PERENNIAL QUESTION: RENT OR BUY?--A CALCULATED LOOK AT THE ECONOMIES ON BOTH SIDES

This article describes the different costs associated with buying or renting an airplane. The choice will ultimately depend on the specifics of one's own particular situation with respect to local aircraft rentals, hangar and fuel costs and on the amount of time one plans to fly. Ownership costs are divided into fixed and variable costs. Fixed costs include parking costs, insurance and annual inspection. Variable costs are those directly relating to the number of flight hours such as gasoline and oil costs, and depreciation. The buy/rent problem is examined by comparing the total cost of a two/four place aircraft with the hourly cost of a two/four place aircraft. It is noted, however, that the decision to buy/rent is not an exclusively clear cut decision. There are many intangible factors such as the "pride of possession" concept; safety factors associated with one's familiarity of an aircraft; minimum daily rental costs for extended trips; fixed expense of ownership; and cost of compliance with mandatory airworthiness directives.

• Corporate Authors:

  Marco-Comm Corporation

  8322 Beverly Boulevard
  Los Angeles, CA  United States  90048
• Authors:
  • Eckalbar, W
  • Eckalbar, J
• Publication Date: 1978-2

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 22-25
• Serial:
  • Private Pilot
  • Volume: 13
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Marco-Comm Corporation

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aircraft; Compliance; Costs; Depreciation; Fuels; Insurance; Operating costs; Ownership; Pay parking; Rent; Rental cars; Safety
• Uncontrolled Terms: Fuel costs; Parking costs
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Energy; Finance; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00172919
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Private Pilot
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 12 1978 12:00AM