Before the happy ending of hangar ownership, for most airplane owners, there's some strife. [File Photo: Adobe Stock]
Key Takeaways:
Hangar space for airplanes is extremely difficult to find, often involving long waiting lists and monthly rents that can exceed residential apartment costs.
Availability and pricing for hangars vary significantly by location, with smaller, more remote airports typically offering cheaper rates and better chances of finding space.
The shortage of hangars is intensifying due to factors like the demolition of older structures, regulatory challenges in building new ones, and increased demand.
Pilots seeking hangars must be proactive, get on waiting lists, network with airport managers and other pilots, and be prepared to travel farther from home.
People often say buying an airplane is the biggest investment you will make except for your house. But that depends on the airplane—and the house. For pilots, this has become a joke because often they pay more for their aircraft than for their homes.
The joke truly stops being funny, though, when you begin looking for a home for your airplane.
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Jonathan Welsh is Lead Editor of Aviation Consumer and a private pilot who worked as a reporter, editor and columnist with the Wall Street Journal for 21 years, mostly covering the auto industry. His passion for aviation began in childhood with balsa-wood gliders his aunt would buy for him at the corner store. Follow Jonathan on Twitter @JonathanWelsh4
