dueguard1
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Single 135 Operators..Any Advice?
- Thread starter dueguard1
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climbhappy
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i had a small freight and pax op in the 90s. had an aztec. a single pilot op is the easiest to get as far as paperwork. no training or GOM required. IT IS NOT AS PRETTY A PICTURE AS YOU THINK.
Unless you are an FBO owner that has maintenance, gas, aircraft rental, flight school and a charter department with managed aircraft, it will be simply a losing propostion.
the insurance is very costly. depends on the hull value. you never stated what your plan was. Do you have some contract in mind to bid on? if not it will cost alot and you'll fail unless you are a self starter who knows how to network, look for prospects and can sell yourself and your services.
For some reason, having your own 135 has some kind of romantic allure. I kept going depsite the drain on my resources and the time it took away from more important , more profitable matters. Trying to operate in the present will most assuredly require deep pockets, resolve, experience and a focus that may or may not be what you're inclined to bear. you may be a great businessman and have a huge rolodex. I would talk to other small operators and get them to be honest and blunt.
hope this helps. also, talk to your local FSDO. mine has good prople who will level with you. some have done the same thing before and now they're inspectors.
Unless you are an FBO owner that has maintenance, gas, aircraft rental, flight school and a charter department with managed aircraft, it will be simply a losing propostion.
the insurance is very costly. depends on the hull value. you never stated what your plan was. Do you have some contract in mind to bid on? if not it will cost alot and you'll fail unless you are a self starter who knows how to network, look for prospects and can sell yourself and your services.
For some reason, having your own 135 has some kind of romantic allure. I kept going depsite the drain on my resources and the time it took away from more important , more profitable matters. Trying to operate in the present will most assuredly require deep pockets, resolve, experience and a focus that may or may not be what you're inclined to bear. you may be a great businessman and have a huge rolodex. I would talk to other small operators and get them to be honest and blunt.
hope this helps. also, talk to your local FSDO. mine has good prople who will level with you. some have done the same thing before and now they're inspectors.
siegelaviation
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2005
- Posts
- 68
I am just about at the end of my Part 135 Single Pilot Certification. Let me tell you one thing: The process SUCKS. There is no guidance except for out of date advisory circulars. My POI is so busy that I can rarely get ahold of him. Don't get me wrong, the inspectors I work with are great guys and do a great job, but they are so busy that my measly 135 ops are not their priority.
Approximate costs for certification? $0 if you do it yourself. I think I paid $1200 for my Compliance Statement.
Insurance varies depending on the aircraft you choose to operate. I have a Seneca II with a $162,000 hull value. Private insurance cost: $4300 per year with zero time in type. Commercial Insurance for Pax and Cargo ops: $10,100 per year with 100 hours in type. Oh, and you need to get economic authority from the DOT and you must have insurance to receive it.
Is there a market? Yes, if you are in the right place at the right time.
Cargo is tough to get into. In Kansas City alone there are roughly 10 cargo companies. If someone calls me to fly cargo, great. If not, I have a lot of interest from people who don't want to spend a fortune chartering a Baron.
Bottom line: You must be business oriented and patient. These things don't happen overnight. I started the process with the Feds in Novemeber. My POI basically promised me my cert at the end of this month. Doesn't look like it is going to happen due to my mtx and avionics inspectors taking long lunches and never being in the office.
Approximate costs for certification? $0 if you do it yourself. I think I paid $1200 for my Compliance Statement.
Insurance varies depending on the aircraft you choose to operate. I have a Seneca II with a $162,000 hull value. Private insurance cost: $4300 per year with zero time in type. Commercial Insurance for Pax and Cargo ops: $10,100 per year with 100 hours in type. Oh, and you need to get economic authority from the DOT and you must have insurance to receive it.
Is there a market? Yes, if you are in the right place at the right time.
Cargo is tough to get into. In Kansas City alone there are roughly 10 cargo companies. If someone calls me to fly cargo, great. If not, I have a lot of interest from people who don't want to spend a fortune chartering a Baron.
Bottom line: You must be business oriented and patient. These things don't happen overnight. I started the process with the Feds in Novemeber. My POI basically promised me my cert at the end of this month. Doesn't look like it is going to happen due to my mtx and avionics inspectors taking long lunches and never being in the office.
Last edited:
IHateMgmt
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2005
- Posts
- 189
I am currently involved in a multi pilot 135 start up and I can tell you that it is a tough road. We have even won many contracts and have a lot of opportunity, and its still not easy. Our biggest frustration right now is working with the feds. Though they are nice people, they are way too busy and their lack of time has really been cutting into our timetable. We are behind where we wanted to be and it is largely due to something that is completely out of out control... like I said, very frustrating. There are also many failing 135 operators around us. One recently has closed the doors and two others seem to be next. The competition is fierce. I say all this not to deter you, but to motivate you. If you are going to do this, you better have your sh*t together and hit the ground running. Best of luck.
-IHM
-IHM
surveypilot
Well-known member
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- Feb 5, 2003
- Posts
- 249
iflyabeech
el Piloto
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2004
- Posts
- 379
I posted a couple of months ago saying I was almost done, Cause the Feds told me all I had to do was take a checkride and I was done. Well, took forever to get the checkride, and now it has been over a month since the checkride and it looks like it will be another couple weeks before its done. I have done all the work myself. Most of my problems are from the Feds who seem to know about as much about the certification process as my 2 year old daughter! They are so slow and it seems like they don't know what they are doing. I will tell you it is the most frustrating experience I have ever experienced! They told us we would be up and running on Feb. 1, it is now JUNE!!!
livin'thesim
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2005
- Posts
- 926
Generally speaking, I would offer this advice.
Don't do it unless you are at least as much a businessman as you are a pilot.
If your goal is to fly cargo, go work for a cargo outfit to see what the biz is like before you start down this road. Take the amout of time you think you will need to get certificated, then double it. Take the amount that you think it will cost and double it. Take the amount you think you will make and halve it.
Don't do it unless you are at least as much a businessman as you are a pilot.
If your goal is to fly cargo, go work for a cargo outfit to see what the biz is like before you start down this road. Take the amout of time you think you will need to get certificated, then double it. Take the amount that you think it will cost and double it. Take the amount you think you will make and halve it.
Cowboypilot
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2003
- Posts
- 88
iflyabeech
el Piloto
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2004
- Posts
- 379
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