Page 16 - April 20 TNT

their simulated hangar, from tractors to boats. This allows for a more realistic example of their own hangar and the obstacles within. HangarStack’s technology was cre- ated a few years ago, with more than 85 software updates occurring within the last year to ensure the product re- mains a useful tool for FBOs, owners and operators. A demo is available on the website, which allows you to select and test from four hangar layouts (of varying size), one ramp layout and a plethora of planes. While the full prod- uct stores more than 450 aircraft in its database (any unavailable ones can quickly be added), the demonstration allows users to select one aircraft per manufacturer. For my demonstration, “Hangar 3” was selected and random aircraft were chosen to be puzzle-pieced into the 105-foot by 105-foot hangar: a Honda- Jet, Quest Kodiak, Aviat Husky, Pitts biplane and a Robinson R22 helicopter. Next to the hangar square is another screenshot that demonstrates the prod- uct’s “spacing” feature. This example shows 3-foot spacing, which is useful to better visualize the amount of clear- ance between the aircraft and other objects within the hangar, as well as its walls and fixtures. The available spacing ranges from zero to 10 feet. Other useful capabilities in the Han- garStack software include assigning a priority level or custom notes to each aircraft, such as “must be ready by 9:15 a.m.” or “add 200 gallons of fuel prior to departure.” Partin noted that the team is also working toward inte- grating flight tracking data in order to automatically update the hangar inventory based upon which aircraft are out for flights. For example, if a HondaJet leaves the hangar at noon, the feature would automatically show it re-stacked when it returns. This future addition is just one part of the team’s overall plan to help lessen the almost $1 billion in annual insurance claims attributed to hangar incidents, in ad- dition to making consumers’ aircraft movements easier and more efficient. Available on: Windows, Mac, and iPad More information: www.hangarstack.com Hangar Tonight In 2016, Brendan Clarke, former fighter pilot and current commercial real estate professional, witnessed a brief but intense hailstorm at the Colorado Springs Airport. Tennis ball- sized hail caused millions of dollars in damage to aircraft sitting on the ramp. The experience led him to create Hangar Tonight – or “Airbnb” for your airplane. Clarke noted that although there was ample hangar space available at the Colorado Springs Airport that day, there were still several transient aircraft (including a Citation Sovereign and a Gulfstream GV) exposed to the elements that were total write-offs. FBO, or $197 per month for an airport. Hangar owners simply create a list- ing by providing the hangar location, dimensions and other details, as well as pictures of the space. Supplying a map of the airfield is also strongly en- couraged, as it assists pilots in finding the hangar. Owners have the discretion to set the listing price, and when a pilot is inter- ested, they can inquire about the listing and “chat” directly with the owner. This upfront coordination prevents scamming, as it ensures that a real pilot (who is given a six-digit alphanumeric code by the company) is making the reservation. Exemplified by this example, pilots f lying across the country often need hangars on short-notice to protect their expensive asset from harsh environ- mental hazards – hailstorms, dust storms, snow, extreme wind, extreme temperature, etc. Hangar Tonight is a site specifically designed to suit those pilots’ needs for overnight aircraft storage. Hangar Tonight allows owners to rent their hangars, or sections of them, and for pilots to arrange short-term (28 days or less) rentals. Currently, there are listings in Colorado, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Texas and Pennsylva- nia, with more states coming on soon. Clarke notes that the team is actively working to increase the number of hangars listed and airports that they are available. Listing your hangar on the website and app is free the first year. The price then becomes $27 per month for an in- dividual hangar, $67 per month for an For example, let’s say you are an Eclipse 500 owner f lying to Colorado Springs. You would be able to log onto the Hangar Tonight plat- form (there is no fee for pilots to sign up and use the services) and view op- tions of staying at one of the airport’s many available private hangars. It is important to note that the software will only list available hangars that fit the particular aircraft inputted. So, T-hangars won’t be listed as options for the Eclipse 500 but might be for another aircraft, such as a Piper Malibu or Mooney M20. After selecting a suitable hangar within the requested date range, you are then able to chat directly with the hangar owner to confirm availability and other details. Once the hangar owner accepts your booking, you will enter your credit card details and a con- firmation will be sent to you both upon successful payment. Once payment is confirmed, any additional information 14 • TWIN & TURBINE / April 2020