Montgomery Aviation

at Montgomery County Airpark

From Lon J. Sauter on 15-Jul-2008

Really nice airport!!! Friendly staff. Fuel a bit pricey but no ramp fees to stop in for a few hours. Will come again.
 

From Gary Smith on 24-May-2008

USE CAUTION... Staff knows that the lease for the FBO will not be renewed and they all have a "who cares attitude". Service is spotty at best. No customer service at this field. Don't waste your time or money. Go to another field and get much better service.
 

From Rosemarie Mintz on 18-Apr-2008

Never having been to GAI I telephoned the airport manager to check for any unknowns. He returned my call promptly. When we arrived a lineman was waiting to park us and help unload. My experience with GAI and its staff was positive - they were efficient and friendly. The routing from ATC was also easy to follow. A simply wonderful place to land
 

From Don Denny on 21-Mar-2008

Flew in March 15 and out March 20, 2008 in an Archer. I was met on the transient ramp and shown where to park. No tie downs available, so I was on wheel chocks only. Staff was very nice. Called a taxi for me. Before I headed back to GAI to leave, I called for fuel and had no problems. Again, staff very nice and helpful. Only charge for my stay was fuel at $5.65. I stayed in downtown DC. Took the Metro back to Shady Grove and had no problem picking up a taxi at the Metro station. All in all, I did not experience any of the problems described by others. This is about as convenient as you can get for a transient in DC.
 

From John Taylor on 05-Sep-2007

I asked for fuel by radio as I was preparing to shut down and the counter attendant copied my request, but not my tail number. After repeating it twice, I decided to shut down and walk to the counter. By the time I got to the counter, I was told the fuel truck driver had just left for the day. What kind of service is that?? The counter attendant knew I needed fuel and yet he said nothing to the fuel truck driver, who parked his truck 100 ft from my plane and decided to quit early for the day. The counter attendant just shrugged. Not a FBO I'll ever patronize again.
 

From Gary Smith on 27-Aug-2007

I've been at GAI over the last 6 months many times. Not once have I seen a lineman help park an aircraft. Chocks are left all over the lot, for a prop to hit. It reminds me of a free for all. No one really seems to know what is going on. However the staff in the office is very nice. The pilot planning area's computer was broken and the phone did not work. This place needs some management. Professional line service and good customer service and they would have a goldmine.
 

From Robert Singer on 09-Feb-2007

I flew into GAI for the first time. I could not understand them on the radio but there was a lineman there who helped me park. I was there overnight, and they moved me the next day so that I could plug in my Tanis heater. Only charge was for the fuel, at $3.89, which is very reasonable for an urban area. I stayed at the Comfort Inn in Gaithersburg. They picked me up, brought me to the train the next day, then picked me up at the Metro again, and drove me to airport, all for free as part of a $79 pilot's discounted room. The Comfort Inn was the best buy around, as my office was going to put me in a nearby Marriott for $269/night.
 

From Reid Leonard on 29-Dec-2006

Stopped in briefly Dec 27th in C-182 to pick up a friend and save him a long train ride :) Was pleased there is no landing fee (I didn’t buy gas - too expensive!). No lineman visible on the ramp, but there were chocks lying out that made it obvious where to park. Adequate briefing facilities (Internet Wx; phone to FSS). My Pax were happily entertained by the services at the airport cafe and the free wireless service. Agree strongly with one previous posting: PLEASE set up (or contract a livery service to provide) a shuttle to/from the metro station; doesn’t have to be free, just serviceable!
 

From Joe Fox on 10-Oct-2006

Since I've posted two comments here in the last two years, I feel like I should update them. The bad news is, fuel prices at GAI are still a tad higher than surrounding fields, and there is still no self-service fuel here, despite rumors of it for quite awhile. That being said, I have noticed many improvements at the field, and at Montgomery, mostly thanks to Jal Mistry, and a cadre of new instructors that have come in. They have a G1000 172 now (cheaper and easier to schedule than FDK), and the line service has become more attentive than it used to be. If Montgomery would offer a shuttle to the nearby Metro station (5 minutes away, but difficult to get to by bus/cab), they would have so much business, they wouldn't know what to do with it. Also, referencing the comments about tie down services (or the total lack thereof) - that is Freestate's domain, not Montgomery. *That* has changed very little.
 

From Lysle Varshine on 20-Mar-2006

Gaithersburg has the potential to be a very good small based airport....someday when Montgomery Aviation realizes that they have no business management qualities. In new speculation, recent rumors say that the Montomery Revenue Department is going to be installing a Self-Serve pump on the field. This would be most beneficial to many of the pilots who feel that Montgomery Aviation just doesn't cut it when it comes to service. Only time will tell and I hope some changes are made to once again, turn KGAI into a pleasant airport to pass thru. Until then, you can find me in Frederick with fingers crossed.
 

From Robert Nibecker on 13-Mar-2006

I have been based here for a year and a half. I had to put the plane somewhere; I am military and in DC TDY for two years. To echo most of the comments. Fuel is much more expensive than neighboring airports. Front desk is clueless, line workers the same. They charge $135 a month for a tiedown, and you get nothing in return. Tiedown rope run over recently by the mower and shredded (again). When it snows they block the plane in with a huge wall of ice and snow. I have to dig it out by hand. The wash rack water has been broken for months and no expectation of when it might work again. It is the only one on the airport. I was told to fly to Frederick to wash it. I am glad I leave soon. If I was here permanently I would definitely move ANYWHERE but here! Unless you absolutely have to come here, go anyplace else.
 

From Joe Fox on 08-Mar-2006

Whenever I fly out of other airports near Gaithersburg (FDK, FME, CGS, JYO, etc.), I always find a group of pilots who live far closer to Montgomery, but choose to drive the extra half hour to avoid the high prices and legendary poor service on the field at Montgomery. In the past several years of being based at KGAI, Montgomery has towed our club's plane off a taxiway, bending a prop, and putting the plane out of commission for a full summer, run over our tiedown ropes with a lawn mower, and refused to replace them ("The guy that used to do that isn't here any more"), and periodically overcharged us for fuel (other clubs have had the same experience). Advertised hours for fuel are until 6pm, but do not expect to get fuel after 5:30pm, as the staff is generally gone, with the lights out, by 5:59pm. Many clubs now fuel up at other fields anyway, to save on the Signature-esque 100LL prices at GAI.
 

From Bert Love on 26-Jan-2006

Run from this place screaming! While parked at GAI, line service managed to direct a Bonanza into my aircraft causing more than $500 worth of damage. Although Montgomery Aviation promised to pay, I've received nothing but lip service even after hiring a lawyer. Although more expensive, I've found Signature at Dulles to be a much superior option when flying IFR into the DC area. The service is great; there are fewer delays; the approaches are as good as they come; it is convenient to DC; and they don't crush your airplane.
 

From Adam James on 18-Oct-2005

KGAI fuel keeps going up. Research other regional fuel prices before deciding where to stop. You may save a significant amount of money!