Terms of Service

Version dated September 3, 2026 — superseded on September 7, 2026. Read the current Terms of Service. This copy is kept so members who accepted this version can see the exact text they agreed to.

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the AVident platform — our website, web application, iOS and Android applications, and related services (together, the "Platform"), operated by AVident ("AVident", "we", "us"). By creating an account or using the Platform you agree to these Terms.

1. What AVident is

AVident is a marketplace that connects members of the general aviation community: student pilots, certificated pilots, flight instructors (CFIs), FAA Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs), certificated mechanics, and aircraft owners. Through the Platform, members can list and rent aircraft, schedule flight instruction and practical tests, coordinate maintenance, and communicate with one another.

AVident is not a party to the rental, instruction, examination, or maintenance transactions between members. We are not an air carrier, flight school, insurance provider, or aircraft operator. Members contract directly with each other; AVident provides the marketplace, verification tooling, and payment processing that supports those transactions.

2. Eligibility and accounts

• You must be at least 18 years old and located in the United States to use the Platform.
• You must provide accurate information when registering and keep your account information current.
• You are responsible for activity on your account and for keeping your credentials secure.
• Providers (owners, instructors, examiners, mechanics) are responsible for the accuracy of their listings, certificates, ratings, and fees.

3. Safety and regulatory responsibility

• Pilots are solely responsible for compliance with all applicable Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs), including pilot certification, currency, medical requirements, and preflight duties under 14 CFR § 91.103.
• Aircraft owners are responsible for the airworthiness, registration, insurance, and required inspections of their aircraft.
• Aircraft listings are checked against the FAA Civil Aviation Registry before they can be booked. This verification helps prevent fraud; it is not a representation by AVident that an aircraft is airworthy or safe.
• Renters must hold valid renter's insurance meeting the owner's requirements and complete the owner's approval process before a rental.

4. Bookings and payments

• Payments on the Platform are processed by Stripe. By paying through the Platform you also agree to Stripe's applicable terms. AVident does not store your full card details.
• When you book a rental, a hold is placed on your payment card for the estimated cost — at booking, or, for bookings more than six days out, from your saved card six days before the booking ends. You authorize AVident to place that hold and to re-authorize it if it expires before the booking is settled. A booking whose hold cannot be placed may be cancelled. The final charge is based on actual metered flight time (Hobbs or tach), documented at block-out and block-in.
• AVident charges a service fee of 3% of the booking price, added to the amount the paying member is charged and itemized before booking confirmation, and retains a commission of 8% of the booking price from the amount paid out to the provider. Flight schools may optionally subscribe to the School Pro plan, billed monthly at the rates published on our pricing page, which waives the provider commission on the school's fleet bookings; it may be cancelled at any time.
• All transactions are in U.S. dollars (USD).
• Metered time billed is subject to a minimum of half the booked block, with exceptions for checkrides and for flights aborted because of a reported maintenance problem, as described in our Refund & Cancellation Policy.
• Each provider selects a cancellation policy for their listings. The cancellation terms shown at checkout form part of the contract between the paying member and the provider; late cancellations and no-shows may be charged a percentage of the booking estimate under those terms, which is paid out to the provider. Providers may waive such fees. AVident may, at its discretion, refund a fee in extenuating circumstances and recover the corresponding payout from the provider.
• Provider payouts and recovery. Payouts to providers are released 48 hours after a transaction settles and may be delayed while a refund request, dispute, or chargeback on that booking is under review. If AVident refunds a paying member, or a payment is reversed by the member's bank and AVident cannot successfully contest it, the provider agrees that the refunded or reversed amount, together with any processor dispute fee, may be recovered from that provider — by reversing the payout, by offsetting it against future payouts, or by direct invoice. Providers agree to keep their payout account open and in good standing for at least 60 days after their last payout so such recoveries can be made.
• Meter discrepancies raised at block-out are resolved through the Platform's dispute process before the disputed amount is charged. See our Refund & Cancellation Policy.

5. Acceptable use

You agree not to: misrepresent your identity, certificates, or aircraft; list an aircraft you do not own or lack authority to offer; use the Platform for any unlawful purpose; harass or abuse other members; post content that is fraudulent, obscene, or infringing; or attempt to circumvent the Platform's fees, verification, or safety processes. We may remove content, suspend, or terminate accounts that violate these Terms.

6. Content and community

You retain ownership of content you post but grant AVident a license to host and display it as needed to operate the Platform. Community content is moderated; members can report content, and repeated or serious violations lead to account action.

7. Disclaimers

The Platform is provided "as is" and "as available". To the maximum extent permitted by law, AVident disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including fitness for a particular purpose. Flying involves inherent risk; decisions about whether to fly, with whom, and in what aircraft are yours alone.

8. Limitation of liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, AVident's total liability arising out of or relating to the Platform will not exceed the platform fees you paid to AVident in the twelve months preceding the claim. AVident is not liable for indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages, or for the acts or omissions of members.

9. Termination

You may close your account at any time. We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or applicable law. Sections that by their nature should survive termination (including payment obligations, disclaimers, and limitations of liability) survive.

10. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will post the updated Terms here and update the "Last updated" date. Continued use of the Platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance.

11. Contact

Questions about these Terms: support@flyavident.com.