19 June 2013
A new aircraft rental concept has been launched in America by OpenAirplane. The company is a network of Fixed Base Operators (FBOs) and flight schools that lets pilots receive one annual checkout and then rent aircraft at locations across the country.
The company claims that the service will ‘make renting a plane as easy as renting a car.’
Pilots who are new to OpenAirplane must undergo a checkout with an instructor at a participating FBO or school. According to the organisation, it’s a more rigorous evaluation than a run-of-the-mill biannual flight review. OpenAirplane’s Universal Pilot Checkout includes an hour-long oral exam followed by an hour or more in the air where potential OpenAirplane members will be expected to fly to practical test standards.
Once pilots have passed the checkout, pilots can rent from any of the six current bases in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, San Jose, CA and Kissimmee, FL. The company’s plan is to expand as quickly as possible to provide the maximum benefit for members seeking to use the service.
Currently, it’s free to join OpenAirplane and it’s free for FBOs, flight schools and even flying clubs to list their aircraft in the network. OpenAirplane makes money by charging members’ credit cards and keeping 10% of the rental fee.
<a href=’http://www.openairplane.com/’ target=’_blank’>www.openairplane.com</a>
