Random rental in Boston (or anywhere else)

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Hi all,

I am wondering what the prospects are for being able to rent a plane locally in a destination city, should I happen to be there for a few days.

Specifically, I may be in Boston late October, and will also cover a weekend, which leads me to think about renting a plane and flying around a bit. How feasible is this notion? how to even go about it? any pointers?

I am presuming I can extrapolate these tips to other places, too... for example, I'll be in Dallas late November and might want to do the same.
 
You should have plenty of options for renting a plane and flying around with a CFI. As far as renting a plane to fly around solo, that kind of depends on the rental facility's policy and how extensive their checkout requirements are. You almost always need to get some dual/checkout before they'll let you take a plane solo.

You won't find anything at KBOS, but should be able to find some rental outfits/flight schools at Beverly (BVY), Hanscom (BED), or Norwood (OWD).
 
For what it's worth. If you happen to be in the Boston area on Halloween, take a trip over to Salem its a great time to visit.
 
Very cool. Thanks for all the info... I'll start exploring!
 
Yeah, checkouts can be interesting. Once up at a nameless place in Virgina, I was required to do what amounted to a pre-solo written AND then a checkout with an instructor. He was pretty tough, too! All I wanted to do was go up and down the James River with my father and a camera. Now that I'm an instructor, I often think of that checkout...

Ryan
 
When I did a checkout in Phoenix, I turned it into a flight review. When I got checked out in San Francisco, it was an orientation of the area. And in New Zealand, it was an actual DPE checkout resulting in an NZ pilot certificate. In other words, it's definitely doable for a long weekend. If you only have two days available, it's probably easier to just go fly with the instructor. Either way, it's a fun way to get to know an area!
 
RyanShort1 said:
Yeah, checkouts can be interesting. Once up at a nameless place in Virgina, I was required to do what amounted to a pre-solo written AND then a checkout with an instructor. He was pretty tough, too! All I wanted to do was go up and down the James River with my father and a camera. Now that I'm an instructor, I often think of that checkout...

Ryan
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Which nameless place in Virginia? Feel free to share.
 
RyanShort1 said:
Yeah, checkouts can be interesting. Once up at a nameless place in Virgina, I was required to do what amounted to a pre-solo written AND then a checkout with an instructor. He was pretty tough, too! All I wanted to do was go up and down the James River with my father and a camera. Now that I'm an instructor, I often think of that checkout...

Ryan
Click to expand...
I rented from some place at KNEW earlier this year and was required to fill out about 10 pages worth of written and performance questions. It took me well over a hour. Then I had to do a checkout with one of the worst instructors I've flown with that took another hour. All I wanted to do was take Dani's nephew flying in a C172. They also had no grasp of the TSA regulations and were being ridiculous about it. Very expensive too. Blah.
 
Checkout requirements can vary, but after checking out at at least a dozen different places over the past 20+ years, I've found most typically require about a 1-hour flight and some sort of ground quiz. After a few of these, they start feeling fairly standardized and these days I tend to check myself out - run through slow flight, stalls, steep turns, an emergency engine out without prompting by the instructor, then ask if he's satisfied or wants to see something else before we do a few landings.
 
I want to fly somewhere, I'll go there in my airplane and fly there. If my airplane can't get there, I won't fly there.

To much BS in renting. I can't blame the renters, the potential for misadventure is staggering. I choose not to participate.
 
Don't forget Marshfield (25 south of Boston proper) or Mansfield (about 35 southwest) or Taunton (about 35 southwest) or Norwood (about 15 west). Most places I have rented from for solo flights have included some kind of checkout. Usually a review of your logbook, an idea of how much time in the particular aircraft, and a basic flight review. About an hour or so. Once, my checkout amounted to a taxi in significant crosswind with a takeoff and landing in a cross (he purposefully used the runway with the cross). He signed me off and I was good to go.
So, never more is the phrase "It depends" more right.
PS: If you just want an aerial tour, send me a PM. Maybe we can find a good time.
 
FWIW, I've never landed at BED, but recall from my time in New England that it wasn't the friendliest airport for small GA. I have been to BVY (did my PPL ride there) and OWD - both nice GA airports.

Either way, October should be a beautiful time to go flying and enjoy the fall colors!

If you have time, you might try flying up to Sanford, ME - nice airport cafe.
 
RyanShort1 said:
Yeah, checkouts can be interesting. Once up at a nameless place in Virgina, I was required to do what amounted to a pre-solo written AND then a checkout with an instructor. He was pretty tough, too! All I wanted to do was go up and down the James River with my father and a camera. Now that I'm an instructor, I often think of that checkout...

Ryan
Click to expand...

I'm guessing Williamsburg, JGG.
 
The times I've been in strange places and wanted to fly I did not bother with a checkout but rather just took a CFI along for the ride. I made it clear up front what I had in mind and he was just along for the ride to make sure I did not do anything terrible wrong. It's handy to have someone with local knowledge along in any case. I just figured it raised the rental price by 30 or 40 dollars a hour. If I wanted to fly more during a specific trip it might make sense to get checked out but for your standard hour of flying around a new area it does not make sense to get checked out since they will make you check out again if you come back 6 months later.
 
jtheune said:
The times I've been in strange places and wanted to fly I did not bother with a checkout but rather just took a CFI along for the ride. I made it clear up front what I had in mind and he was just along for the ride to make sure I did not do anything terrible wrong. It's handy to have someone with local knowledge along in any case. I just figured it raised the rental price by 30 or 40 dollars a hour. If I wanted to fly more during a specific trip it might make sense to get checked out but for your standard hour of flying around a new area it does not make sense to get checked out since they will make you check out again if you come back 6 months later.
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That's exactly what I did during a port visit to Hawaii last summer - I rented a Beech Travel Air and flew around the islands with an isntructor - even managed to knock out my commercial dual x-countries in the process. It was a blast and much nicer to have the local experience with me.
 
midlifeflyer said:
Checkout requirements can vary, but after checking out at at least a dozen different places over the past 20+ years, I've found most typically require about a 1-hour flight and some sort of ground quiz. After a few of these, they start feeling fairly standardized and these days I tend to check myself out - run through slow flight, stalls, steep turns, an emergency engine out without prompting by the instructor, then ask if he's satisfied or wants to see something else before we do a few landings.
Click to expand...

Ground quiz? Crap. I have a check out tomorrow. It is supposed to be 1.5 hours or less but I've already flown the 172 four times. I think it is just a formality. He said no more than 3 hours CFI and 1.5 hours plane. Seems like a lot. Argh.
 
Fearless Tower said:
FWIW, I've never landed at BED, but recall from my time in New England that it wasn't the friendliest airport for small GA. .
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Yeah, KBED is definitely not small GA friendly. If you are tempted to checkout out of KBED, check with FBO regarding the badging requirements. I suspect that may deep-six using KBED for the random rental.
 
kimberlyanne546 said:
Ground quiz? Crap. I have a check out tomorrow. It is supposed to be 1.5 hours or less but I've already flown the 172 four times. I think it is just a formality. He said no more than 3 hours CFI and 1.5 hours plane. Seems like a lot. Argh.
Click to expand...
Seems like a lot to me too. But, unless I'm mistaken, this is your first extra checkout as a new pilot. So they are bound to be more careful and take a little more time. It gets better.
 
midlifeflyer said:
Seems like a lot to me too. But, unless I'm mistaken, this is your first extra checkout as a new pilot. So they are bound to be more careful and take a little more time. It gets better.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the feedback. All in all, I need to stay with my flight school. Our 172 is less per hour than any surrounding airport within a reasonable drive of my house.

So yes - it is my very first checkout.
 
Bob Noel said:
Yeah, KBED is definitely not small GA friendly. If you are tempted to checkout out of KBED, check with FBO regarding the badging requirements. I suspect that may deep-six using KBED for the random rental.
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Man why does BED get such a bad rep? I trained and fly out of there and I don't feel it's any worse than other class Ds I've visited in the area. Both Executive Flyers and East Coast Aero rent at BED, but I'm unclear on the checkout requirements.
 
steamee said:
Man why does BED get such a bad rep? I trained and fly out of there and I don't feel it's any worse than other class Ds I've visited in the area. Both Executive Flyers and East Coast Aero rent at BED, but I'm unclear on the checkout requirements.
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I'm based at KBED.

Look at the services provided to the small GA tenant and the co$t (tie-down and hangar).

Have you ever attended the monthly tenant meeting?

Do you think the "security" training is useful?

How about the genius of Ma$$port using the KBOS security plan with minimal changes for KBED? Definitely the same risk at KBOS and KBED.

How about the geniuses that think they can track who is on the airport by requiring all badged people to go through the badge doors. (Pssst, don't look now but the base can access the base and there are those runways)

I can escort someone who doesn't have a badge (who has never had any background check), I can escort someone who no longer has a badge, but I can't escort someone is badged but left it at home.

Some of the massport people are great. Some of the massport leadership are id...mmmmm not great at all.
 
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