The International Cessna^® 170 Association

gahorn wrote:
Imagine that your girlfriend has a wheel bearing failure in your 1957 Chevy Impala, but HiWay Chevron refuses to take care of it, yet they're quite happy to do take care of 2006 Lexus that has the same problem?

Can't remember an Impala in '57, weren't they called BelAirs? Or something similar. Close though, the Impala came out in '58!

I would prefer a Chevell 454, around 1970. A 4 speed manual also. If you can't do that, then a green '51 truck would be okay.

Yeah, you're right, it was a BelAir , The Impala was the next year, 1958.

While I think the concept of not working on older planes sucks for me, since I own one, I also think that somehow boycotting or getting the AOPA lobby machine involved isn't a good idea altogether.

These FBOs are private businesses, they're free to make their own policies ad nauseum. Say you were a private business, a computer guy, and you had a general policy of not taking on projects involving old Radio Shack Tandy machines from the late 80's, simply because it's not a good biz model. Then the Tandy Enthusiasts Club mounts a public boycott campaign against you for not giving them equal access to your services...wouldn't that p-- you off?

George, you made the analogy of your lady having a problem with the ol '58 Chevy but the local shop won't work on it. Would you really even want to take that classic to a shop that specializes in the latest Japanese cars? The first question they would ask is why it doesn't have an OBDII port to plug the diagnostics computer in. They don't even own a timing light or a dwell meter. Steer clear!

If it wasn't an insurance mandated policy, I would say who cares. Let the business do what they want, but the scary truth is that this is coming down from their insurance company, who can make them jump through a lot of hoops they may not want to... like screening who they sell fuel to. That's a scary thought.

Perhaps the old guy a few rows down who specializes in old Pipers and Cessnas will get more business from the classics instead of feeling the pressure to keep up with the latest glass panels and autopilot systems.

I look at it this way....... Any shop with that policy probably doesn't have anyone on staff that knows didilly squat about 170's, so I wouldn't want them working on my plane anyway. I'm picky about who I let touch my airplane. They have every right to decide what they want to work on, just as I have the right to decide who works on my plane. Just MHO...

tripslip38 wrote: George, you made the analogy of your lady having a problem with the ol '58 Chevy but the local shop won't work on it. Would you really even want to take that classic to a shop that specializes in the latest Japanese cars? The first question they would ask is why it doesn't have an OBDII port to plug the diagnostics computer in. They don't even own a timing light or a dwell meter. Steer clear!

If it wasn't an insurance mandated policy, I would say who cares. Let the business do what they want, but the scary truth is that this is coming down from their insurance company, who can make them jump through a lot of hoops they may not want to... like screening who they sell fuel to. That's a scary thought.

Perhaps the old guy a few rows down who specializes in old Pipers and Cessnas will get more business from the classics instead of feeling the pressure to keep up with the latest glass panels and autopilot systems.

In the example I used, it was a wheel bearing. A level of expertise applicable to any generation of autos. This thing of the FBO refusing to work similarly on older airplanes is relative I think.
Cutter has FBOs at Dallas, Albuquerque, El Paso, San Antonio, Phoenix, McKinney, and Deer Valley. Their advertising says, "Our service department experts are here to help.
With a knowledgeable staff of aircraft maintenance professionals, Cutter Aviation is ready, willing and able to support your maintenance needs and requirements at our Albuquerque, Deer Valley, Phoenix, San Antonio, and Dallas locations." and "We are also ready to service your Cessna, Piper and Mooney aircraft"
Their ABQ facility even has a OLD AIRPLANE FOR SALE! They're quite happy to make money selling aircraft older than 18 years: "1974 V-35B BONANZA S/N D-9609 N4430W" Don't they realize that airplane is over 32 years old? What if it crashes with a doctor or lawyer on board?
Seven-Bar ABQ is my choice next time I'm in ABQ. (Mid-year meeting in two weeks.) Cheaper fuel anyway.
Steve Pitt
General Manager
Phone
800 / 593 / 4990
505 / 842 / 4990
Fax
505 / 764 / 9748
Email
steve@7bar.com
http://www.7bar.com/service/avservice.pdf

Even better, with Rio Grande Best Western Hotel pickup.... is
KAEG (Double Eagle airport) Bode Aviation.
"Bode Aviation is an authorized Cessna Maintenance Center as well as a Cessna Single Engine Parts Sales facility. Contact Tim Gorman at 505-831-1301 for more information." And their customer comments are wonderful. $1/gal cheaper too.
http://www.airnav.com/airport/KAEG/BODE_AV#c