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Date: Sun, 08 Nov 1998 17:51:19 -0600
From: Snowbird <snbird@ibm.net>
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Subject: Re: Renting Aircraft
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Michael Lomker wrote:

> On Mon, 26 Oct 1998 20:52:38 -0500, David White <va-home@va-home.com>
> wrote:
> >the first question myself.  They mention block rates and that reates
> >are"wet".  What do these terms mean?

"Wet" means that the rental rate includes fuel; if you need to purchase
fuel on longer trips, the fuel purchase will be reimbursed or deducted
from the rental.  Some FBOs have a maximum reimbursement for fuel,
so it's important to ask if purchased fuel will be reimbursed at the
price you paid or at some fixed rate.  

"Block rates" means you pay in advance for a block of rental time
(often 10 hrs) and in return you receive a discount (often 5 or
10%) off the flight time -- sorta "fly 10 hrs fly one free" kinda
thing.  It works out well if you have the money in advance AND if
the FBO is reputable and likely to remain in business, but sometimes
the FBO goes out of business and you can bet your willy you'll be
at the bottom of the creditor food chain.

> My FBO has a 3 hour daily minimum, billed by Hobbs time.  I've run
> into a few places that charge by tach time, but it works out about 
> the same.

Tach time tends to be 10% lower IME, even more if you're doing 
pattern work or running at lower power.

> The other respondents were correct in that it is almost impossible to
> run a Cessna 172 for a weekend:  they are used heavily for training.
> You end up having to rent a more expensive 182 or Piper model.

Mmmm...actually, I've had no trouble renting 172s from some FBOs
provided the reservation was made well in advance.  More problematical
is the 3 hr daily minimum, as it lets out many trips where one might
like to fly, say, 2 or 3 hrs to some destination where you spend a
long weekend.

Even the C182s and Archers etc tend to have to be reserved long in
advance to get a block of two or more days, esp. weekend.

Snowbird

