Lots of folks ask whether they should buy or rent their aircraft. The numbers can help tell the story. [Credit: Adobe Stock]
Key Takeaways:
Flying an aircraft 100 hours per year or less significantly increases the hourly cost of ownership, making it financially unfeasible for most individual owners.
For pilots flying fewer annual hours, renting is often a far more cost-effective option, offering lower hourly rates and eliminating the numerous responsibilities and hidden costs of ownership.
Flight schools and FBOs can offer competitive rental rates due to economies of scale, in-house maintenance, fuel/hangar ownership, and tax benefits like depreciation.
To make aircraft ownership financially competitive with renting, a high annual flight hour count (e.g., 200-225+ hours) is generally required.
One question I’ve fielded more than once is: “How did you come up with 200 hours per year as an acceptable minimum?” One reader mentioned that some mechanics and pilots set this threshold as 100 hours instead of 200.
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Jason Depew flies as a captain for a major U.S. airline. He is also an Air Force reservist and has flown more than 300 combat missions over Afghanistan and other garden spots. Based in Tampa, Florida, he instructs in the Icon A5 and anything else he can get his hands on. His writing is focused on personal finance for pilots with the goal to help all types of aviators enjoy great careers, sometimes in spite of themselves. You can send Jason questions at editorial@flying.media.
