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By Pete Conrad
E-mail Pete Conrad
Its 10am on a hot still Tuesday morning. You are approaching the standard issue 8ft tall cyclone fence that winds its way around Snodgrass Municipal Airport on the outskirts of any town USA. And there’s your prey, a 1991 Piper Cheyenne II values at $800,000.00 perfectly visible thru the open hanger doors. The outstanding balance is over $700,000.00 and the “owner” hasn’t made a payment in over four months. Yet there it is, shining in the morning light, the pilot slowly making his way around it in a careful preflight dance.
Before moving in, you cast a silent prayer skyward, thanking God and your informant that you know about the owners trip this morning. You make your way confidently toward the gate marked “Authorized Personnel Only”, the gate that is usually propped open, because someone is always forgetting the combination, the key or access card (depending on the type of lock…of course). To your surprise it is actually closed and locked-for the first time! Your first thought might be to scream-Nooooo! But on second thought, that might draw too much attention to yourself. But wait… another thought-climb the fence. No, (too old & too fat). You begin to look around for some way thru that fence. You spot a security patrol slowing searching for terrorists, you try to flag them down, they ignore you. Perhaps, they reason that you’re not a terrorist because a terrorist would have already cut thru their security and started taking over or blowing up airplanes.
Again you cast about for options. Off in the distance you spy the low sprawling buildings of the Snodgrass Municipal Airport offices, partially hidden by several rows of Ford Expeditions all purchased last year. It was determined by the airport staff that the Ford Expedition (with leather) was the only vehicle that could propel the airport staff on their rounds. Driving along asphalt taxiways, runways and other airport roads could never be accomplished by a more affordable vehicle. In fact, you note as you make your way past, that task could have been accomplished by golf carts.
As you enter the plush air-conditioned airport offices, a secretary smiles benignly at you, “May I help you?”…. You pause, what do I tell her? “Could someone please let me thru the gate?”-Concise, honest, and to the point. “Do you own an aircraft?” she asks. “No.”-Searching for an explanation the secretary would buy, and of course not coming up with one. “Do you have some business on the airport?” She asks helpfully. “Well, yes-I have to exercise a contractual obligation with an aircraft owner on behalf of ACME bank.-If you can’t dazzle them brilliance, baffle them with B.S. “Hmm…just a moment please” she disappears around a corner. Great, a simple request turns into a major ordeal! A few minutes later she comes back, (ahh, progress) but a rather bureaucratic (dumpy/angry) looking man follows her. “Can I help you?” he asks, “I’m Dave Wagon the airport manager.” “I hope so.” You answer. “I would like to have someone open the gate.” “What is your business out on the ramp?” Here we go again, “I’m here to exercise a contractual obligation with a aircraft owner on behalf of Acme Bank.” A look of confusion slowly spreads across his face. Success! You have confused him-but he recovers quickly. “W-Well, we can only allow pilots, and other flight related personnel onto the airport.” With that he turns around and walks back into his office and closes the door.
As you walk back out into the heat of the day, the urge to scream wells up inside, especially as your prey the Cheyenne passes overhead on its way to whereabouts unknown.
Moral of the Story
My hope is that when or if you attempt to repossess an aircraft that you try to avoid the local airport manager and his underlings. For they will most likely cause delay, hardship or anger (on your part), but not necessarily in that order. If you can, try repossessing on a weekend or holiday, the bureaucrats seem to be quite scarce then. Above all else be professional and polite when forced to deal with the airport authorities. If you need help with access or information go to the people that really know what is going on at the airport. Flight Instructors, Mechanics, Fuelers, and almost anyone else who hang around an airport. Good Luck!!
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