Compare fuel-inclusive and aircraft-only rates using the same time basis, reimbursement policy and operating assumptions.
Published by Aloft360, an aircraft management software provider. Editorial standards and corrections
A wet aircraft rate includes fuel under the operator’s stated terms. A dry rate separates the aircraft charge from fuel. To compare them, you need more than the two advertised hourly prices: check the time basis, fuel policy and any instruction or other charges.
Neither model is automatically cheaper or fairer. The useful choice is one that covers the operation’s costs and is clear to the people paying the bill.
Suppose a dry rate is $115 per billed hour. Using an illustrative fuel assumption of 9 gallons per billed hour at $6.40 per gallon gives $57.60 in fuel, or $172.60 combined. That can be compared with a wet quote only if the billed time and other inclusions match.
Actual fuel use varies with aircraft, conditions and operation. Cruise fuel flow multiplied by a Hobbs interval is an estimate, not a measurement of fuel consumed. Use an agreed, documented method for actual charges.
The wet-versus-dry calculator is useful for exploring assumptions. The Hobbs and tach guide explains why time conventions also affect the comparison.
A wet rental can still involve fuel receipts. If the pilot buys fuel away from home, the operator needs a policy for reimbursement or credit, including any limits and documentation.
A dry arrangement needs an equally clear process. Establish the starting and ending fuel expectations, who pays for purchased fuel and how differences are reconciled. The next pilot should not inherit an unexplained fuel bill from the previous flight.
Before booking, a renter should be able to answer:
The operator’s budget may allocate insurance, storage, inspections and reserves across expected hours. Those calculations help set a rate, but they do not all need to appear as separate charges on every invoice.
Avoid double-counting. If annual inspection costs are already included in a general maintenance estimate, do not add them again as a separate reserve without adjusting the first figure. Likewise, an annual avionics reserve must be divided by annual billed hours before comparing it with an hourly rate.
An illustrative $30,000 component reserve spread over 2,000 relevant hours is $15 per hour. It does not predict the eventual invoice or account for an early failure. Review the estimate and required cash buffer as costs change.
An example invoice might show:
| Item | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Aircraft | 1.4 billed hours × $115 | $161.00 |
| Fuel charged under the agreed policy | 11.2 gallons × $6.20 | $69.44 |
| Instruction | 1.4 hours × $65 | $91.00 |
| Total before any additional applicable charges | $321.44 |
These are example amounts, not Aloft360 prices or a current rental quote. A useful invoice makes the source readings and any separate ground instruction easy to reconcile.
Aircraft with different fuel use, maintenance needs and insurance costs may need different rates. If you choose to share costs across a fleet, make that decision explicit rather than hiding it in an average.
Test the budget at lower utilization as well as the expected level. Fixed expenses continue when weather or maintenance reduces flying. A club can divide recovery between dues and hourly charges; the club dues calculator helps compare that split.
Enter a representative flight and check the resulting charge, then try a correction and review the member’s view. Confirm which items are automatic and which staff must enter or reconcile.
Aloft360 offers an optional Billing & Payments module. Review its supported workflow and current plan details rather than assuming every fuel or instructor charging arrangement is automatic. Choose the rate policy first, then verify that the system implements it as intended.