AVident

Terms of Service

Version dated September 7, 2026 — superseded on September 20, 2026.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") are a contract between you and AVident ("AVident", "we", "us"), the operator of the AVident website, web application, iOS and Android applications, and related services (together, the "Platform"). By creating an account or using the Platform you agree to these Terms, our Privacy Policy, and our Refund & Cancellation Policy, which are incorporated by reference.

These Terms contain an assumption of risk (Section 7), a limitation of liability (Section 9), and an agreement to resolve disputes by binding individual arbitration with a class action waiver and a 30-day opt-out (Section 11). Please read them.

1. What AVident is, and is not

1.1 The Platform. The Platform is an online marketplace through which members of the general aviation community ("Members") can list and rent aircraft, offer and book flight instruction and FAA practical tests, offer and book maintenance, ferry, and contract-pilot services, and communicate with one another. Each such rental, lesson, test, or service is a "Transaction." A Member who lists an aircraft or offers a service is a "Provider." A Member who rents an aircraft or books a service is a "Renter." A Member may be both, and a flight school may act as a Provider through a school account.

1.2 AVident is not a party to Transactions. Every Transaction is a contract solely between the Provider and the Renter. AVident does not perform, guarantee, or supervise any Transaction. AVident's role is limited to providing the Platform, listing and identity verification tooling, messaging, scheduling, and payment processing through a third-party processor.

1.3 AVident is not an operator. AVident does not own, lease, operate, maintain, inspect, dispatch, schedule crews for, or exercise operational control (as that term is used in 14 C.F.R. § 1.1) over any aircraft. AVident is not an air carrier or commercial operator, does not hold and is not required to hold any certificate under 14 C.F.R. Parts 119, 121, 135, 141, or 145, and is not a flight school, aircraft rental operator, or aviation insurer. No flight arranged through the Platform is conducted by or on behalf of AVident.

1.4 Verification is limited. AVident matches aircraft listings against the FAA Civil Aviation Registry, matches instructor and mechanic certificates against the FAA Airmen Registry, and may collect insurance, medical, and identity documents that Members upload. These checks are automated and limited to whether records exist and match. They are not an inspection of any aircraft, an assessment of any person's competence, currency, or fitness, or a representation that any aircraft is airworthy or any flight is safe or lawful. AVident does not conduct pilot checkouts, flight reviews, or proficiency evaluations. Verification badges, registry matches, ratings, and reviews are informational only.

1.5 Independent Members. Providers are independent third parties and are not employees, agents, contractors, joint venturers, or representatives of AVident. AVident does not set Providers' prices (other than publishing platform fees), hours, availability, methods, or standards of service.

2. Eligibility and accounts

2.1 You must be at least 18 years old, located in the United States, and able to form a binding contract to use the Platform.

2.2 You must register with accurate information, verify your email address, and keep your account current. One person may hold one account. You are responsible for all activity under your account and for keeping your credentials secure. Tell us promptly at support@flyavident.com if you believe your account has been compromised.

2.3 Certificates and credentials. Any certificate number, rating, endorsement, medical class, or insurance policy you add to your profile must be yours and current. Adding a credential is a representation to every Member who relies on it.

2.4 School accounts. A flight school profile is administered by the Member who created it and by any co-administrator that Member adds. The administering Members are jointly responsible for the school's listings, staff, fleet, locations, and Transactions, and represent that they have authority to act for the school.

2.5 Delegates and approvers. An aircraft owner may designate other Members to approve renters, receive bookings, or act on the owner's listing. The owner remains responsible for the listing and for the acts of its delegates on the Platform.

2.6 Contact details. Members' email addresses and phone numbers are shared only between parties to a confirmed Transaction, members of the same school, an owner and their delegates, and as otherwise described in the Privacy Policy. You agree not to use contact details obtained through the Platform for any purpose other than the Transaction they were shared for.

3. Safety and regulatory responsibility

3.1 Pilots. Any Member acting as pilot in command is solely responsible for that flight, including compliance with 14 C.F.R. Part 61 (certification, ratings, endorsements, currency), Part 67 (medical certification), and Part 91 (operating rules), including the pilot in command's authority and responsibility under § 91.3 and preflight duties under § 91.103. The decision whether to begin, continue, or terminate any flight belongs to the pilot in command alone. Nothing on the Platform, including a confirmed booking, a card hold, a cancellation fee, or a minimum-billing rule, is a reason to fly.

3.2 Aircraft owners and operators. A Provider who lists an aircraft is solely responsible for its airworthiness, registration, required inspections and maintenance records (14 C.F.R. Part 91 Subpart E and Part 43), insurance, and compliance with any restriction on its use, including the limitations on experimental aircraft under § 91.319. The Provider alone decides which Renters may operate the aircraft and on what conditions, and is responsible for any checkout, briefing, or approval process. Meter readings, squawks, and maintenance entries recorded on the Platform are the Members' own records; AVident does not review them.

3.3 Instructors and examiners. A Provider offering flight instruction or practical tests is solely responsible for holding and maintaining the required certificates and designations, for the content and conduct of instruction, for any endorsement given, and for compliance with TSA flight-training security requirements (49 C.F.R. Part 1552). Any statement on the Platform by a student about their citizenship or training eligibility is the student's own; AVident does not verify it, and the instructor remains responsible for confirming eligibility before training.

3.4 Mechanics. A Provider offering maintenance is solely responsible for holding the required certificates and ratings (14 C.F.R. Part 65), for the work performed, and for the maintenance records and return-to-service entries required by Part 43. An entry recorded on the Platform does not replace the entry required in the aircraft's records.

3.5 Insurance. Renters must hold renter's (non-owned aircraft) insurance meeting the Provider's requirements. Providers are responsible for insuring their aircraft and services. AVident does not provide, broker, or verify the adequacy of any insurance. Documents uploaded to the Platform are stored for Members' convenience only, and any link to a third-party insurer is a referral, not a recommendation.

3.6 Incidents. Members are responsible for all reporting required after an accident or incident (including 49 C.F.R. Part 830) and agree to inform AVident promptly of any accident, incident, or enforcement action arising from a Transaction.

4. Bookings and payments

4.1 Processor. Payments on the Platform are processed by Stripe. By paying or receiving payment through the Platform you also agree to the applicable Stripe terms, including the Stripe Connected Account Agreement if you receive payouts. AVident does not store your full card details.

4.2 Holds. When you book a rental, a hold is placed on your payment card for the estimated cost, either 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.

4.3 Fees. AVident charges the paying Member a service fee of 3% of the booking price, itemized before 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 changes the fees on the school's fleet bookings; it may be cancelled at any time. AVident may change its fees on thirty (30) days' notice; changes apply to bookings made after the effective date.

4.4 All transactions are in U.S. dollars (USD).

4.5 Minimum billing. 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.

4.6 Cancellation. 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.

4.7 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.

4.8 Meter disputes raised at block-out are resolved through the Platform's dispute process before the disputed amount is charged, as described in our Refund & Cancellation Policy.

4.9 Taxes. Amounts shown on the Platform do not include taxes unless stated. Providers are responsible for determining, collecting, and remitting any sales, use, excise, or income tax that applies to their Transactions, and for any information return the payment processor issues to them. AVident may collect and remit tax where the law requires a marketplace to do so.

4.10 Wallet. Credits shown in your AVident wallet are a record of refunds or credits applied to your account. They are not deposits, cannot be loaded with funds, earn no interest, and are not insured.

5. Acceptable use

You agree not to:

AVident has zero tolerance for objectionable content and abusive users. We may remove content, decline or cancel bookings, and suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms.

6. Content, community, and intellectual property

6.1 Your content. You retain ownership of content you post, including photos, listings, logbook entries, reviews, and Lounge posts. You grant AVident a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to host, store, reproduce, adapt, and display that content as needed to operate, promote, and improve the Platform, and to keep records required by law. You represent that you have the rights to post it.

6.2 Moderation. Members can report content and block other Members. Reported content may be hidden automatically while it is reviewed. Images uploaded to public areas are screened automatically for explicit content before they are shown. AVident may remove or hide content and take account action for violations, but has no obligation to monitor content and is not responsible for it.

6.3 Reviews. Reviews must reflect a genuine Transaction and the reviewer's own experience. AVident may remove reviews that violate these Terms but does not verify their accuracy.

6.4 Copyright. If you believe content on the Platform infringes your copyright, send a notice to support@flyavident.com identifying the work, the location of the material on the Platform, your contact information, a statement of good-faith belief that the use is unauthorized, and a statement under penalty of perjury that the notice is accurate and that you are the owner or authorized to act for the owner. We remove or disable access to material identified in a valid notice and terminate the accounts of repeat infringers.

6.5 AVident's property. The Platform, its software, design, and the AVident name and logo are owned by AVident or its licensors. Except for the limited right to use the Platform under these Terms, no rights are granted to you. FAA registry data displayed on the Platform is public government data and is provided without warranty.

6.6 Feedback. Suggestions you send us may be used without obligation to you.

7. Assumption of risk

7.1 YOU UNDERSTAND THAT GENERAL AVIATION INVOLVES INHERENT RISKS THAT CANNOT BE ELIMINATED REGARDLESS OF THE CARE TAKEN, INCLUDING MECHANICAL FAILURE, WEATHER, PILOT ERROR, MIDAIR COLLISION, LOSS OF CONTROL, FIRE, AND ERRORS IN INSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE, OR AIRCRAFT RECORDS, AND THAT THESE RISKS CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY, DEATH, AND DAMAGE TO OR LOSS OF PROPERTY. YOU VOLUNTARILY CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY FLIGHT, INSTRUCTION, PRACTICAL TEST, OR MAINTENANCE ACTIVITY ARRANGED THROUGH THE PLATFORM WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THESE RISKS.

7.2 TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, YOU ASSUME ALL RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY, DEATH, PROPERTY DAMAGE, AND FINANCIAL LOSS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO ANY TRANSACTION AND ANY AIRCRAFT, FLIGHT, INSTRUCTION, TEST, OR SERVICE THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF A TRANSACTION, WHETHER CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF ANOTHER MEMBER OR OTHERWISE, AND YOU RELEASE AVIDENT AND ITS OWNERS, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS FROM ALL SUCH CLAIMS.

7.3 You acknowledge that AVident does not inspect aircraft, evaluate pilots or instructors, or make any determination of airworthiness, currency, or competence (Section 1.4), and that you are relying solely on your own judgment and on the Provider or Renter with whom you contract.

7.4 You confirm at each booking that you are the pilot in command, a student under instruction, or a Provider performing the service, and that you have read this Section.

8. Disclaimers

8.1 THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE." TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, AVIDENT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND ANY WARRANTY ARISING FROM COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OF TRADE.

8.2 AVIDENT MAKES NO WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION REGARDING ANY MEMBER, AIRCRAFT, LISTING, CERTIFICATE, RATING, INSURANCE POLICY, MAINTENANCE RECORD, LOGBOOK ENTRY, ENDORSEMENT, OR TRANSACTION, INCLUDING THEIR ACCURACY, LEGALITY, SAFETY, AIRWORTHINESS, QUALITY, OR SUITABILITY.

8.3 AVIDENT DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE PLATFORM WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE, OR THAT ANY CARD HOLD, PAYMENT, PAYOUT, NOTIFICATION, CALENDAR SYNCHRONIZATION, IMPORTED CALENDAR BLOCK, OR MESSAGE WILL BE PLACED, DELIVERED, OR RECEIVED. A BOOKING THAT IS NOT BLOCKED ON AN EXTERNAL CALENDAR, OR AN EXTERNAL BLOCK THAT FAILS TO IMPORT, IS NOT AVIDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY.

8.4 Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties. To that extent, the exclusions above apply to the greatest extent permitted, and any non-excludable warranty is limited in duration to thirty (30) days.

9. Limitation of liability

9.1 Exclusion of damages. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, AVIDENT AND ITS OWNERS, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, AND SUPPLIERS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUE, BUSINESS, GOODWILL, DATA, OR USE, OR FOR THE COST OF SUBSTITUTE AIRCRAFT OR SERVICES, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS, THE PLATFORM, OR ANY TRANSACTION, UNDER ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

9.2 Cap. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, AVIDENT'S TOTAL CUMULATIVE LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS, THE PLATFORM, OR ANY TRANSACTION SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE PLATFORM FEES AND COMMISSIONS YOU PAID TO AVIDENT IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS BEFORE THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM, OR (B) ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS ($100).

9.3 Member conduct and Transactions. WITHOUT LIMITING SECTIONS 9.1 AND 9.2, AVIDENT IS NOT LIABLE FOR THE ACTS, OMISSIONS, OR CONDUCT OF ANY MEMBER, FOR THE CONDITION OR OPERATION OF ANY AIRCRAFT, FOR ANY INSTRUCTION, TEST, OR MAINTENANCE, OR FOR ANY LOSS ARISING FROM A TRANSACTION, WHETHER ON OR OFF THE PLATFORM.

9.4 Basis of the bargain. The limitations in this Section are fundamental elements of the bargain between you and AVident, reflect the allocation of risk in a marketplace that does not itself provide aviation services, and apply even if a limited remedy fails of its essential purpose.

9.5 Exceptions. Nothing in this Section limits liability that cannot be limited under applicable law, including liability for AVident's own gross negligence, willful misconduct, or fraud.

10. Indemnification

10.1 You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless AVident and its owners, officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any claim, demand, investigation, action, loss, liability, damage, fine, penalty, cost, or expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to: (a) your access to or use of the Platform; (b) any Transaction to which you are a party, and any aircraft, flight, instruction, test, or service that is its subject, including any injury, death, or property damage; (c) your breach of these Terms or of any law or regulation, including Federal Aviation Regulations and TSA requirements; (d) the inaccuracy of any information, listing, certificate, record, or document you provide; (e) any content you post; (f) any dispute between you and another Member; and (g) any chargeback, payment reversal, tax, or governmental charge attributable to your Transactions.

10.2 AVident may assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter subject to indemnification, at your expense, and you agree to cooperate with that defense. You may not settle any claim that imposes an obligation on AVident without AVident's written consent.

10.3 This Section does not require you to indemnify AVident for claims to the extent finally determined to have been caused by AVident's own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

11. Dispute resolution; binding arbitration; class action waiver

PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY. IT AFFECTS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING YOUR RIGHT TO FILE A LAWSUIT IN COURT AND TO HAVE A JURY HEAR YOUR CLAIMS. IT CONTAINS A CLASS ACTION WAIVER AND AN OPT-OUT RIGHT (SECTION 11.6).

11.1 Scope. Except as provided in Section 11.7, you and AVident agree that any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms, the Platform, or any Transaction, including its existence, breach, termination, enforcement, interpretation, or validity, and whether based in contract, tort, statute, fraud, or any other legal theory (a "Dispute"), shall be resolved exclusively by binding individual arbitration. This agreement to arbitrate is governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq., and survives termination of your account.

11.2 Informal resolution first. Before starting an arbitration, the party raising the Dispute must send the other a written notice describing the Dispute and the relief sought (to AVident by email to support@flyavident.com with the subject line "Legal notice"; to you at the email on your account). The parties will attempt in good faith to resolve the Dispute for sixty (60) days after the notice, including at least one telephone or video conference if either party requests it. Any statute of limitations is tolled during this period. An arbitration demand filed without completing this step shall be dismissed or stayed.

11.3 Procedure. The arbitration shall be administered by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") under its Consumer Arbitration Rules, as modified by this Section, before a single neutral arbitrator. The arbitrator shall be a retired judge or an attorney with at least ten years of experience and shall apply the substantive law of the state in Section 12, including applicable statutes of limitation. The arbitration shall be conducted by videoconference or on documents unless the arbitrator determines an in-person hearing is necessary, in which case it shall take place in the county where you reside or another mutually agreed location. The arbitrator may award any relief that a court could award to an individual claimant, and shall issue a reasoned written decision. Judgment on the award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.

11.4 Costs. Payment of filing, administrative, and arbitrator fees shall be governed by the AAA rules. For a Dispute in which you seek less than ten thousand U.S. dollars ($10,000), AVident will pay all such fees other than the consumer filing fee, and will reimburse that fee if the arbitrator rules in your favor. Each party bears its own attorneys' fees unless the arbitrator awards fees under applicable law or finds that a claim or defense was frivolous or brought for an improper purpose.

11.5 Class action and jury waiver. YOU AND AVIDENT AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN AN INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS, COLLECTIVE, CONSOLIDATED, OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING. THE ARBITRATOR MAY NOT CONSOLIDATE MORE THAN ONE PERSON'S CLAIMS OR PRESIDE OVER ANY FORM OF REPRESENTATIVE OR CLASS PROCEEDING. YOU AND AVIDENT EACH WAIVE THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY. If this Section 11.5 is found unenforceable as to a particular claim or request for relief, then that claim or request (and only that claim or request) shall be severed from arbitration and decided by a court under Section 12, and all other claims shall proceed in arbitration.

11.6 Opt-out. You may opt out of this arbitration agreement by sending written notice by email to support@flyavident.com with the subject line "Arbitration opt-out" within thirty (30) days after you first accept these Terms (or, if you held an account before this Section was added, within thirty (30) days after you first accept the version of the Terms that contains it), stating your name, the email on your account, and that you decline to arbitrate. Opting out does not affect any other provision of these Terms. If you opt out, AVident will also not be bound to arbitrate Disputes with you.

11.7 Exceptions. Either party may (a) bring an individual action in small claims court for a Dispute within that court's jurisdiction; (b) seek injunctive or other equitable relief in court to protect intellectual property or to stop unauthorized use of the Platform; and (c) seek public injunctive relief in court where applicable law does not permit that remedy to be waived. Nothing in this Section prevents a party from reporting a matter to a government agency.

11.8 Coordinated filings. If twenty-five (25) or more arbitration demands raising similar issues are filed against AVident by or with the assistance of the same or coordinated counsel within ninety (90) days, the parties agree that (a) the demands shall be administered in batches of fifty (50), each batch assigned to one arbitrator with one set of fees; (b) a single bellwether batch shall proceed first and the remaining demands shall be stayed pending its resolution and a further sixty-day mediation; and (c) statutes of limitation are tolled for stayed demands. A court, not an arbitrator, decides any dispute about the application of this Section 11.8.

11.9 Changes. If AVident changes this Section after you accept these Terms, you may reject the change by written notice within thirty (30) days, in which case the version you accepted continues to govern Disputes between you and AVident.

11.10 Severability. Except as stated in Section 11.5, if any part of this Section is found unenforceable, the remainder shall be enforced.

12. Governing law and venue

12.1 These Terms and any Dispute are governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, applicable federal law (including the Federal Aviation Regulations), and the laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules, except that consumer-protection laws of your state of residence that cannot be waived by contract shall apply.

12.2 Any Dispute that is not subject to arbitration under Section 11 shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in the State of California, and you consent to personal jurisdiction and venue there, except that either party may bring a small claims action where permitted by Section 11.7.

12.3 Limitation period. To the extent permitted by law, any claim arising out of or related to these Terms or the Platform must be brought within one (1) year after it accrues, or it is permanently barred.

13. Suspension, termination, and account deletion

13.1 You may close your account at any time from Settings. An account cannot be deleted while a rental under it is blocked out; complete the flight first. Deleting your account cancels your future bookings, releases any uncaptured card holds, and notifies the other party to each cancelled booking. Amounts you owe, and payouts owed to you, survive deletion.

13.2 We may suspend or terminate your account, remove listings, or cancel bookings if you violate these Terms or applicable law, if a credential you rely on cannot be verified or has lapsed, if an aircraft you list no longer matches the FAA registry, or to protect Members or the Platform. Where practical we will tell you why.

13.3 Survival. Sections 1, 4.7, 4.9, 6.1, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, this Section 13, and any other provision that by its nature should survive, survive termination or deletion.

14. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms. We will post the updated Terms at flyavident.com/terms, update the "Last updated" date, and, for material changes, notify you in the app or by email and ask you to accept the new version before your next booking. Each version remains available at flyavident.com/terms/<date> (for example, /terms/2026-09-03). Section 11.9 governs changes to the arbitration agreement. Continued use of the Platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance.

15. Notices and contact

Notices to AVident under these Terms go by email to support@flyavident.com with the subject line indicated in Section 11. Notices to you go to the email on your account. General questions: support@flyavident.com.