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QuoteWhy would a "savvy real estate investor" spend the time and effort in such a predatory way as to start a DZ at either Deland or Z-Hills?
JR
btw: I know for a fact that Kobelt was bought as a preemptive strike against any competition there. I will not tell you how.
There's no reason it has to be one or the other. It's possible for a person to hold real estate for other reasons than protecting ones 'territory', and to try opening a couple of DZ in Florida out of spite.
In terms of the other airport FFX owns, you both may be correct. If Billy did indeed own the restaurant there, and house airplanes there (presumably owning a hanger or two), buying the airport might have made business sense, and one factor considered was that he would never allow a competing DZ to operate there. It might have been one factor on a long list that lead to the purchase.
In terms of trying to open DZs in Deland and Z-Hills, that has to be revenge, pure and simple. There's no way it's a coincidence that the two airports where he wants to place DZs also happen to be home to the two DZs in the state where he lost major, long standing business contracts. As stated before, and so obvious is almost doesn't need to be stated, there are DOZENS of other ariports in Fla where you could open a great DZ provided you had some money and some airplanes.
Who's got a couple of turbines down near Miami? How close can you get to Orlando International and run a couple Otters? What about on the beach near Jacksonville for Fla and Ga jumpers? The list goes on...
billvon 3,006
Quotebtw: I know for a fact that Kobelt was bought as a preemptive strike against any competition there. I will not tell you how.
I don't see this as a problem.
Everyone is free to buy any property for any reason.
What's the big deal?
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239
billvon 3,006
>Cessna 182 and a student operation run by one of the club members,
>also operating a Cessna 182.
Well, SLI had two 182's for quite a while, but agreed.
>I flew skydivers there for 30 years and there were some conflicts.
Also agreed, although those conflicts were due far more to personalities than the skydiving operations. There are some conflicts between the two schools at Perris, as well. But overall they do far more to help each other than to harm each other.
wow Dude,,pull your skirt down...
FB # - 1083
QuoteIn terms of the other airport FFX owns, you both may be correct.
Do we know it's FFX that owns the airport because as far as I know, FFX doesn't own the Ranch or Kobelt.
For the record, Kobelt basically faces north-south and our prevailing winds are generally east-west so that may have presented a problem but also makes for a great alternate landing area. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=45+sandhill+rd+gardiner+ny&aq=&sll=40.773294,-73.928634&sspn=0.080664,0.083857&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=45+Sand+Hill+Rd,+Gardiner,+Ulster,+New+York+12525&ll=41.657331,-74.143553&spn=0.079582,0.083857&t=h&z=14
jrsample, if you know this for a fact, I'm not sure why you're asking us to find proof if you already have it. You're the one who characterized the purchase that way and then wouldn't back it up except to allude to some inside knowledge. It's totally beside the point in any case, and as a couple of people have said, not unusual or really an issue anyway. You're coloring your comments to suggest it's a bad thing and in fact, that argument would support Skydive City and Deland more than it'd support what Billy's doing in that area - stopping competitors when there are viable alternatives.
Personally I hope that the two DZ don't go ahead and, if they're not economically viable, I'd expect that Billy/Joe won't proceed because I hope this is about money. Yes, I know I'm being naive and overly optimistic, no need to state the obvious.
![:P :P](/uploads/emoticons/tongue.png)
jrsample 0
QuoteQuoteIn terms of the other airport FFX owns, you both may be correct.
Do we know it's FFX that owns the airport because as far as I know, FFX doesn't own the Ranch or Kobelt.
For the record, Kobelt basically faces north-south and our prevailing winds are generally east-west so that may have presented a problem but also makes for a great alternate landing area. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=45+sandhill+rd+gardiner+ny&aq=&sll=40.773294,-73.928634&sspn=0.080664,0.083857&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=45+Sand+Hill+Rd,+Gardiner,+Ulster,+New+York+12525&ll=41.657331,-74.143553&spn=0.079582,0.083857&t=h&z=14
jrsample, if you know this for a fact, I'm not sure why you're asking us to find proof if you already have it. You're the one who characterized the purchase that way and then wouldn't back it up except to allude to some inside knowledge. It's totally beside the point in any case, and as a couple of people have said, not unusual or really an issue anyway. You're coloring your comments to suggest it's a bad thing and in fact, that argument would support Skydive City and Deland more than it'd support what Billy's doing in that area - stopping competitors when there are viable alternatives.
Personally I hope that the two DZ don't go ahead and, if they're not economically viable, I'd expect that Billy/Joe won't proceed because I hope this is about money. Yes, I know I'm being naive and overly optimistic, no need to state the obvious.![]()
This is not about whether FFX owns Kobelt. It's about the fact that FFX can and did protect themselves from encroachment by competitors whereas Skydive Deland and Skydive City cannot. FFX is the wolf at the door. FFX is not there asking to play. They are there to disrupt both communities where existing markets are satisfied and happy. Both cities are happy with the drop zones and the patrons of both are happy with their DZ.
Leading up to 1990 the City of Z-Hills was pretty fed up with George Kabeller. There were enough customers fed up too. FFX and friends went in and started another DZ under the auspices of the city and after huge hassles and many unsafe incidents Skydive City prevailed. There is no such need at Z-Hills now. FFX is going in as a spoiler. It's going to cost them far more than developing a new market but Billy doesn't care. It's about being a vindictive megalomaniac.
JR
Ron 10
QuoteFFX and friends went in and started another DZ under the auspices of the city and after huge hassles and many unsafe incidents Skydive City prevailed. There is no such need at Z-Hills now.
Fact is that FFE did once already EXACTLY what they are trying to do now.
Make no mistake, I think it is a vindictive move now.... But it was no nicer back then.
jrsample 0
QuoteQuoteFFX and friends went in and started another DZ under the auspices of the city and after huge hassles and many unsafe incidents Skydive City prevailed. There is no such need at Z-Hills now.
Fact is that FFE did once already EXACTLY what they are trying to do now.
Make no mistake, I think it is a vindictive move now.... But it was no nicer back then.
I should have added that there is no need or desire for a new DZ in either of the two cities where FFX is mounting their current efforts. The comparison to 1990 and SDC opening to the present onslaught was the desire of the city of Z-Hills to have a more friendly DZO than Kabeller. Both Skydive City and Skydive Deland enjoy very high levels of approval in their towns. Neither city is looking for a new DZO as was the case in 1990 Z-Hills. The only motivation now is Billy's ego and the only product of either new DZ would be unsafe skies, bitterness, aggravation, legal battles, etc.
JR
PhreeZone 20
And tomorrow is a mystery
Parachutemanuals.com
FB # - 1083
tkhayes 348
Betty is remotely involved in Lake Wales as the FBO, but not really involved in the skydiving anymore,
PhreeZone 20
Basically a third party consultant recommends Deland reject the application for a second skydiving company.
And tomorrow is a mystery
Parachutemanuals.com
normiss 806
The whining begins...now they'll have to try for a DZ at city hall, the Sheriff's helicopter hangar, and the flight school.
FB # - 1083
tkhayes 348
jrsample 0
JR
JohnRich 4
skymama 37
I read on someone's FB post that having 2 skydiving operations in Deland was voted down last night. Yay!
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon
QuoteAnyone know why the DZ at Flagler closed ? That seems like the ideal location for a DZ and Tandem factory....
Flagler closed years ago when Rock Evans and his wife divorced. From what I understand there were other factors involved in it's closing which I am not going to speculate about but according to rock and his ex-wife the dz closed when they split up.
About a year ago a friend of mine and I had conversation with the airport manager about having a DZ back at flagler ( we werent considering opening one we just happened to meet the guy are were talking) his thought was that the airport had way to much traffic to support a DZ they have a few flight schools there now and several businesses hanger jets there.
I don't know if he would still have that same thought or if they would be open to it now as I believe some of the flight schools have closed and some of the major companies no longer hanger there....
I'm having lunch with Rocky Evans next week to talk about another small dz he is working on opening... could be interesting
QuoteQuoteAnyone know why the DZ at Flagler closed ? That seems like the ideal location for a DZ and Tandem factory....
Flagler closed years ago when Rock Evans and his wife divorced. From what I understand there were other factors involved in it's closing which I am not going to speculate about but according to rock and his ex-wife the dz closed when they split up.
About a year ago a friend of mine and I had conversation with the airport manager about having a DZ back at flagler ( we werent considering opening one we just happened to meet the guy are were talking) his thought was that the airport had way to much traffic to support a DZ they have a few flight schools there now and several businesses hanger jets there.
I don't know if he would still have that same thought or if they would be open to it now as I believe some of the flight schools have closed and some of the major companies no longer hanger there....
I'm having lunch with Rocky Evans next week to talk about another small dz he is working on opening... could be interesting
You hear that alot.
3331 137
My guess is that under current guidance for federal funded airports they will open it, if it's filed and then conduct a safety study.
http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/advisory_circular/150-5190-7/150_5190_7.pdf
page # 10
Quotef.Skydiving.
Skydiving is an aeronautical activity. Any restriction, limitation, or ban on skydiving on the airport must be based on the grant assurance that provides that the airport sponsor may prohibit or limit aeronautical use for the safe operation of the airport (subject to FAA approval). The following questions present reasonable factors the sponsor might contemplate when developing minimum standards that apply to skydiving:
(1)
Will this activity present or create a safety hazard to the normal operations of aircraft arriving or departing from the airport? If so, has the local Airports District Office (ADO) or the Regional Airports Office been contacted and have those FAA offices sought the assistance from FAA Flight Standards (FS) and Air Traffic (AT) to assess whether safe airport operations would be jeopardized?
(2)
Can skydiving operations be safely accommodated at the airport? Can a drop zone be safely established within the boundaries of the airport? Is guidance in FAA AC-90-66A
Recommended Standards Traffic Patterns and Practices for Aeronautical Operations at Airports Without Operating Control Towers, 14 CFR Part 105 and United States Parachute Association’s (USPA) Basic Safety Requirements being followed?
(3)
What reasonable time periods can be designated for jumping in a manner consistent with Part 105? What experience requirements are needed for an on-airport drop zone?
(4)
What is a reasonable fee that the jumpers and/or their organizations can pay for the privilege of using airport property?
(5)
Has the relevant air traffic control facility been advised of the proposed parachute operation? Does the air traffic control facility have concerns about the efficiency and utility of the airport and its related instrument procedures?
(6)
Will it be necessary to determine the impact of the proposed activity on the efficiency and utility of the airport, related instrument approaches or nearby Instrument Flight Rules (IFR)? If so, has FAA Air Traffic reviewed the matter and issued a finding?
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