Determine whether local basing or visits from another home base better fit the ownership mission.
Define which ownership pattern is being priced
Start with the number of expected visits, overnight duration, passenger origins and whether the aircraft already has a permanent base elsewhere. A local resident using the aircraft throughout the year has a different decision from a buyer making several seasonal trips. Compare APC and STS against real ground destinations rather than assuming the two counties or airports are interchangeable.
Build the two cash-flow cases
For annual basing, request fixed storage and service obligations and identify charges that continue while the aircraft is away. For visits, request parking, handling, reservation, cancellation, transport and after-hours terms for actual dates. Add empty positioning to both cases where relevant. The comparison needs provider quotes; it should not substitute a made-up regional average for a cost that depends on the aircraft and agreement.
Check changing arrangements and records
Napa publishes current redevelopment and construction updates, while STS publishes airport-charge resources. Recheck access and current fees before committing. Have the operator validate the aircraft and mission separately. If the aircraft moves between California and other bases, retain actual location and use evidence and obtain qualified advice about county reporting and acquisition-tax treatment; seasonal use does not itself establish an exclusion.
Your next-step checklist
- Define number and length of visits.
- Quote annual and transient terms separately.
- Include repositioning in both cases.
- Verify current construction and billing arrangements.
Sources & further reading
Primary sources support the relevant facts. Our planning questions and illustrative exercises are editorial analysis; they do not replace transaction-specific advice.
- Napa County Airport · accessed 2026-10-28
- STS pilot services · accessed 2026-10-28