Best Aircraft for the Job ???

[AV8N4Fun]

Looking to those of you w/ many years of experience, good judgment, sound reasoning, and the willingness to give free advise. I am trying to determine the right aircraft for a particular job.

A company that I occasionally do some flying for is considering buying another aircraft strictly for freight hauling rather than outsourcing it as they've been doing. They currently transport between 8,000 & 9,000 lbs per day on either four or five days out of the week to a location roughly 630NM away. What type of aircraft would be best for this? The cargo would normally be on pallets, but ... (??) ... may not have to be . The ability to haul it all in one flight would be nice, ... but if cost savings were enough, I'm fairly certain that it would be acceptable to do multiple trips in a day.

Also, this is all one-way-freight. They do not have anything for the return legs. They certainly are not apposed to making money. lol And therefore the likelihood of picking up some return frieght is very possible. But, it needs to be considered only as the "gravy". They want to know that their daily(almost daily) transports can justify the aircraft. What aircraft would do this leg the most efficiently???

Hoping to hear from those who may have owned, operated, managed, or whom have had to pay the bills of an operation similiar to this and/or beyond.

Thanks, AV8N4Fun

 

[Birddog]

If you can get your hands on one, and ATR72 would do this. A F27 might, too. Depending on the size of the pallets, there is a freighter conversion for the Saab. If it is not too bulky and you will do multiple trips, a Beech 1900, Metro, or even a Beech 99 might do.

 

[EatSleepFly]

I don't think a Be-99 or a Metro would be very cost effective. I don't know specific #'s for the Be-1900, but I'm guessing it wouldn't be either.

631 nm in a Be-99 means you'd have to take a lot of gas, maybe even top off if the weather was bad enough and then you'd be pushing it to make it with IFR reserves. Topping it off would only give you ~2600 lbs of payload, which means 3 trips even for 8k lbs of cargo. 3 trips x 631nm per leg = 3786 miles or roughly 18 hours of flying per day in a Be-99 (obviously would take more than one pilot). Um, no thanks. uke:

A 'heavy' Metro (16k lbs) may or may not even be able do it in 2 trips, depending on weather and you'd still be looking at over 9 hours of flying per day for 2 round trips. A 4500 lb. load (assuming the volume would fit) would leave you with about 2400-2500 lbs of fuel capacity given one 200 lb. pilot, and a full tank of AWI which you may or may not need depending on the elevation and climate you're flying to/from. No wind, you're looking at about a 2+25 leg and you'd land with about 500 lbs of fuel remaining- just barely IFR reserves if you don't need an alternate. That's being conservative, but you can see that if you need an alternate and the associated extra fuel, it's going to take 3 trips for a 9k load. That's all based on flight planning for 260 kts, and conservatively for a fuel burn of 800 lbs the first hour and 600 lbs per hour thereafter. It's a pretty efficient airplane, although perhaps a little pricey to maintain.

Relative to a Metro, a Be-1900 is much more expensive to acquire and not nearly as fuel efficient. About the same speed, and can take more weight and fuel (but needs more fuel). Maybe someone else can give you the numbers for that... tinman?

[ I don't think any "little" airplanes would fit the bill unless they want to buy a couple. Of course, if they decide on Metros and need pilots, I might know of one who is typed and current and always on the prowl to improve his income... imp: ]

How about a Shorts? Or a DC-9?

Also, I'm assuming this is going to be 91? There is a limit you can carry in one a/c under 135, and I can't remember what it is, but I know it's less than 8k lbs.

 

[NewmanF16]

Basler DC-3 would do the job. http://www.baslerturbo.com/performance.html

 

[PreContact]

How about a Dash-8? It's got growth potential for larger loads.

 

[Captain Morgan]

I would go for the Beech 1900D model or even go for a Saab or Brasilia. This way you've got the speed. I think the Dash and the Fokker/ATR would be on the slow side. Where is this company and are they hiring?

 

[AV8N4Fun]

Thanks for the various inputs guys. EatSleepFly, I like some of those ideas. Does anyone know the operating cost of these aircraft. What's the cost per pound of cargo capacity per mile, etc??

Before I realized how much volume they were talking about, I was looking at the Grand Caravan doing two trips. That plane is a little expensive to purchase, not very fast, or terribly sexy, but ... it's really practicle and economical. For the pure business aspect, it looks great. Just don't see how to make one of them do that kind of volume. Sooo...

Next, I had looked at the Shorts SD3-30. But, don't know much bout them. How available are they? What kind of purchase price? Cost per hour to operate(or cost per cargo pound mile)???

I really like the ATR suggestion as well. My first thoughts, without knowing the real world numbers, is that the ATR may be overkill. Cost too much on the startup cost ... may or may not be as efficient on the ops cost. Anyone have operating cost for these or others? Any suggestions of where to research? Any source you know of that may already do a comparison?

Thanks, AV8N4Fun

 

[AV8N4Fun]

Morgan, Hey there. They're not hiring yet. They only have the "thought" right now. If I can do the numbers, I'll get em to have the "bug" to start this operation. I gotta prove it's more cost effective than paying someone else. I think it has huge potential above their own stuff, but I have to start with just there needs to convience them. The B1900D has some benafits. Mainly, I have a connection to get a leased one, from a former business associate, that is just coming off of a 135 ops. Do you know what the numbers for the B1900D are? What kind of hidden cost? Etc etc etc ??? If I ask the guy I know w/ the B1900D, he'll be bias & just try to sell me on it. I wouldn't want to say anything to him till I was fairly certain that we were interested in such. Ya know

 

[Captain Morgan]

Not sure about the B1900D as I have never flown one. I know they do mid 200's in the speed range and the engines are grossly overpowered. They are basically a big King Air. Even though the pilot would need a type, the plane can be operated single pilot, although not sure about the D model (look at Ameriflight, theirs are C's.) The engines are PT-6's and are proven. I know Ameriflight also flies the Brasilia so that might be viable as well. Good luck!

CM

 

[Captain Morgan]

I was just thinking, the Brasilia might be more accepting of pallets and I was looking at the weight issues. The Brasilia would have a better useful load for what you're looking for I think. The plane will cruise 50kts faster as well I think from what stats I'm looking at. Here you go:
http://www.aviatorsale.com/aix4700/

CM