Astra SPX pt. 135 Charter companies

[AirJosh1]

Our boss is looking to buy an Astra SPX and would like a company that has experience with this aircraft to charter it when he's not flying. Does anyone know any companies that charter this A/C? Charter Hub shows 0.

 

[Lear Wanna Be]

What part of the country is the aircraft located? I know a few places and some are better than others.

 

[AirJosh1]

Most likely we will base operations in either CA or AZ but will be looking at all options. Could you list operators regardless of locations? Thanks.

 

[Lear Wanna Be]

If you have any pull what so ever I would try to get the owner to go with Executive Jet Management. That's good for everybody. I think they currently operate two SPXs and one straight Astra.

Otherwise, JetSelect out of Columbus, OH has an Astra SPX on their certificate. It's based in BCT. JetSelect has bases in SDL and VNY as well. However, JetSelect doesn't seem to know how to charter an Astra. They have about 9 Lear 60s and that is what they specialize in chartering.

Priester Aviation out of PWK has an Astra SPX that is based in FL. Priester has aircraft all over the country, but they seem to specialize in retail charter and not necessarily broker trips. So if the owner is looking for a lot of charter revenue, Priester might not be for him.

Reynolds Jet dba Air 10 out of LUK has an SPX or two. The CP is a good guy and Air 10 seems to be a good place to work. I don't know exactly how much flying they do however. I think enough, but they don't have any bases outside of LUK that I know of.

Wing Aviation out of HOU has a couple of SPXs. I know there are a couple of Wing guys on FI, so you might be able to get the low down from them. From what I understand Wing is a good company, but I don't think they have anything outside of Houston.

Air Charters, Inc. out of TEB has one. I don't know anything about them however.

Well, as you might be able to tell, I have a few contacts at some of those companies. Let me know if you need some help and might need another pilot. Whatever you do, if the owner wants to save some money don't base it with a company inside the VNY FSDO district.

 

[starcheckdriver]

JetShare US in Sarasota, FL has had a few Astras on their certificate in the past. From what I know, they did quite well chartering them. They are a small operation and will certainly give you personalized service when it comes to managing the aircraft. PM me if you need more info or a contact phone/e-mail.

You could try Segrave Aviation who is now part of Delta Air Elite. I do not know if they are in the market for or have experience with an Astra, but they are aggresively seeking new aircraft to manage and charter. They have a roaming fleet so it should not be a problem to base it where you wish. From what owners have said, they also have great management contracts that work well for the aircraft owner.

 

[AirJosh1]

Thanks for all the great info Lear Wanna Be and Starcheckdriver! Things are changing daily so we'll see what happens...Do any of you know if the SPX qualifies for ETOP's say for a charter SFO-HNL? I know one of the numbers needed is a single eng cruise speed that most older A/C don't have in their performance numbers so even if you have the legs, can't get certified. Thanks again.

 

[Lear Wanna Be]

I don't believe so. The Astra SPX/G100 doesn't perform as well as the Lear 60 and the 60 has a wet foot print going from California to Hawaii.

Lear 60...S.L. to FL410=20 minutes.....Astra SPX from S.L. to FL410=35 minutes. Astra out of FL350 and climbing...300 (yeah, 3 hundred) to 400 fpm...so just imagine your drift down in the thing.

 

[svcta]

Don't fly an Astra to Hawaii. You're gonna swim if anything goes wrong. Even with the extension tank installed.

 

[Choppy]

I don't believe so. The Astra SPX/G100 doesn't perform as well as the Lear 60 and the 60 has a wet foot print going from California to Hawaii.

Lear 60...S.L. to FL410=20 minutes.....Astra SPX from S.L. to FL410=35 minutes. Astra out of FL350 and climbing...300 (yeah, 3 hundred) to 400 fpm...so just imagine your drift down in the thing.

I'm not so sure about that... An old Astra SP yes to 35 mins. The SPX we have made 410 in about 25 mins with pretty heavy weights.

 

[starcheckdriver]

My understanding is that the Astra SPX can make CA to Hawaii no problem, even under Part 135. I understand that to be a 6 hour aircraft with IFR reserves, which should be good to make Hawaii unless there are really strong winds. I am posting based on what some Astra pilots have told me. I have no experience with the plane.

 

[Lear Wanna Be]

Can go and being safe to go aren't always synonymous with one another. Loss one or have a rapid decompression and you end up swimming the last 500 miles...i.e. wet footprint, thus not ETOPS worthy. If you really need me to grab the manual and look some stuff up, I could probably manage. The SPX I'm thinking of didn't have the extended tanks, so at the 5:15 mark you were looking for a place to land. So add the extra 800 lbs and maybe you are about 5:45 and it's time to land.

 

[LongBoarder]

Call Rob at Bridgeford... They had an Astra on cert...

It can do it... I have done all kinds of over water in IAI aircraft... you just have to know that you may very well swim. I would not do it again... I like 3 engines and a SE driftdown to 330 these days.

LB

 

[svcta]

It can do it...... you just have to know that you may very well swim.

Shouldn't this mean that it can't do it?

 

[starcheckdriver]

My Asta sources are telling me the SPX can go 6:15 and land with IFR reserves. Is this not true?

 

[svcta]

I haven't flown an Astra in a few years. The airplane is capable of doing the trip from the mainland to Hawaii, but if the wrong things happen at the wrong time you're going to end up swimming. The SPX that I used to fly did this trip in the past and I know that people do it, but I don't think it's wise. Just my opinion. Sure the water's warm, but that's not a part of my flight planning paradigm. It's been a while since I looked in to it, so take my opinion for what it's worth, but as I recall there were contingencies that left you with a big splashing sound in place of the chirping of rubber on runway.

 

[ultrarunner]

... The airplane is capable of doing the trip from the mainland to Hawaii, but if the wrong things happen at the wrong time you're going to end up swimming....

Then are we to assume that all you folks that say this, put that statement in your pax brief?

Unbelievable!

 

[BoilerUP]

Just say no to a wet footprint...

 

[G100driver]

If you operate an Astra to HI you should have your head examined. With that said, I see them there all the time parked right next to the dopes in Hawkers. The Astra is NOT an overwater airplane. Besides not having enough fuel it does not have an IRS/IRU.

We used to have one and we would charter a Falcon 50 for the boss when he wanted to go there.

 

[Bally]

I was a factory pilot for Astra Jet and have taken the airplane around the world to the most remote places many times. Great airplane! If you are interested in a California based operator familiar with the airplane, PM me.

 

[CLECA]

AirJosh, we operate 4 and operate airplanes based all over. As someone already mentioned I work for Wing Aviation. PM me and I can give the low down and find someone that can help you out, even if its not us.

 

[spxdriver]

Lear 60...S.L. to FL410=20 minutes.....Astra SPX from S.L. to FL410=35 minutes. Astra out of FL350 and climbing...300 (yeah, 3 hundred) to 400 fpm...so just imagine your drift down in the thing.

The SPx will do Sea Level to FL410 at or near ISA in about 25 minutes. I have never seen the climb rates that you are referring to out of FL350. Usually you can maintain 400-500 FPM all the way to FL410. Out of FL350, you should be seeing 800 - 1,200 FPM in the SPx. You may want to check the climb schedule that you're using.

The SPX I'm thinking of didn't have the extended tanks, so at the 5:15 mark you were looking for a place to land. So add the extra 800 lbs and maybe you are about 5:45 and it's time to land.

I have flown the SPx 6+42 and landed with 1,400 lbs of fuel. First hour fuel burn is 1,800 lbs.

My Asta sources are telling me the SPX can go 6:15 and land with IFR reserves. Is this not true?

True.

If you operate an Astra to HI you should have your head examined. With that said, I see them there all the time parked right next to the dopes in Hawkers. The Astra is NOT an overwater airplane. Besides not having enough fuel it does not have an IRS/IRU.

Agree.