Fatalities: Rentals vs Owned?

"Jose" wrote in message
news
If you mean installing a tractor light bulb instead of an
"aircraft" light bulb, sure, I know LOTS of owners like that. But I
don't know any owner who would cut a safety corner.

That's not a safety corner?

Sure, they are probably built on the same assembly line (but maybe not)
and they meet the same specs (but maybe not), but (FAA bashing aside) how
do you know that this particular part is (or is not) as good as an
approved part?

Jose
--
"Never trust anything that can think for itself, if you can't see where it
keeps its brain." (chapter 10 of book 3 - Harry Potter).
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

My landing light, bought for pennies on the dollar at the farm store
compared to an avaition supplier, says FAA PMA on the box.

Emily writes:

Every single rental
aircraft I have flown is meticulously maintained, by certificated and
qualified mechanics with factory training.

But who knows where those aircraft have been, and how pilots have
treated them when away from the eyes of their owners? For example, an
airframe could be overstressed and not show any visible anomalies,
until it fails.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

On Sun, 22 Oct 2006 09:31:55 +0200, Mxsmanic wrote:

Emily writes:

Every single rental
aircraft I have flown is meticulously maintained, by certificated and
qualified mechanics with factory training.

But who knows where those aircraft have been, and how pilots have
treated them when away from the eyes of their owners? For example, an
airframe could be overstressed and not show any visible anomalies,
until it fails.

Same argument could be made for *any* airplane...you don't know what the
previous owner did to it. But there are admittedly more people who have
previously flown a renter than a used plane. To quote myself, "Renting
airplanes is like renting sex: It's harder to arrange at short notice on
Saturday, you worry about what previous customers left for you, and someone is
always looking at their watch."

Ron Wanttaja

Ron Wanttaja writes:

Same argument could be made for *any* airplane...you don't know what the
previous owner did to it.

If it has a previous owner ... but a brand-new plane does not.

But there are admittedly more people who have previously flown
a renter than a used plane.

If they are anything like rental cars or other rental equipment, they
may be in very sorry shape.

--
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On Sun, 22 Oct 2006 10:27:39 +0200, Mxsmanic wrote:

Ron Wanttaja writes:

Same argument could be made for *any* airplane...you don't know what the
previous owner did to it.

If it has a previous owner ... but a brand-new plane does not.

The average General Aviation aircraft is more than 30 years old. A new plane
requires a cash outlay an order of magnitude higher. And *no* buyer is the very
first person to fly the aircraft. Not all ferry pilots are as genteel as
NW_Pilot. :-)

But there are admittedly more people who have previously flown
a renter than a used plane.

If they are anything like rental cars or other rental equipment, they
may be in very sorry shape.

With one exception, the rental cars I've driven have been in pristine shape,
compared to the clapped-out 172s I rent every two years for my BFR. I've never
had a rental car more than a year old, haven't had a rental airplane less than
ten years old for at least the last 20 years. My last two personal cars were
bought used from the rental agencies. Both went to 100K miles with few problems
(GM cars, even).

(The rental-car exception was a Toyota rented at a location which had mostly
gravel roads. The rental agreement required that I clean any blood out of the
trunk before turning it back in....no, it wasn't New Jersey :-)

Ron Wanttaja

On Sun, 22 Oct 2006 09:31:55 +0200, Mxsmanic wrote:

Emily writes:

Every single rental
aircraft I have flown is meticulously maintained, by certificated and
qualified mechanics with factory training.
But who knows where those aircraft have been, and how pilots have
treated them when away from the eyes of their owners? For example, an
airframe could be overstressed and not show any visible anomalies,
until it fails.

Overstressed airplanes shows signs of being overstressed.

Emily writes:

Overstressed airplanes shows signs of being overstressed.

Examples?

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

Jay Honeck wrote:
Strangely, I can't seem to find any statistics on this seemingly
obvious (and easy-to-compile) issue. Does anyone know if any studies
have been done in this regard?


I don't know of any statistically valid studies. From my own experience, I
believe the local fatalities have been 3:1 owners to renters. My pet theory is
that it has to do with more exposure as an owner. Renters tend to fly less.

As an aside, I don't recall any of the local GA fatalities were caused by
mechanical deficiencies. They seemed to be either weather or health related
instead.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com

Mortimer Schnerd, RN wrote:
Jay Honeck wrote:
Strangely, I can't seem to find any statistics on this seemingly
obvious (and easy-to-compile) issue. Does anyone know if any studies
have been done in this regard?


I don't know of any statistically valid studies. From my own experience, I
believe the local fatalities have been 3:1 owners to renters. My pet theory is
that it has to do with more exposure as an owner. Renters tend to fly less.

Yes, a renter might fly less, but what about a rental aircraft?

"Emily" wrote in message
...
Yes, a renter might fly less, but what about a rental aircraft?

Bingo! Just using an airplane (or most any machine) regularly is better
for it than allowing it to rot unused. Having watched the tie-down area at my
local airport for decades now, I see no evidence that private owners maintain
their aircraft better than the FBOs maintain their rental fleets. I see dozens
of planes where I fly that seem to sit there forever without any use. Would you
rather fly the airplane that flies every day or the one that hasn't flown for
the last 90 days? I don't like feeling like a test pilot!

Would I rather fly a low-time, hangered, meticulously maintained, privately
owned, pampered pet of an airplane rather than an FBO rental beater? Damn right
I would! Any offers?

Vaughn