Open Airplane is the creator of a “zip car” -like rental platform for airplanes, and they have just started offering their network sharing services to aircraft owners. The concept opened initially to FBO (fixed base operators) and flight schools, includes these planes in the rental pool.
How does it work?
Membership requires pilots to one annual checkout and then they are able to rent planes all over the country. Pilots interested in renting from the pool must go to their closest FBO or flight school that is a part of the program and get their checkride done with an instructor. It’s a more rigorous evaluation that your bi-annual review, as the Universal Pilot Checkout includes an hour long oral exam followed by an hour plus flight with an instructor where candidates are expected to fly at flight test standards.
Hence, if you are interested in applying for membership, you should be well prepared for your checkride, and should go up with your instructor first to make sure you can perform maneuvers to private pilot flight test standards. Plus, the checkride is pass-fail.
Annual ground and flight check
Once you pass the ground and flight tests, you can rent anywhere from the network. Along from the annual check flight pilots will also have to participate in a local knowledge briefing. The checkride must be done, obviously, in the same aircraft you are renting. You will also have to obtain your own renters insurance with a minimum of $250,000 in liability coverage.
Free to list your aircraft in the pool
It’s free for FBO’s, flight schools, and even flying clubs to list their airplanes on the network. Open Airplane earns revenue by charging member’s credit cards and keeping a 10% rental fee, which is based on wet Hobbs time. Some fine print includes that you must pay when you cancel your reservation or show up late with the plane. If you are approved only for VFR flying, you can cancel your flight without penalty if the visibility is less than 6 miles, the ceiling is less than 3000′ and the crosswind greater than 15 knots.
Now available for aircraft owners
Now, Open Airplane also operates the Collaborative Aircraft Network which allows private airplane owners to throw their aircraft into the rental pool. Posting the aircraft on the rental pool is free, and the owner gets to decide on the rental rate for their aircraft. This seems to be a happy medium between aircraft ownership and leasing the airplane when you’re not using it.
Insurance in this case has been arranged with Starr Aviation to provide an entirely new kind of insurance policy for owners exclusively who list their airplane on the Open Airplane network. Owners can also rate the pilots who rent their airplanes and share their reviews with other owners.
The network has grown to over 52 locations in the U.S., with over 180 aircraft available in the rental pool. Around 6000 pilots have signed up since the service launched in the summer of 2013.
It makes a lot of sense as many owners just want their planes getting flown if they are not able to fly them. And it will help cover some of the costs associated with airplane ownership.
How about Canada?
Open Airplane states that Canadian pilots can use their network while in the U.S. They state to stay tuned for this service to be available in Canada. Great news!
Check out Open Airplane here.
