How to start a 135 Company?

[goflyme]

Has anyone thought of starting a part 135 company?
If anyone has information about how to start up a company and bid on frieght contracts with Fedex, DHL, and Ups please email me. Or send me information.
I'm thinking about starting a "Mini" Ameriflight with a carvan and a 1900...or similar planes. Just intersted in the particulars


[email protected]

 

[CL600Pilot]

Good luck!!!!!

Seriously - can't help ya' with bidding on contracts but as far as starting a 135 company and getting a certificate - just go ask you're local FSDO- they have all of the info. They get many many requests every year such as this and they generally have an 'info pack' with the steps listed. My old company briefly considered getting a 135 until they realized how much was involved - it's not as easy as you think. Average time from initial application to issue of certificate at this FSDO was running 12 to 18 months. This FSDO even had a general info video tape they required you to watch at the very beginning of the process that will answer alot of your questions.

Keep in mind that even on a very small scale this is going to be an expensive endeavor. Read Part 135 and you'll discover there are alot of postitions that need to be filled(ie Chief Pilot, DO, DOM) and each have experience requirements.

Another option may be to piggy back on someone elses 135 certificate. Basically you pay them a certain amount of $$ every month and they put your aircraft onto their certificate. It has it's pluses and minuses but would would keep you from having to get your own 135 certificate which would be a huge savings in both time and money.

CL600

 

[JetPilot500]

All of the position requirements can be filled by 1 person. And even if you don't meet the requirements but have some experience, the FAA will usually grant waivers (at some FSDO's).

There are basically 3 types of 135 certificates:

1) Single PIC (as the name implies)
2) Basic 135 (up to 5 PIC's on certificate)
3) Full (unlimited)

With the First one, you don't even have to have an Ops Manual, they just issue you Ops Specs and you are off. One person fills all of the positions and is the PIC and you are done. By the way, you can have up to 5 SIC's with that one.

Good Luck,
JetPilot500

 

[AeroDMB]

Previous thread

Here's a 17 post thread on starting up a Charter operation. You may find it useful. I too along with a couple friends are thinking about a frac ownership operation.

Good luck and be persistent.

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=134

 

[goflyme]

How would you "piggy back" on someones ticket?

 

[CL600Pilot]

It's actually very very easy - there are hundreds of operators out there that do this for people. Suppose I have a King Air 200 that I want ot fly on charter but I don't want the hassle of getting my own 135 cert. - I go to a charter company(Raytheon, EJM, whoever - there are many) and say "I want to fly my airplane on your certf". They charge you a monthly fee to be on their cert.. Typically they also get a percentage of your charter revenue. Some operators will provide you more services than others(ie dispatch, advertising, etc). It's good because you can use your airplane to make money but don't have to start your own 135 company. However - while flying charters under their certificate you must follow their ops specs, policies, and procedures because they are responsible for you and your actions just like it was one of their own aircraft.

Perhaps that's an overly simplified explanation but that's basically how it works.


CL

 

[goflyme]

Thanks for the info...

How would I find an operator that is willing to do this? Would that operator have to fly the plane I'm interested in flying?
thanks

 

[CL600Pilot]

Just pick up the phone and start calling charter companies!!! I know Raytheon and Exec Jet Mgmt do it - I'm sure there are operators in your area that do it.

The don't have to fly the same type a/c but it is considerably easier if they do I think.

Keep in mind that you have to go to their INDOC and meet their pilot requirements and all of that as well.

PM me if you need more specific info!

CL

 

[JetPilot500]

Just like CL600Pilot said, Pick up the Phone. Virtually every charter company will take you on. Why wouldn't they? You pay them a management fee and a % of revenue. They have nothing to lose. Not only that, but you can get a ton of other benefits. Charter companies with more than 4 or 5 airplanes usually get volume discounts at FBO's around the country, like Signature. Hangar fees, fuel cost, recurrent sim training, insurance, etc. can all be a lot cheaper by associating yourself with a larger charter company. My airplane is piggybacked onto a local charter company's certificate. We have our own crew and mechanic. You don't necessarily have to have their pilots flying your airplane.

GoodLuck,
JetPilot500

 

[cvsfly]

Who has the liability in an accident or enforcement action?

 

[CL600Pilot]

Well if the pilots violated an FAR while on a 135 flight, the FAA could obviously pursue enforcement actions against the PIC and SIC and would probably also pursue actions against the holder of the 135 certificate since one of 'their' flight crews violated the FAR and/or the ops specs.

Now if you're talking about like financial(insurance)liability in an accident I don't really know - I've never been that involved in the financial end of it but I would assume that the insurance company that insures the airplane would be on the hook but I don't know - anyone else have any idea??? I'm sure that would be covered in the contract you sign with the 135 operator as to whose insurance yoiu're going to use -alot of times piggyback operators will switch to the same policy as the 135 operator so they can get a group discount - sorta' like a 'multicar' discount on auto insurance.

CL

 

[goflyme]

Considering maintance....

Many people have pm, expressing the concern about maintance. Does insurance cover such events as bird strikes, lightning strikes, and other acts of god? or is this totally my financial responsibility?

thanks

 

[JetPilot500]

I know that an insurance company will pay to repair damages from sucking a bird into the engine. Damages to the engine and anything else. It may be pro-rated somewhat. Like if you are at TBO then suck the bird, they will not give you a free overhaul.

Good Luck,
JetPilot500

 

[cvsfly]

Ditto on lightning strikes. Our King Air got struck a few years back. Someone told us they are lightning magnets? Apparently to the effect that it is a prop and the altitudes they fly? Anyway the pilot told me (I was airlining back from initial training at the time and didn't fly for a month) that he was 50 nm from nearest cell (in August) at FL 210 in a thin wispy layer and clear all around when he saw a flash and heard a pop. Proceded without incident. Apparently the strike came through the tips of both props, through the power section (magnetized parts of the governors) and exited the trailing edge of the flaps, burning a small hole in each. Props redressed, governors OVH, power section tear down, flaps reskinned = $80,000 which the insurance covered.

 

[StarrBuck]

I've worked for several part 135 outfits, one doing contract freight for DHL, UPS and the like, and the other a "people charter" outfit. I would do PLENTY of checking into the freight business before starting a 135 outfit. It seems to me that there are soooo many of these businesses out there competing for a few jobs that most of them are pretty poorly run. Have flown with alot of commuter guys also that quit flying freight due to shotty maintenence, blatant disregard of duty and flight time limitations, you name it.. Its a tough business!!

S.B.

 

[jeb]

We did 135 with ejm for several years, there is pros and con. Great fuel prices throughtout the country,fleet insurance policy and flight safety discounts. Slow at paying for trips you flew and sometimes flew trips you didn't make money at. You will have to explain to your boss why you did such trips, gotta take the good with the bad. We are in the process of going on someone else's 135 we have been at it since December, the FAA is really backed up, we were given 12-14 months it could take. If we are lucky we will do the proving runs in October or November (25hours) Insurance requirements have really changed since 9/11 as everyone is aware of, so get ready. I agree the simpliest way is to go on someone elses certificate, just be ready for to deal with both sides of the fence.

 

[JetPilot500]

What FSDO are you having that much trouble with?