A new initiative, TimeBuildUSA, has launched at Palatka Municipal Airport (28J) in Florida.
The idea is to give student pilots access to longer term rentals than by the hour. Student pilots can rent the company’s Cessna 150s for days, or even weeks, at a time.
According to Cary Green, program manager at TimeBuildUSA, the global pilot shortage and increased demand for training means there is a limited supply of planes to rent.
“By giving our clients exclusive use of an aircraft, pilots get a chance to build meaningful time,” he says. “Getting out of your own back yard and managing real-world challenges provides a richer, more robust experience than traditional one day, out-and-back cross countries. Plus, it’s a lot more fun and rewarding.”
He explains that TimeBuildUSA’s model dispenses with traditional daily minimums and instead requires a weekly minimum of 20 hours.
“This allows our clients the ability to design their own itinerary and schedule,” he explains.
Rental rate is $75 per hour dry.
The company received its first airplane in November 2019, to prepare for the December launch.
“We plan to add two additional aircraft in the first quarter of 2020,” he says. “Aircraft will be added thereafter as demand for the service grows.”
Because those seeking to build hours are generally lower time pilots, helping them develop sound judgment and risk assessment skills is a top priority for the new company, according to Green.
“As many of our customers will be low-time pilots, one of the primary focuses of our service is on flight safety, and specifically risk management,” he explains. “To that extent we have developed a carefully thought out operations manual that governs our flight operations.”
“Before arriving at the airport, customers will be asked to complete a brief written questionnaire on the Cessna 150 and our rules and procedures,” he continues. “A standard flight check is all that is required to demonstrate satisfactory performance.”
Student pilots aren’t the only market for the new service.
“TimeBuildUSA’s aircraft rental service is also well suited to recreational pilots seeking longer term rentals for personal enjoyment,” he says. “Domestic or international pilots wanting to create an unforgettable flying vacation now have the means to do so.”
While TimeBuildUSA is now only based in northeast Florida, company officials hope to expand to additional locations in “weather favorable” states, including Texas and Arizona.
Want to know more? The FAQ tab on the company’s website addresses many common questions about the service, according to Green.
This is a well thought out undertaking. Low rates mean old equipment, high airframe times, lack of support. This offering has low time aircraft, beautiful interiors and good avionics, satellite tracking for safety, and vastly more CFI experience behind the venture. You get what you pay for, especially in aviation. You can’t compare it to renting a local 152 for an hour or two at a time. The renter is getting the opportunity to add 20-25 hours flight time in a single week. That availability has a huge value. Since I rent from flight schools exclusively, I know how difficult it is to get on the schedule with all the students doing their training. Finally, this will mostly be cross country flying, which adds a lot of dimension. A renter can be gone for up to a week on a variable route with support available by phone. That is a challenge to arrange at a local flight school.
Interesting idea, hopefully they succeed in this endeavor. I do see a need for these newly certified pilots to continue to build their flight time, yet are unable to with this scenario. Years ago one could go to any airport, big or small and be able to rent a plane. Hungry CFI’s and FBO’s were dying for walk-ins. Those days are long gone, so I bought a plane which many years later was totaled during a hurricane. It would be nice to be able to rent varies aircraft again.
Well they certainly didn’t spend a dime on developing a website. I see no young people in your future
I assume it’s great for cross-country trips w/o being tied down to insurance, hanger cost, reselling headaches, maintenance, etc. Throughout history, people have made lots of money using other methods other than 40-hour a week work. From stocks, to bitcoin, to lottery, to lawsuits, people have made a lot of money. If you are looking at it from a 40-hour a week perspective from the bottom to middle class, it can seem like a lot but there are those who have duplicated a couple thousand at the right time to millions of dollars and more. Flying is an area as well as yachting, are those who far exceed high-end luxury vehicles because they knew methods and involved in the right time while everybody else had no idea. The other downside is, trying to be rich too but it not turning out as planned but not everyone is as unlucky.
To clarify a few of the points raised in the comments below.
TimeBuildUSA is not a flight training provider. In fact, we do not authorize flight training in our airplanes. Therefore, our aircraft are available to certificated pilots for much longer term rental periods than one would normally find at flight schools. This exclusive rental service affords our customers a great deal of flexibility, allowing them to enjoy their destinations as they acquire true cross country experience. This is something many, if not most, traditional flight schools cannot offer.
Our southeast location also benefits those from northern climates who are often limited by weather in the winter.
As noted in a comment, our rates are indeed very competitive, but TimeBuildUSA offers only late model Cessna 150s which are exceptionally clean and well cared for. We want our customers to feel comfortable and confident in the equipment they rent from us.
Fly safe!
Cary Green
TimeBuildUSA
150’s rent for $100 an hour, wet. He’s renting them out for $75 an hour dry. At 5gph burn, $5/ gal 100ll, you’re at the same exact rate, minus the 20 hrs minimum. Stupid idea.
20 hrs min 75/hr ($1500 bucks!)… sounds more like a way to squeeze bigger bucks out of un-rented planes. If this guy was serious he would rent the planes to students (must be a student) for a flat rate for the week cap of 25 hrs. Say, $500 bucks. Now THAT is supporting students.
This is literally the dumbest idea I have ever heard.
Real world..
Like the Johnny Cash song, “One piece at a time” except for most it is “One hour at a time…”. I wish him success in this. I know when I started flying back in my teens a couple of hours of discounted block time every month was expensive for me, but $1,500 for a week may be a better way for others. Time will tell.
Touch and go, short approach,
Touch and go, short approach,
Touch and go, short approach,
Touch and go, short approach,
Real world