Aero-Tips!

A good pilot is always learning -- how many times have you heard this old standard throughout your flying career? There is no truer statement in all of flying (well, with the possible exception of "there are no old, bold pilots.")

Aero-News has called upon the expertise of Thomas P. Turner, master CFI and all-around-good-guy, to bring our readers -- and us -- daily tips to improve our skills as aviators. Some of them, you may have heard before... but for each of us, there will also be something we might never have considered before, or something that didn't "stick" the way it should have the first time we memorized it for the practical test.

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Aero-Tips 12.27.06

For most of us owning an airplane is a dream that is out of reach, at least for now.  These pilots (like me) have to rent airplanes. For others who do own an airplane, the need may sometimes arise to rent something else-something more capable for a cross-country trip, for instance, or a simpler airplane for local, fun flying. Almost universally, pilots complain about the appearance of rental airplanes, the sometimes questionable maintenance status, especially of avionics, and the whole concept of scheduling and availability when competing with perhaps dozens of other pilots for use of the same airplane.

If only pilots all took better care of the airplanes they rent, cleaned up after themselves, and did what they could to get the airplane back home on schedule, then the rental experience would be a lot better for everyone. This might even encourage more people to use rental airplanes more often, encouraging FBOs to add good-condition airplanes to their fleets. (In fact, FBOs that rent good-condition, well-equipped late-model airplanes generally have booming business despite the higher cost of renting these more expensive airplanes).

The Renter's Code

ANN's Paul Plack and I talked about this in a recent Aero-Craft podcast. I propose a voluntary Aircraft Renter's Code of Conduct covering such items as:

• Aircraft operation and use
• Dealing with maintenance squawks away from home base
• What to do if you can't get back on schedule
• Preparing the airplane for the next pilot

You can read the full Aircraft Renter's Code of Conduct on my website. I encourage you to print, distribute and post the Code if you feel it will improve the airplane rental experience for everyone.

To be sure, the onus is on renting FBOs to provide an airworthy, attractive product that promotes confidence and encourages rental business. But given the tight budgets of most FBOs, we rental pilots must do our part to minimize the FBO's costs and effort needed to take care of the airplanes. A little diligence from us will go a long way to enhance the product.

Aero-tip of the day: Voluntarily adhere to the Aircraft Renter's Code of Conduct. It'll improve the rental experience for everyone... including YOU.

FMI: Aero-Tips