Wet vs Dry Aircraft Rental Rates

Aircraft rental is one of the largest line items in pilot training, and the words "wet" and "dry" are among the most commonly misread. There is no legal definition that applies everywhere; these are trade terms, so always ask the school what its quote includes.

The usual meaning

• Wet rate: the price per hour includes fuel (and usually oil). Sometimes it also includes other direct operating costs; that varies.
• Dry rate: the price per hour excludes fuel. The renter pays for fuel separately, either directly at the pump or as a charge added to the invoice.

Some schools use the words differently. A few use "wet" to include the instructor, some do not. Do not assume.

Why it matters

A dry rate looks cheaper per hour but is not comparable with a wet rate until you add the fuel cost. Fuel prices change, and different aircraft burn different amounts. This means:

• Comparing a dry rate from one school with a wet rate from another can mislead you.
• A dry quote can rise during your course when the fuel price rises, while a wet quote may be fixed until the school revises it or a surcharge clause applies.
• Fuel may be billed differently at different airfields.

Questions that make the rate comparable

1. Does the rate include fuel and oil?
2. Does the rate include the instructor, or is instructor time billed separately?
3. Is time billed from engine start to engine shutdown, or by flight time, or by a clock on the aircraft? The billing basis can change how many hours you pay for.
4. Are landing, parking, navigation and airport charges included?
5. Is there a minimum charge for each booking?
6. Is there a fuel surcharge clause, and how is it calculated?
7. Does the rate apply to all aircraft the school operates, or only to one type?

Put the rates in a table

For each school, record the same lines:

Then convert both to the same basis in a spreadsheet before looking at totals. If a school says it cannot give you this in writing, take that into account.

Rental for solo or after the licence

Wet and dry matter beyond training. After you qualify, you may rent aircraft from a flying club or school for your own flying. Clubs may require a check flight or give specific approval before letting you fly a type. That is a club policy, not a regulatory rule, so ask. Some places also have specific rules for renting aircraft registered in another country; check the authority's pages for the aircraft's state of registry.

Ownership and group schemes

You may also meet group ownership or "block" arrangements. These are not the same as school rental. Insurance, maintenance responsibility and liability differ. Ask for the terms, not just the rate.

Rates and total training cost

The hourly rate is only one factor in the final cost. The number of hours you personally need can matter more than a small hourly difference. The regulatory minimum is only a floor and not an expectation; see Regulatory Minimum vs Actual Completion Hours. This site does not publish typical totals, because they depend on the person, school, aircraft and country, and we do not invent figures. Where a school or authority publishes a figure, we show the source.

Training packages

Many schools quote a package that bundles aircraft and instructor time. In that case the question becomes what is included and what hourly rate applies when you go beyond the planned hours. See Comparing Training Packages and What Training Prices Include.

Checklist

• [ ] Fuel included or not, in writing
• [ ] Instructor included or not
• [ ] Billing basis stated
• [ ] Surcharge clause read
• [ ] Rates compared on one basis in one currency on one date
• [ ] Extra-hour rate known

Read about how listings on this site are sourced in our methodology, and browse schools to start your own comparison.