Any suggestions?

[KeroseneSnorter]

KeroseneSnorter-

Wow. Thank you for the info. So that aircraft will just sit in wait until the end od 2006? Knowing his current estimated wait time, is it shorter considering he has an aircraft that is ready to go?

You mentioned one of my current debates. It seems that starting with only one aircraft would be considerably easier than starting with 2 or 3. I'm looking into how difficult expansion would be (Hiring the correct people and getting more planes added to the certificate) once business picked up. Or would it be better to get the multi-plane work done up front.

Right now he is renting and instructing in the airplane, so it is making a little income.

Last time I dealt with 135 you could run one airplane with one pilot on the certificate and that eliminated a lot of the paperwork required. (some of the training manuals etc.) That has been a few years ago so things may have changed though. There is a sample 135 certificate filing that you can download from the FAA's web site that will give you an idea of what to expect. The sample or "template" is for one plane with one pilot and bare minimum IFR certification. ie. basic ifr requirements of 1 mile vis to take off and the like. we all know that to make money you really need to have more realistic IFR criteria for reduced T/O mins and the like, but that has to all be applied for on an individual basis and have the appropriate training manuals and ops specs approved to do it. Have plenty of paper availible in the printer when you print it up. (and a spare toner for the printer!!!!) it is long.

The feds also have a "quick start" cd now that you just enter your company name in and it inserts your info in all the correct places in your 135 app and op specs. Expect to have to rewrite sections of this several time even though you use the "quick start" info.

Of course you could go the route that someone else suggested and buy an already active 135 certificate. I am sure that you could find many for sale right now given the market. A lot more money but would get you up and running quicker (Notice I did not say quick! )

I have to agree with the other posters about airplane choice. Go with a twin. Baron at the minimum, but a cabin class twin would be best. Most companies will not put their people on a single engine airplane anymore. More and more of them require their people to be on a turbine aircraft as well.

Personally I think that there are some niche markets that would bring in customers for a little 135 operation with a little hustle and out of the box thinking. I would not try the standard business passenger 135 outfit in my neck of the woods, King Airs are a dime a dozen around here for charter. If I ever come across a pile of money that I feel like throwing away, I may try some of my ideas.

How do you make a small fortune in aviation?.....................

 

[s0ldier93]

How do you make a small fortune in aviation?.....................

Start with a big one right? As for aircraft choises, I'm thinking C-402/414/421. I've even seen a few turbine ones one www.aso.com.

I'll go search the FAA site for that guide. Thank you for the info.

 

[T-REX]

Stay away from the 300/400 Cessna's there's a $100K wing spar AD coming up, right?

 

[s0ldier93]

All 3xx's and 4xx's? Glad I decided against picking up that 310 for personal use.

 

[KeroseneSnorter]

The 300 series is fine. They are not part of the NPRM.

All the 400's except the 421 are named in the NPRM for the AD. And it appears to be very expensive. I do not know why the 421 is not listed as being affected, perhaps a design difference in the spar. At any rate, you are still safe buying a 310 or 340..........at least for now


I would check with the feds at your FSDO before buying a turbine conversion for your 135 ops. I don't know, but I have a feeling that they will not allow an airplane on 135 that has been that heavily modified. I'm sure that some of the conversions will work with the FAA, but given the pain in the rear it is just to get a factory original airplane approved for 135 and added to your certificate, I have my doubts that many of the piston to turbine conversions will pass the FAA Maint. inspection. Pretty much unless it is certified from the factory, the feds are a little squemish about putting paying passengers on it. The only exception I can think of is the Convair 580 and 660. But I am pretty sure when Convair did the conversions, they had a new type certificate done for the airplanes. (Plus it was 40+ years ago!!)

Maybe someone else on here has come across the turbine conversion issue for 135 and can give you more info.

 

[s0ldier93]

I take it that will be hell for a company like Cape Air. www.flycapeair.com. They have something like fifty 402's.

 

[bryrex]

135 Paperwork done in no time

If you are interested in completing the paperwork for any part 135 operation, look no further than http://usac.com/faa These guys have simplified the paperwork process to the point where you fill out one form and all the required paperwork is instantly generated through their software. Prices are competetive and no hassles. check it..

 

[getonit]

Here is my .02 worth. Most 135 operators don't own the airplanes, they are managing them for the owners. I don't think you can make money owning and chartering an aircraft unless you have very high utilization. You need someone to make the payments. I would find someone's aircraft you could manage and fly (didn't look at your qualifications) and then work on getting the airplane onto someone else's certificate and then if you really want to work hard, start the process for your own 135 certificate, which should take some time at which point, hopefully, you have a reputation as an honest, safe, reasonable businessman first. My opinion is that too many people in aviation are airplane people first and businessmen second, sometimes far second and that shows in the lousy customer service that I have gotten.

 

[s0ldier93]

getonit-

So basically lease an aircraft, get it and a pilot or two added to someone else's 135 cert, then fly customers that way? . . . . hhhmmmm. . . . Do the FAR's allow for more than one business name to be used on a cert? Or would I have to operate under the name of the 135 cert owner? I will be going back through 119 and 135 as soon as my brain can handle it again, but I think I read something saying there could be more than one business name on a cert. Thank you for the advice.