Renting an Airplane Isn't Always Easy. Here's Why.

Renting an Airplane Isn’t Always Easy. Here’s Why.

Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, November 08, 2022 at 03:23 PM ET

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A renter studying POH before flight. [Courtesy: Meg Godlewski]

Key Takeaways:

Renting an airplane is a rigorous process, significantly more complex than car rental, driven by FBO insurance requirements and safety standards rather than being a "money grab."
The rental checkout involves a thorough review of the pilot's certificates and logbook, assessing total time, recency of experience, and specific rental intentions like overnight trips or advanced aircraft, which may have additional requirements.
Pilots must complete both a detailed ground evaluation, including an open-book test on aircraft systems, regulations, and performance calculations, and a comprehensive flight checkout covering maneuvers and emergency procedures.
CFIs carefully assess a pilot's proficiency and can deny rental if procedures are sloppy; furthermore, solo endorsements for student pilots do not transfer between FBOs and require re-validation.

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To rent a car in the United States you have to be at least 25 years old, have a valid credit card, and hold a valid driver’s license. After a few minutes of paperwork, and you’re out the door. Renting an airplane is nowhere near that quick or easy—aircraft rental involves a logbook review, an open-book test to be reviewed with a CFI, and a checkout flight of (usually) at least one hour.

Most FBOs have a story about a customer who wanted to rent an airplane but left in frustration because they thought the rental requirements were excessive and they were being milked for money, or the CFI was angling for more time. Please believe me when I tell you that the rental checkout is usually not a money grab—the requirements for rental checkout are usually set forth by the FBO’s insurance carrier.