Rent the runway

Once you earn a pilot certificate, however, you’re free to rent other aircraft—perhaps a different make and model at your same flight school or fixed-base operator, or perhaps an airplane at a completely different airport.

The process for renting an airplane isn’t as simple as making a reservation, handing over your pilot certificate and credit card, and getting the key. The owner needs to know that you can safely operate the airplane. To do that, you will need to complete a checkout with one of the school’s instructors (see “Spice It Up,” p. 46). Checkouts vary in length and structure, but most consist of a few hours of dual instruction where you demonstrate that you can fly the airplane, and in some cases complete a written test covering V-speeds, emergency procedures, and the like.

Flight schools may require a renter’s insurance policy before they agree to rent you an airplane. Even if the flight school has its own policy, you should have one as well, because the flight school’s policy will protect it in the event of a loss or damages but won’t do the same for you.

Read thoroughly the flight school’s policy on rentals before you go flying. You may be prohibited from landing on a non-paved surface; conducting aerobatic flights; flying below 1,000 feet above ground level except when landing; or flying farther than say, 75 nautical miles from the airport where the airplane is based.

After all those rules and procedures are followed, is there still any room for fun? Of course. You’re flying an airplane, aren’t you?

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