Want a burger at the airport restaurant? How about a hangar to house your plane, or some Avgas for getting from Point A to B? Sure thing. You can have them, but they all come at a cost. Moreover, you expect to pay for these products and services rendered. So why would AOPA, the State of Montana, and some Part 91 aircraft operators believe that landing fees are any different?

Paul Bowers, Publisher

Well, this is a debate that’s rearing its ugly head in many aviation circles these days. Apparently, some think that airports and safe runways are easy and cheap to provide. How else does logic flow that we should be giving away airport use to general aviation pilots for free?

In this issue, we tackle the issue of GA landing fees in an excellent article by Michelle Gardner. She looks at the debate from the airport side of the fence by speaking to airports, ACI-NA, and a company that sets up systems to collect landing fees. Enjoy.

What else is in this issue? Plenty of other great stories about terminals, concessions, security, baggage and more. Plus, we also have a surprise for you. Starting with this issue, we’re converting text in our digital editions to audio. Each of our stories and columns now come with a “play” button that allows you to listen while you work, drive or relax. No matter what you choose, we hope you find our content valuable. Thanks for reading…or listening.

Cheers!