Signature Aviation consolidates FBO fees after decade of pilot complaints

Signature Aviation will combine ramp charges into a single aircraft-size-based fee and limit special-event surcharges to a handful of high-demand events starting in 2027 — nearly a decade after the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) filed FAA complaints over pricing at three of its US locations.

The new program, called Signature Access, bundles FBO charges into one price calculated on aircraft size, time on the ramp and location. Pilots and operators can check what they will owe through an online calculator before they arrive, rather than calling individual FBOs to ask.

The changes land almost ten years after the fight over FBO fees went formal. In August 2017, AOPA and seven pilots filed complaints with the FAA over pricing at Waukegan National Airport (UGN) in Illinois, Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) in North Carolina and Key West International Airport (EYW) in Florida — all three served by Signature Flight Support.

What did the complaints allege?

AOPA argued pilots were paying for services they never requested or used. At airports with a single FBO and no competition, the association said, pilots had little choice but to pay. One cited example: a pilot billed $236 after parking a light aircraft at Waukegan for two hours. Signature cut the charge to $90 after he protested, according to AOPA.

Signature took a partial step in 2018, publishing handling and infrastructure fees for piston aircraft at most of its US locations. AOPA welcomed the move but called for the same disclosure for turbine operators. Even then, pilots still had to phone individual locations to learn about some parking, security and other charges.

How does Signature Access work?

The program is live at selected locations for now, with a phased rollout planned over coming months. Key features include:

• A single access charge based on aircraft size, ramp time and location
• An online fee calculator available before arrival
• A waiver of the first hour's access charge for qualifying fuel purchases at participating US locations
• Hangar space, ground power and lavatory service remain separately priced

The bigger shift comes in 2027, when Signature plans to restrict special-event fees to a small number of events that create unusually high demand. It has committed to disclosing affected locations and prices at least 30 days in advance.

The events on the list read like a business-aviation calendar:

• The 2027 Super Bowl in Los Angeles
• The College Football Playoff National Championship in Las Vegas
• Art Basel in Miami Beach
• The US Open tennis tournament in New York
• The United Nations General Assembly in New York
• Certain Formula 1 race weekends

What are the industry associations saying?

AOPA Acting Co-President Katie Pribyl welcomed the move toward clearer pricing but kept up the association's pressure on affordability. "We'll keep advocating for fair, reasonable pricing that keeps flying within reach for everyone," Pribyl said.

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) backed the advance-pricing approach. "Transparency in all aspects of operations, including FBO pricing, is of paramount importance to FBO customers," said Dan Hubbard, NBAA's Acting Chief Operating Officer. "Having clear, upfront information about pricing and services allows operators to plan ahead and make informed decisions well before an aircraft arrives at an FBO."

NBAA said it will keep reviewing the program and gather operator feedback once it is implemented — a signal that the industry intends to verify whether published prices match what appears on the invoice.

For operators, the practical test will come as the rollout widens: whether the bundled fee and the 30-day event disclosures hold down costs at the monopoly-FBO airports that triggered the 2017 complaints in the first place.