Now Available In 34 Cities, The OpenAirplane Universal Pilot Checkout Now Enables Mountain Flying And Multi-Engine Aircraft Rental For Pilots

OpenAirplane continues to expand its service which makes renting an airplane as easy as renting a car. Since launching in June, the OpenAirplane network has grown to enable 34 cities, with over 100 aircraft available around the U.S.

Enabled by the newly updated Universal Pilot Checkout standard, OpenAirplane has launched its first Operator in Colorado, by adding Alpine Flight Training in Vail to the network. Eagle County Regional Airport, (KEGE) an iconic airport atop the Rocky Mountains will be the first Operator to require the new mountain flying standardization / evaluation components for pilots. “The new Universal Pilot Checkout unlocks mountain flying and multi’s for our pilots. We’re excited to make more locations and more types of airplanes available to the community. All that plus Vail is an amazing place to fly,” said Rod Rakic, co-founder at OpenAirplane.

OpenAirplane says it makes it easy to find, book, fly, and pay for aircraft rental online or with a mobile device. The business helps flight schools, Fixed Base Operators, and Flying Clubs get better utilization of their fleets, and helps pilots fly more. Previously renting an airplane away from home was a frustrating experience for pilots. OpenAirplane says it solves that problem. The Universal Pilot Checkout is one of the innovations OpenAirplane has brought to market which helps pilots get more value out of their pilot certificates. It standardizes the process of demonstrating pilot proficiency to make renting easier. The updated UPC also adds standardization for multi-engine aircraft, allowing pilots rated to fly multi-engine airplanes to demonstrate proficiency and access more airplanes than ever before.

“We believe that a current active pilot is a safe pilot and one of our company goals is to promote safety in flying. As a participant in OpenAirplane anyone that insures with us already qualifies for the 10% Safety Rewards Credits,” commented Mike Adams, Vice President, Underwriting at Avemco Insurance Company (A subsidiary of HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc.)

The OpenAirplane Universal Pilot Checkout allows FBOs around the country to easily verify a pilot's qualifications and training in each make and model aircraft. Pilots gain access to planes around the U.S. without the usual hassle and expense of performing local checkouts before they rent airplanes. Broadly recognized by the insurance industry, pilots who participate in the OpenAirplane standardization / evaluation program earn discounts on their renter’s insurance premiums.

FMI: www.openairplane.com