OpenAirplane Nears 10,000 Members

Editorial Staff

Monday, April 20, 2015 at 12:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

OpenAirplane, a nationwide aircraft rental network, is successfully gaining traction despite previous challenges faced by similar concepts.
Launched in 2013, the service has grown to include 83 participating rental operators offering 280 aircraft across 33 types, with approximately 9200 members.
Pilots can validate their credentials once at a participating FBO or flight school and then use those credentials to rent aircraft from any operator within the OpenAirplane network nationwide.

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The idea of a nationwide aircraft rental network has faced significant headwinds in the past, but the latest iteration of it, OpenAirplane, appears to be gaining traction.

At Sun ‘n Fun this week, OpenAirplane’s Rod Rakic told AVweb that the network of participating rental operators continues to grow and now totals 83. Rakic said OpenAirplane, which launched in 2013, offers some 280 aircraft comprising 33 types. He said about 9200 members have signed onto the service.

OpenAirplane isn’t quite Hertz Rent-A-Car but it does allow pilots to check out at one FBO or flight school and use those credentials to rent and fly at any of 83 operators nationwide, a number Rakic says is growing monthly. For more, see OpenAirplane.com.