don't think walking out to the hangers is a big issue if you go thru the main lobby etc. If your flying at the same airport I'm sure you could get some arrangement to get in but I was thinking more if you were trailering it on a long vacation and it all of sudden it got servere clear and you wanted to get it out and fly. Let the wife drive the rig to the next town (Ya, Right). Can A FBO not let you in because he don't know you and he is not real happy about letting a stranger on his field with a truck and trailer. Just doing my homework. thank you.

[drseti]

If the FBO's primary business is renting hangars, aircraft, and tiedowns, then they might not be too thrilled (how does a restaurant feel about you using one of their tables and bringing in your own food?). But the runway and ramp are public-use, and besides, most FBOs count on fuel sales to stay in business. Talk to the airport or FBO manager in advance. Let them know you intend to buy fuel from them. Most are pilots, and will be most cooperative.

[Jack Tyler]

You really should visit the airport(s) you are considering using, meet the operator who establishes the hours, manages the security perimeter, provides the after-hours public access, etc. And simply walking around the hangars and talking with some of the tenants, you may come across local knowledge of how things work that will be very informative. It's amazing to me the diversity of actual practices which exist among a/c owners on my small rural airport, despite it being owned by a large port authority and imposing a 70 page tenant agreement..

Having said all that, public airports receiving federal grants are obligated to provide equitable access to all users. There are lots of guidelines and restrictions and details that still allow an airport owner to manage the facility properly (safety, environmental quality, etc.) but public access itself is mandated by the FAA as a condition of their funding program (which almost all GA airports take advantage of annually). You might want to look at this document:

http://www.faa.gov/airports/resources/p ... ce_5190_6/

E.g with respect to fueling your own a/c, you'll find this compliance manual includes the statement: "The FAA considers the right to self-service as prohibiting the establishment of any unreasonable restriction on the owners or operators of aircraft regarding the servicing of their own aircraft and equipment." (See Chapter 11 for much more on that).

Neat a/c choice, IMO! Relatively affordable - both its purchase and operating cost - great viz from the cockpit, and reasonably equipped as stock. But you'll want to provide it with covered storage and won't reach distant destinations very quickly.