The bane of......

I love rules. There are rules for everything in the world. Rules for eating, rules for dating, rules for driving and rules for sports. Everywhere we turn, there are rules. In my business there are many, many rules to follow. We must be TSA permitted in order to pick up clients at the airport. We must be city permitted in order to make pick ups in certain cities. Like I said. Rules for everything.

We have two airports and many, many private fbo's in my area. Having that many people traveling on business affords many opportunities for work. It is, however, illegal to set a reservation (book a ride) on site. This part of the job is one way we differ from the garden variety taxi company. In order for us to make a pick up at an airport, there must be an existing reservation and you must have the manifest in hand. This would not be an issue if we were only there for a few jobs a week. However, 90% of our business is prearranged travel from or to the airport.

The bane of my existence, therefore, is when I get approached by the ground transportation cops, asked for my badges and manifest, and generally harassed for what seems like an eternity. Sometimes with the client in my presence. Meanwhile, on the curb, sits an unlicensed, unpermitted, "Egyptian Limo" booking rides for $50 cash. Does he get accosted? Do they ask him for his manifest? Hell no. When he sees them coming, he just drives away. He is not stealing my business. He is making me and all the others like me look like fools for spending money and time in line on permits. Permits that he proves every day are useless.

Dear airports around the country. If you have no desire to enforce the permit rules, then do away with the permits themselves. I like to think that the people representing my beloved industry are decent and trustworthy. I am learning that something stinks in paradise. And it ain't the toilet.