Need Advice - What to check when renting a plane?

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

When I learned to fly (in the late 60's at Zahns Airport , Amityville, Long
Island) there was no running water in the rest rooms. If you "had to go",
you made it quick, and held your nose. I never once had a problem with their
PA28's or CFIs however.

A year or two later, I did my Instrument rating at A.T.E. (now American
Flyers) which operated from a fancy office at Islip, NY. Their fleet was no
better than that at Zahns.
"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
oups.com...
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"