My old FBO in Bedford that I rented from had all kinds of rules, and I whined about them from time to time. Paved runways only, and only 3000-feet length or greater. 3-hour daily minimum if you took the plane for the whole day. IFR flight into IMC only with permission on that day from the chief pilot. (This last one seemed especially silly, since I got my IR from the same school...)
I went into Aero Tech again today to do some more rental paperwork. Learned all about this place's policies for renters. The policies include:
[begin WHINE]
-- Landings only on paved runways. Okay, I could see this one coming... standard thing for tricycle rentals, I suppose. Too bad I can't go visit my friend in Girdwood (which is gravel).
-- Landings only at a list of "approved airports" (which of course are all paved). Since this is Alaska, this list has about 12 or 14 airports on it TOTAL. That is the sum total of places I can go? Once I've been to them all, then what?
-- One-hour checkout required with a CFI every 90 days. Per type aircraft. In other words, if I get checked out in both 150's and 172's, then every 90 days I have to take new checkouts in both (even if I'm a regular and current renter).
-- For instrument-rated renters, no IMC without an instructor aboard. EVER. Under any circumstances. (I asked if I could file IFR. They said sure, as long as I flew within VFR minimums for the whole flight.)
-- $35/hour "standby fee". This is the hourly charge for when the engine's not running, in other words, this is what I have to pay while I'm eating my $100 hamburger at the destination airport restaurant. Oh, but the first half-hour on the ground is free. Gosh, thanks. Can you even get a hamburger in a half-hour? Who would want to?
I think in time I could deal with all these rules... (after all they are safety-related)... except that last one, which will push me over the edge.
Compared to this new place, my old Bedford FBO seems free & easy by comparison. (They at least let me land at Katama after I got specially checked out.)
I left the place feeling steamed, and considering (again) renting from somewhere else. (If I can even find a place that's any better.) I mean, no IMC ever? How am I supposed to get any practice? $35/hour while I eat lunch? I'm just not willing to pay for that! So much for hiking or fishing or doing ANYTHING at my destination. Sure, flying itself is fun, but I also fly in order to go places and see and do things. Such a system would work fine if I were training. But for renting for fun.... Is this normal? Was I spoiled at Bedford? I feel mad and I haven't even gone flying yet.
I am starting to understand why all Alaskan pilots own their own airplanes. They buy them shortly after flying to Palmer, Kenai, Kodiak, Homer, Cordova, Fairbanks... and realizing that renting is a waste of time because everyplace worth going in this whole state is either gravel or water. And that there is no other way to explore all the wonderful possibilities but to buy your own Aviat Husky.
[end WHINE]
Seeking: partnership in gravel-worthy taildragger. Where can I start looking?
--Kath
I went into Aero Tech again today to do some more rental paperwork. Learned all about this place's policies for renters. The policies include:
[begin WHINE]
-- Landings only on paved runways. Okay, I could see this one coming... standard thing for tricycle rentals, I suppose. Too bad I can't go visit my friend in Girdwood (which is gravel).
-- Landings only at a list of "approved airports" (which of course are all paved). Since this is Alaska, this list has about 12 or 14 airports on it TOTAL. That is the sum total of places I can go? Once I've been to them all, then what?
-- One-hour checkout required with a CFI every 90 days. Per type aircraft. In other words, if I get checked out in both 150's and 172's, then every 90 days I have to take new checkouts in both (even if I'm a regular and current renter).
-- For instrument-rated renters, no IMC without an instructor aboard. EVER. Under any circumstances. (I asked if I could file IFR. They said sure, as long as I flew within VFR minimums for the whole flight.)
-- $35/hour "standby fee". This is the hourly charge for when the engine's not running, in other words, this is what I have to pay while I'm eating my $100 hamburger at the destination airport restaurant. Oh, but the first half-hour on the ground is free. Gosh, thanks. Can you even get a hamburger in a half-hour? Who would want to?
I think in time I could deal with all these rules... (after all they are safety-related)... except that last one, which will push me over the edge.
Compared to this new place, my old Bedford FBO seems free & easy by comparison. (They at least let me land at Katama after I got specially checked out.)
I left the place feeling steamed, and considering (again) renting from somewhere else. (If I can even find a place that's any better.) I mean, no IMC ever? How am I supposed to get any practice? $35/hour while I eat lunch? I'm just not willing to pay for that! So much for hiking or fishing or doing ANYTHING at my destination. Sure, flying itself is fun, but I also fly in order to go places and see and do things. Such a system would work fine if I were training. But for renting for fun.... Is this normal? Was I spoiled at Bedford? I feel mad and I haven't even gone flying yet.
I am starting to understand why all Alaskan pilots own their own airplanes. They buy them shortly after flying to Palmer, Kenai, Kodiak, Homer, Cordova, Fairbanks... and realizing that renting is a waste of time because everyplace worth going in this whole state is either gravel or water. And that there is no other way to explore all the wonderful possibilities but to buy your own Aviat Husky.
[end WHINE]
Seeking: partnership in gravel-worthy taildragger. Where can I start looking?
--Kath
Last edited: