Advice Needed, How to start a Charter?

[CorpLearDriver]

whichever way you choose, if you're knowledgeable and persistent, and have a good fsdo to work with, you're probably looking at a 16 to 24 month headache if you're lucky.
good luck!!!!

It depends on how experienced you are on setting things up. I once knew a guy that from starting the process until certificate in hand, two weeks. But that was 10 years ago. Times and requirments change. But the optimum word here is experience.

The business plan you suggested was a very good idea. It helps to know a lot about the market you want to enter. TEB, FRG and FLL there are a number of 135 (and especially in FL - 134.5) operations. Competition can be fierce if not deadly.

What about financing? Start-up isn't cheap. Sometimes it is better to buy a 135 certificate offered with the sale of an airplane, but you still have to know your market. I'm not trying to discourage anyone, but you have to be realistic if you don't want to loose your shirt.

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[CorpLearDriver]

well i'm not sure if this is a dream of yours or a business decision, either way it's doable. i personally know 2 people who started from scratch and obtained 135 certificates. 1 at LGB FSDO in 1995 and another at the LAX fsdo a couple of years ago. the first one was a single plane single pilot ce 421, which months later was granted multiple aircraft. the latter was for a gulfstream operation (GII). both of them took over a year to accomplish. one thing you'll need to have is an aircraft. i believe the feds have lightened up on the types of aircraft and proving runs required, but you'll still have to get the size of aircraft ie small jet, mid, super mid or large, and have one at least on a lease before you can approach the faa. persistance, patience and tenancity better be in your make up when dealing with the feds.

Proving runs for each aircraft type is 25 hours. You can apply for lower proving run hours but if something goes wrong and you can't complete it in that time, you'll end up doing all 25 hours. The feds have the discression to say they have seen enough with less than the 25 hours even without the application for the lower hour requirement. We put a Learjet on a certificate with only 12 or 13 hours flown during the proving runs. But this was an additional aircraft, not a startup.

 

[Tired Soul]

The boss-man and me are playing with the idea of 135 with a (brand new) C182.
Read through the previous posts and the links and the "Director of operations" seems to be the big hurdle.
One plane, max 4 pilots, single pilot VFR/IFR operations, do we really need a Director of Ops.?
We intend to use the plane for flight instruction mostly with the occasional 135 on the side.
This mean we would need to get a guy in just to be DoO?
Can somebody please clarify this?
Thanks

 

[aeronautic1]

How do you make a million dollars in the aviation business?

Start with two million!!

 

[TimsKeeper]

never heard that one.......in the last 30 seconds on this board....good one.

 

[Clutch_Cargo]

The boss-man and me are playing with the idea of 135 with a (brand new) C182.
Read through the previous posts and the links and the "Director of operations" seems to be the big hurdle.
One plane, max 4 pilots, single pilot VFR/IFR operations, do we really need a Director of Ops.?
We intend to use the plane for flight instruction mostly with the occasional 135 on the side.
This mean we would need to get a guy in just to be DoO?
Can somebody please clarify this?
Thanks

You need a basic 135 certificate... allows upto 5 pilots and 3 aircraft... DO/CP can be the same person or a full 135 certificate which doesn't restrict pilot/aircraft numbers - you can get a waiver to allow DO/CP to be same person as long as the operation isn't too complex.

cc

 

[philo beddoe]

Proving runs are not required for light aircraft.

In fact, I think it is for over 12,500 or jet only.

 

[philo beddoe]

For basic 135, you get five total pilots (incl the chief) and five aircraft. You may combine any two management positions.

For full 135, you will need all three management positions staffed, unless your FSDO really goes to bat for you.