Register

Finding a Hangar Can Be Much Harder Than Finding an Airplane

Pro tip: Pilots should start hangar hunting long before the new airplane arrives.

Before the happy ending of hangar ownership, for most airplane owners, there's some strife. [File Photo: Adobe Stock]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Hangar space for aircraft is a significant and often costly challenge for pilots, frequently involving extensive waiting lists at many general aviation airports.
  • Availability and price vary drastically by location, with smaller, more remote airports typically offering more affordable and accessible options than busier or urban-adjacent fields.
  • The scarcity of hangars is intensifying due to factors like the demolition of old structures and regulatory hurdles for new construction, requiring pilots to be highly proactive and flexible in their search.
See a mistake? Contact us.

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.

Jonathan Welsh

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

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE