Need Advice - What to check when renting a plane?

Hi All, as new licensed pilot I am looking else where for plane
rentals. As you know that the price is a great concern. For a C152 it
can be from $59/hr (wet) to $90/hr (wet). big differences.

My question is, when you first go to a FBO, what to check when seeing a
plane that you never flew on. How do I know that this plane is
maintained well?! Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Lo

My question is, when you first go to a FBO, what to check when seeing a
plane that you never flew on. How do I know that this plane is
maintained well?!

A few things come to mind, and they are far from foolproof. But the
first thing I'd evaluate is the FBO. How are the -other- planes? Look
at the squawk sheets - how do squawks get addressed? Talk to the
maintanance people - get a feel for their attitude.

Is this particular plane a leaseback or owned by the FBO? (neither is
in itself good or bad, but it will give a sense as to how much of the
initial feeling carries over to this plane). If it is leased back, talk
to the owner.

Do a thorough preflight, and bring up any concerns. Gauge the response.

Go over the manintanance logs. This of course requires that you know
what you are looking at, which isn't always that easy). Talk to the
instructors there; maybe have one with you as you go over the logs, to
explain things to you. Don't take his explanations at face value, but
get a sense from it and them about how seriously they take things.

Not all squawks indicate a problem with the airplane. Some (many?
most?) may be pilot ignorance. (I've had people squawk inop electric
trim, when the problem was the previous pilot switched it off and the
next pilot didn't even know there was an off switch).

Post questions about the specific FBO here; some pilots may have
experience with them and be willing to share.

In the end, there are some things you'll only learn after you've flown a
plane for a while, and seen what happens.

Jose
--
There are more ways to skin a cat than there are cats.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

My question is, when you first go to a FBO, what to check when seeing a
plane that you never flew on. How do I know that this plane is
maintained well?! Any advice would be appreciated.

1. Look at the planes. Ask to see the rentals. Sit in them. Examine
their general condition. Is the interior tattered? Are the
instruments tired looking? Is the paint faded and old? All of these
point to less-than-wonderful maintenance.

2. Turn on the master switch. Listen to the gyros spin up. Hear any
grinding noises? Turn the radios on, listen to the external speaker.
Hear any static? Switch from radio to radio. Does the audio panel
work right? *Is* there an audio panel? Check the tach time. Is it
in 5 digits? Look at the tires. Any tread? Look for leaks around
the plane(s). Check the condition of the plastic parts. Cracked?
Old? Hangar rash on the wing tips? All are clues.

3. Observe the FBO. How's the place look? Are there people around?
Check the magazines -- are they five years old? Use the bathroom. Is
it a pit? Is someone taking pride in the condition of the place, or is
it a dive? All are indicators.

4. IF everything above appears satisfactory, ask to see the aircraft
logbooks. (No sense in wasting your time if the first three items are
bad.) Make sure everything is there, going back to the date of
manufacture. If you want to be really anal, get a list of all ADs for
that model plane, and make sure they've all been complied with. (This
will take HOURS.)

5. Get checked out. Remember, you are checking THEM out as much as
they are checking you out. If the instructor is too casual -- or too
strict -- you may have trouble. See how the planes fly -- are they
straight and true? Can you fly them hand's off without too much rudder
trim?

We rented for four years, and during that time flew some real dogs. We
also flew some real cherries -- so be careful which one you pick.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote
...
4. ... If you want to be really anal, get a list of all ADs for
that model plane, and make sure they've all been complied with. (This
will take HOURS.)

Impossible for a renter. Maybe even impossible for an IA. Unless the FBO
will allow you to disassamble the engine and airframe. g

4. ... If you want to be really anal, get a list of all ADs for
that model plane, and make sure they've all been complied with. (This
will take HOURS.)

Impossible for a renter. Maybe even impossible for an IA. Unless the FBO
will allow you to disassamble the engine and airframe. g

Well, okay, unless it's something obvious, you can't really check to
see if the AD work was actually done. But you *can* check to see that
it was signed off as having BEEN done.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jon Woellhaf wrote:
Jay Honeck wrote
...
4. ... If you want to be really anal, get a list of all ADs for
that model plane, and make sure they've all been complied with. (This
will take HOURS.)

Impossible for a renter. Maybe even impossible for an IA. Unless the FBO
will allow you to disassamble the engine and airframe. g


If there are AD's against something, compliance should be in the
maintenance records.

Jay Honeck wrote:

3. Observe the FBO. How's the place look? Are there people around?
Check the magazines -- are they five years old? Use the bathroom. Is
it a pit? Is someone taking pride in the condition of the place, or is
it a dive? All are indicators.

Good advice, except for most of the above.

I happen to know be very familiar with a high-quality FBO who operates
in a city-owned, badly maintained, RENTED facility, built in 1936. His
aircraft are in great shape, and his mechanics are high-quality on all
levels. The place is orderly, neat, and organized, but the building is
a pit.

I happen to know be very familiar with a high-quality FBO who operates
in a city-owned, badly maintained, RENTED facility, built in 1936. His
aircraft are in great shape, and his mechanics are high-quality on all
levels. The place is orderly, neat, and organized, but the building is
a pit.

Good point. It's not always possible to take into account landlords.
However, in general, if the FBO takes no pride in their surroundings, I
wouldn't trust that they care any more about their aircraft.

Note that I'm NOT talking about the shop. I'm talking about the FBO
office area -- their "front door".
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:


Note that I'm NOT talking about the shop. I'm talking about the FBO
office area -- their "front door".

Neither am I. The place is neat and orderly, but it's old and worn.

This guy cleans his bathrooms, but they have stained ceilings and
crumbling plaster from a leaky roof, and leaky pipes. He vacuums the
carpeting, but it's also stained from building-related problems.

He's 5 years into a process where it looks like the city is going to
finally build him a new building, but it's a deathly slow political process.

He's the only FBO on the field, and there aren't other choices for
buildings.

On the other hand, his fuel prices are good to excellent, and he's got
very nice, knowledgeable, employees with a caring attitude.

"B A R R Y" wrote about an FBO
... The place is neat and orderly, but it's old and worn.
... his fuel prices are good to excellent, and he's got very nice,
knowledgeable, employees with a caring attitude.

Pray he never gets the new building! I would expect all that to change.
semi grin