Puchasing an aircraft is very pricey, therefore most people will begin their flying experience by renting and aircraft. Even between different planes there are countless variations and each has a different price tag. This can become very frustrating. Prior to those details, lets discuss how to get started and rent a plane.
Find the nearest airport. If you can buy a ticket on more than 1 or 2 commercial airlines from this airport, it may be a little large. Most of the best deals on rental aircraft are found on small fields away from major centers. Larger airports also have more traffic and you might spend more of your rental hours on the ground.
When you decide on a smaller airport that's close by, the next step is to locate the FBO (this stands for Fixed Base Operator). Usually, this is the building with lots of little planes parked nearby. This is where you will be able to ask about aircraft rentals and learning how to fly. Believe it or not, the more rundown facilities will often have the best deals on rentals.
If you can't find anyone in the FBO who knows anything about a rental aircraft, ask to speak with whomever does airplane maintenance and repair. Aircraft rentals operate under unquie FAA regulations which require frequent inspections, so if there's a rental aircraft nearby, the mechanic has seen it!
Locate the owner of the rental aircraft, or find out who manages it for them. Meet with this person and find out about how they operate, any currency and training requirements, and what instructors they work with. Be sure to inquire about their insurance policy, what it covers, what it doesn't, etc. It's a good idea to buy a policy of your own to cover anything they leave out. This is generally pretty cheap since aviation is very safe.
Take a checkride or a lesson. If you're already current, they'll probably want you to take a 30 minute flight to show you know how to fly the airplane. If you're a student, you can begin by taking lessons from one of their instructors. Instructors often work independently so remember that cash payments for their fee are always appreciated.
Find the nearest airport. If you can buy a ticket on more than 1 or 2 commercial airlines from this airport, it may be a little large. Most of the best deals on rental aircraft are found on small fields away from major centers. Larger airports also have more traffic and you might spend more of your rental hours on the ground.
When you decide on a smaller airport that's close by, the next step is to locate the FBO (this stands for Fixed Base Operator). Usually, this is the building with lots of little planes parked nearby. This is where you will be able to ask about aircraft rentals and learning how to fly. Believe it or not, the more rundown facilities will often have the best deals on rentals.
If you can't find anyone in the FBO who knows anything about a rental aircraft, ask to speak with whomever does airplane maintenance and repair. Aircraft rentals operate under unquie FAA regulations which require frequent inspections, so if there's a rental aircraft nearby, the mechanic has seen it!
Locate the owner of the rental aircraft, or find out who manages it for them. Meet with this person and find out about how they operate, any currency and training requirements, and what instructors they work with. Be sure to inquire about their insurance policy, what it covers, what it doesn't, etc. It's a good idea to buy a policy of your own to cover anything they leave out. This is generally pretty cheap since aviation is very safe.
Take a checkride or a lesson. If you're already current, they'll probably want you to take a 30 minute flight to show you know how to fly the airplane. If you're a student, you can begin by taking lessons from one of their instructors. Instructors often work independently so remember that cash payments for their fee are always appreciated.
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So now that you know how to find a plane to rent, check out this article that discusses how much it costs to rent a plane. Learn some strategies to help avoid paying too much for your next flight.
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