Signature Flight Support

at Laurence G Hanscom Field Airport

From Gordon Coburn on 28-Jun-2008

Arrived on Weekend in single engine. Immediately met and directed by line. CSR at desk friendly and helpful. 50-cent weekend gas discounts and waived handling fee with fuel purchase. Top class lounge. Highly recommend.
 

From D. Bloomberg on 26-Apr-2008

Came into KBED two days in a row, to pick up my son from MIT and drop him off again the next day. I called in advance both times and Signature had a new, clean Ford available and waiting as a courtesy car at no charge to go to the Alewife red line T station for me to use to pick up and drop off my son. The service at Signature was friendly, professional and very helpful. Susan (?) provided directions to the station and held the car for me both days. The service was excellent and much appreciated as it allowed my son to join us for a family function.
 

From Gary Mahler on 22-Oct-2007

Signature was all I could ask for, good service, did what I asked, got me a cab, to drop my daughter off at BU, who waited and brought us back no problem. I bought 40 gal gas and their fee was waived, but I just got a bill from Massport for $15 departure fee. The invoice says right on it Effective Nov 1st, 2007 departure fee for aircraft over 10, 000 pounds increases to $2.04 I guess my 5, 000 Baron gets to pay more.
 

From John Faxon on 15-Oct-2007

Had to make an unscheduled landing here in my 172SP because of a problem with the autopilot. I was treated very well. Maybe a little too well. I figured I would see it on the bill but the charges were very reasonable and the service excellent. My thanks to Bob Freitas for his good advice and attentiveness of the entire staff.
 

From Millard Alexander on 07-Oct-2007

Flew into bed yesterday (Saturday). Everyone at signature was helpful. I had rented a car with hertz, but somehow the date was confused, but the counter person at signature was able to call hertz and sort everything out. The line staff was very helpful and friendly. There's a $0.50 discount on gas on the weekend - the total comes to $5.37/gal, which is more than I pay at home (KFME), but not out of line for a major FBO at a big-city class D airport.
 

From Herb Rosenthal, Bethesda, MD on 27-Jun-2007

Overnighter at Signature on 6/26/07 in a Skylane. Service was very good. They do have a $25 ramp fee if you do not buy 8 gallons of fuel. Even though their fuel prices are high, I would rather spend that $25 on gas than on nothing. Parking is expensive but no more so than a car in a big city downtown garage. No delays in getting luggage and us from the plane to their terminal and vice versa today. No hassle or delays with the MASSPORT required proplock.
 

From David Blakney on 29-May-2007

I agree with the previous posting...Appeal it! In addition to this foolishness, they have redefined "night" at Bedford. Whatever you do, do not arrive before 0700 or you'll see a "night landing" fee of $49. Their slogan should be, "Come Get a Glimpse of Life with User Fees!" Taxachusetts strikes again. And, don't expect much more than someone in Philadelphia (or India) reading from some manual when they try to explain it. Stay away from this place.

Response from Sara Arnold, MASSPORT Hanscom
Massport is working aggressively with its new invoicing contractor to address the landing fee issues identified below. Despite the multiple complexities involved in data collection and the time required to iron out the bugs when working with new software, the number of invoicing errors each month is small and continues to decline. That being said, our experience indicates that changes in aircraft ownership and changes in tail numbers seem to create an unending set of challenges. If you find an invoicing error, please contact us so we can make the appropriate corrections. We are also willing to discuss our policies and always value your input.

 

From Neil Harmon on 25-May-2007

Regarding the bad landing fee... Please appeal it. I just got a $61.05 invoice from Vector-Massport for FLYING OVER Hanscom on my way from KLWM to KOWD. Their system is obviously dysfunctional. Massport is obviously more concerned with revenue than customer service or accuracy! Beware when using this airport.
 

From Roy Oake on 18-May-2007

I have landed and used Signature over a dozen times in the last year for business flights into the Boston Area. Signature is always great at BED, although sometimes a little slow to remove the prop-lock in the remote area of the tarmac reserved for the unworthy and piston singles. I recently received a TAKEOFF bill from Vector-Massport for $35.15 for a single engine Mooney. I have been paying a $10.00 LANDING fee for many months. This is the first time I have see a fee this high at BED and I hope that it is a mistake.
 

From Scott Dyer on 11-May-2007

Update to May 7 comment: per Angel Flight NE and the manager at Signature, this charge should not have been levied and a refund is being made.
 

From Scott Dyer on 07-May-2007

Used Signature/BED on May 5, 2007 for an Angel Flight mission. On the ground for about 45 minutes. Friendly staff, good service. Massport assesses a $12.75 fee for parking, from 0-24 hours, and no exceptions for Angel Flight mission (shame on Massport).
 

From Chuck Kissner on 22-Oct-2006

Used Signature after having some poor experiences at Jet Aviation and found them very satisfactory. Everything was done as promised, and staff was friendly and competent.
 

From David Blakney on 09-Oct-2006

Been on several Angel Flights to Bedford and find the Signature staff to be welcoming, friendly and helpful. My little C172 has been made as welcome as the Citations it occasionally parks near. Tower folks also friendly and helpful.
 

From Ira Saligman on 17-Aug-2006

WATCH OUT!!!! Visit 8/16/06: I landed in a private single engine plane. When I was ready to go in addition to the $12.50 landing fee, they charged me a $25 "handling fee". The extent of my Handling was a lineman pointing to a space. Very discouraging to private aviation!!!!
 

From Al Talesa on 07-Apr-2006

My flight instructor and I landed at BED for some lunch and gas. We parked at Signature because of their great reputation. However, when we walked in, we were met by the parking lot owner telling us to move our 172 because it was his private parking lot. The staff at the counter told us that we shouldn't be there because Massachusetts State Troopers would arrest us for not having airport badges. We were treated like criminals by everyone there. The owner scolded us and asked for our flight school address so he would bill us $10.00 for the 10 minutes we were there. Needless to say, we left in a hurry without food and gas. I will never, ever land in BED even if I'm running out of gas. I will go anywhere else. I will never go through that humiliation ever again.
 

From Steve Webster on 04-Apr-2006

Flew into Signature last week. Arrived from KBUF around 7PM. Service was excellent. I called ahead on the radio and they arranged a room at crew rates. They guided me to parking and golf carted me and my luggage back to their terminal. As I finished registering, the hotel shuttle was waiting outside. The next day they loaned me a crew car for the afternoon. Did not have to take a single taxi the whole time I was there. Now, don't count on that every time you go, it all depends upon availability of cars. Service was excellent, staff was friendly. I found everyone very warm towards small GA flyers like myself, despite what others have posted here. Airplane was fueled up as requested for my departure when I returned to leave. Only thing I found odd, but apparently is a requirement from Massport (which manages this airport), is they put a lock on the prop. That didn't bother me mind you; it meant no one was going to take off with my plane! Great service, and great people.
 

From Keith Ruskin on 16-Feb-2006

Signature is great. I arrived in a single-engine piston, and a lineman ran (!) down the ramp to get to my parking space before I did. Before I shut down, a van was waiting to take me to the terminal, and the staff had already arranged my transportation to downtown Boston. The personnel at the desk couldn't have been nicer. (They even gave me a Valentines Day cookie!) Everything went just as smoothly when I was ready to leave the next day, and three people stopped to thank me for my business. Many thanks to Brian D. and the rest of the staff. By the way, ask them to call Mike's Transportation if you're going to Boston. He charges $48 to go downtown in a town car - sure beats $60 for a taxi, and he's a nice guy, too!
 

From Philip Greenspun on 08-Jan-2006

I fly a Robinson R22 helicopter every day that is kept in a Signature hangar next to a Gulfstream. Signature is very responsive to our requests, whether it be for 5 gallons of 100LL or a ride out to the hangar. We have never had to explain to a line guy that the helicopter takes 100LL and not Jet A, or how to ground an R22. The gals behind the desk are very organized. It looks like a stuffy corporate jet environment, but everyone is friendly and always happy to see my dog. If you're a starving instructor and go in to eat the free cookies, drink the free coffee, and use the weather computer or Internet, you get treated the same as a customer for $10,000 of jet fuel.
 

From Alex Vegas on 29-Dec-2005

Planning a trip to Bedford, but now considering Lawrence (LWM) as an alternate to BED. The Fee's being the main reason as well as, the high price of AVGAS. No doubt MASSPORT has it hand on some of the fees, but RAMP FEES that can be waived with $$$ of fuel purchased are not MASSPORT Fees, just FBO's needing to capture revenue one way or another. http://www.massport.com/hansc/hansc_operating.html. Only two fees I could find on MASSPORT behalf off their own website. Wing < 40' $12.75 per 24/hr period Parking Fee 0 - 3000lbs $10.00 Flat Rate Landing Fee
 

From Geoffrey Knauth on 06-Nov-2005

Handling fee "HC SINGLE CAT" $23.00, was waived with fuel purchase (7 gal minimum). "WESTRAMP PARKI" fee $12.75, Cessna 172. Cab into downtown Boston was $60.