Million Air coming here!

[RNO Gary Schenauer]

Just heard on Ch. 4: Million Air is coming to Reno. It's a great FBO; I'd heard of them before from a friend who used their Albany (NY) facility. It is going to be a superb-looking facility. (Regretfully, Million Air's arrival is going to cost us our very best spotting location; the Rock / Mill field next to Dassault is going to be Million Air's land. Hmmm, wouldn't it be great if they built a small observation deck and sold memberships to use it? Can you imagine how perfect an observation deck overlooking that area of 16L & 16R would be? I'd certainly pay big bucks to be a member of an Observation Deck Club. I wonder if anyone at Million Air has thought of such an idea?)

[Ryan]

Well at least I know what all the stuff going on at the field is about! Let's hope they are friendly and there is a small notch or something left! ;)

Speaking of losing spotting locations did any of you notice that the storage units are now just about gated? Oh well, we still have it a better than a lot of other airports!

[RNO Gary Schenauer]

I suspected that something was going on over by the storage units, but I had not noticed any gates. I knew that the Goldfinger strip club was undergoing renovation and it makes sense that the storage units would get gates; otherwise, the strip club patrons would park there like they used to do before Goldfingers closed down to renovate. But I've already made initial inquiries into renting a storage unit there; if the gates go up, I may rent one and still have legal access. In fact, if I rent one, I plan to get one nearer the end of Alpha because I can get much better shots from the roof of a unit. (PS: If I rent one, I'll invite all my friends.)

[RNO Gary Schenauer]

Just heard on Ch. 4: Million Air is coming to Reno. It's a great FBO; I'd heard of them before from a friend who used their Albany (NY) facility. It is going to be a superb-looking facility. (Regretfully, Million Air's arrival is going to cost us our very best spotting location; the Rock / Mill field next to Dassault is going to be Million Air's land. Hmmm, wouldn't it be great if they built a small observation deck and sold memberships to use it? Can you imagine how perfect an observation deck overlooking that area of 16L & 16R would be? I'd certainly pay big bucks to be a member of an Observation Deck Club. I wonder if anyone at Million Air has thought of such an idea?)

Main portion of an email letter sent to the appropriate branch manager at Million Air. Sent on Tuesday, September 14.

-------------------------------------------------

Dear Ms. ******,

(Intro paragraph here)

I just heard on tonight's evening news that Million Air is coming to KRNO. It's exciting news for our area, and we welcome your FBO agency. We recently lost a FBO here and to know we have an ultramodern new business coming is great news.

I am writing in hopes of offering Million Air an idea. I am a member of an aircraft spotters group. We formed just over two years ago. If you are not familiar with such groups, we are aviation photography enthusiasts. We take pictures of aircraft. Up until today, one of our favorite spotting locations was the empty field at the corner of Rock Blvd and Mill St in Reno. The field is right at the approach end of Reno's parallel runways (16L & 16R) so we were able to get awesome shots of aircraft landing. As of today, however, we know that field is yours and that soon an awesome modern Million Air facility will go up there.

Ms. ******, that location is the very best spot in Reno to observe aircraft landing or preparing to take off from the 16s. I know your new facility must already be in the planning stage. Here's my idea. Please bear with me just a few more moments.

Would Million Air consider putting a small observation deck on its new facility? The deck wouldn't have to be very large. It could be just a small enclosed area on the roof or a small deck on the taxiway side. Trust me, the view from that corner is superb! Million Air has acquired the very best viewing location of any business at Reno Tahoe International. People would pay to be able to stand on an observation deck and watch the aircraft landing or taking off. My friends and I would pay to be able to stand there and take photos. Yes, I know it would add to the cost of the new facility, but if there was a turnstile fee or an Observation Deck fee, people would use it once they learned of it. Million Air would have the one and only Observation Area at that entire airport, and at a prime #1 location.

(Closing paragraphs here)

Thank you, ma'am. Best Wishes to you and to Million Air. Welcome to Reno.

Sincerely, Gary C. Schenauer
(Contact info here)

Received a reply today. Although their position is exactly what I expected and is perfectly understandable, it was a bit disappointing nonetheless. But it didn't hurt to ask, right?
Excerpts of the reply are below ...

**********

[SMF Ken Cheung]

Gary, oh great, superb. love the idea, a;though I am in Calif, i really really like this idea.
HSS member, any idea or input to add on the paragraph? It is sad RTIA is going to lose 2 prime spots for spotting the aircraft, but hang on hope the 2 ideas from G man can go through. will share the rent of the storage.. LOL...

[RNO Gary Schenauer]

Received a reply today. Although their position is exactly what I expected and is perfectly understandable, it was a bit disappointing nonetheless. But it didn't hurt to ask, right?
Excerpts of the reply are below ...

**********

While I certainly appreciate your enthusiasm for your hobby, we have very strict policies regarding the protection of the identity of ...

While you have to right to photograph anything in public view, it's not in our ... best interest for us to create a space for photographing of aircraft, ...

++++++++++

I do appreciate that they gave me the courtesy of replying. There are many agencies that would merely have ignored my email, but Million Air is not one of those agencies; they took the time to acknowledge my email and respond to me. I respect that.
__________________

[Ryan]

Thanks for the effort though Gary!! :coolthumb:

[Andre Urruty]

Sorry to hear the negative reply, but you have to admit it was pretty classy of them to have acknowledged your request. Thank you for giving it the old college try - we certainly appreciate it!