Wed Oct 20, 2021 10:29 am
#1877207
There seems to be an increasing trend for airfields to provide an online/web based PPR and/or landing fee payment scheme. I've observed that rather than adopt/share a common solution, we are at the earlier stage of evolution where there are individual apps for each airfield. I guess as these evolve and develop, we might see some consolidation with the better solutions winning out. I doubt there is much money in it for software developers, so many of these will be a labour of love.
Examples include
- Llanbedr/Flysnowdonia.com. Arguably the best I've come across to date. Includes automatic PPR, checking the date/time you've requested, validating your phone number with SMS, taking your card details via Stripe but only charging it after confirmation that you did land.
- Wellesbourne. QR code on the tower door, links to payment website used on your phone to pay appropriate landing fee. Quick and easy to use.
- Enstone. Combines PPR and landing fee, but you have to pay when requesting PPR.
- Deanland.
- Brimpton.
- Perpignan France. Possibly the worst I've encountered. Was unable to use for PPR and ended up emailing instead. Took payment but didn't issue the gate code, so again had to contact the service desk to get airside.
I am sure there are many others.
The only wider scheme/App I am aware of is Aerops, which seems fairly popular throughout Germany and does have a few UK participants. I believe they charge 5% + 50p per transaction to the airfield, no extra fees to the pilot.
While I'm not a huge fan of PPR generally, because it can reduce spontaneity and flexibility, I quite like the idea of knowing in advance what the fees will actually be and being able to pay them without much hassle. For example, visiting an airfield for circuits but not having to land to pay the fees can be quite useful and convenient.
Do Flyers find these systems helpful and time saving or awkward/painful?
What do we think the next stages of evolution of these websites will be? For example some are trying to charge for fuel too.
Examples include
- Llanbedr/Flysnowdonia.com. Arguably the best I've come across to date. Includes automatic PPR, checking the date/time you've requested, validating your phone number with SMS, taking your card details via Stripe but only charging it after confirmation that you did land.
- Wellesbourne. QR code on the tower door, links to payment website used on your phone to pay appropriate landing fee. Quick and easy to use.
- Enstone. Combines PPR and landing fee, but you have to pay when requesting PPR.
- Deanland.
- Brimpton.
- Perpignan France. Possibly the worst I've encountered. Was unable to use for PPR and ended up emailing instead. Took payment but didn't issue the gate code, so again had to contact the service desk to get airside.
I am sure there are many others.
The only wider scheme/App I am aware of is Aerops, which seems fairly popular throughout Germany and does have a few UK participants. I believe they charge 5% + 50p per transaction to the airfield, no extra fees to the pilot.
While I'm not a huge fan of PPR generally, because it can reduce spontaneity and flexibility, I quite like the idea of knowing in advance what the fees will actually be and being able to pay them without much hassle. For example, visiting an airfield for circuits but not having to land to pay the fees can be quite useful and convenient.
Do Flyers find these systems helpful and time saving or awkward/painful?
What do we think the next stages of evolution of these websites will be? For example some are trying to charge for fuel too.
UK Flight Instructor with TB20 share at Gloucester
Post PPL flight blog
Post PPL flight blog