The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has intensified its campaign against what it describes as FBOs preventing reasonable airport access due to pricing practices, with the introduction of an “airport access watch list," culled from its top 50 most-complained-about airports.

“These locations all fit a certain profile,” said AOPA general counsel Ken Mead. “They are not necessarily the worst in any specific category, but a collective set of indicators shows us there likely is an issue.”

On the list are Atlantic City (ACY) in New Jersey; Wyoming’s Casper/Natrona County (CPR); Norfolk (ORF) and Charlottesville-Albemarle (CHO) in Virginia; Pennsylvania’s Chester County G. O. Carlson (MQS); Hilton Head (HXD) in South Carolina; Arizona’s Laughlin/Bullhead (IFP); Rochester (RST) in Minnesota; Denver Rocky Mountain Metropolitan (BJC); and Sloulin Field (ISN) in North Dakota. All are served by a lone FBO operated by one of the major chains.

“NATA maintains that all 10 of the FBOs at the named airports are compliant with FAA grant assurances,” said National Air Transportation Association president Martin Hiller, adding that each location participated in a competitive RFP process at its respective airport and engages in market-driven pricing practices. “AOPA notes that it will begin a dialogue with each airport sponsor. We are confident that this will soon clear any misconceptions and lead to the termination of the list.” [Ed.—Hiller is a principal in North Shore Holdings, which owns FBOs Marathon Jet Center, Marathon General Aviation, and Harbour Air Services.]