Everything you need to know about renting aircraft on Avyo.
Avyo uses hobbs-based billing, which means you are billed by engine time rather than calendar time. The hobbs meter in the aircraft tracks how long the engine has been running, giving you an accurate measure of your actual flight time.
Before your flight, you record the starting hobbs reading. After your flight, you record the ending reading. The difference between those two numbers is your actual flight time, billed at the aircraft's hourly rate.
When you book a flight, an estimated cost is charged upfront based on your planned trip. After the flight, a final adjustment is made based on your actual hobbs time. If you flew less than estimated, the difference is refunded. If you flew more, the additional amount is charged.
For multi-day rentals, each day has a minimum billable hours requirement set by the aircraft owner. This is typically 3 hours per day, though it varies by aircraft.
If you fly less than the daily minimum on any given day, you will still be billed for the minimum. This is because the aircraft is reserved exclusively for you during the entire rental period and is unavailable to other renters.
The daily minimum applies regardless of weather or other factors that may prevent you from flying. When you reserve a multi-day rental, the aircraft is taken off the market for the duration of your trip.
Same-day trips are billed on actual hobbs time only, with no daily minimum requirement.
Multi-day rentals require a 50% deposit charged at the time of booking. The remaining 50% is charged 48 hours before your scheduled departure.
Same-day trips are charged in full at booking since no deposit split is necessary.
If the remaining balance charge fails 48 hours before departure, you will be notified and given 24 hours to update your payment method. If the payment is not resolved within that window, the booking may be cancelled.
Each aircraft owner sets their own cancellation deadline, which is displayed on the aircraft listing. A typical deadline is 48 hours before the scheduled departure.
If you cancel before the deadline, you receive a full refund. If you cancel within the second half of the deadline window (for example, within the last 24 hours of a 48-hour deadline), you receive a 50% refund. Cancellations after that point are non-refundable.
Weather-related cancellations may be handled on a case-by-case basis. If weather makes your flight unsafe, contact the aircraft owner directly to discuss options. Owners have the discretion to waive cancellation fees for legitimate weather situations.
There is a 30-minute grace period after your scheduled return time. No additional charges apply during this window.
After the grace period, late time is billed at 1.5x the aircraft's standard hourly rate for each hour you are late.
If you are delayed due to weather, you can flag the delay in the app. The aircraft owner has the ability to review weather delays and waive late fees at their discretion.
Communication is key. If you anticipate being late, notify the owner as soon as possible. Keeping the owner informed helps avoid disputes and makes it more likely that fees will be waived for legitimate delays.
Taking photos of the hobbs meter before and after your flight provides clear evidence of your actual engine time. These photos serve as your proof of the exact readings in case of any billing discrepancy.
If a dispute arises and you do not have a photo, the owner's recorded reading will be used to determine the final billing amount.
For the best results, take clear, well-lit photos that show the full hobbs meter display. Make sure the numbers are legible in the image.
All hobbs photos are stored securely on Avyo and are visible to both you and the aircraft owner, ensuring transparency for both parties.