Probably a dumb question

T

Torch1930

Well-Known Member
Hey,

A dream of mine in the future is to open a small air charter company. I have been thinking about it lately because I am on summer vacation and have nothing better to do.

Does anyone know anything about this? I cant find any information about it on the FAA website. Maybe I am searching for the wrong thing. Thanks for any help.
 
I am not in charter,but from what I have heard over the years all you need is a butt load of money that you don't mind losing. I think all the particulars will be fount in part 135 of the regs.
 
tprops4me said:
I am not in charter,but from what I have heard over the years all you need is a butt load of money that you don't mind losing. I think all the particulars will be fount in part 135 of the regs.
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:yeahthat:
 
Ok thanks, I was hoping I wouldn't need to have a billion dollars to open a one plane operation but oh well. Thank you.
 
Torch1930 said:
Ok thanks, I was hoping I wouldn't need to have a billion dollars to open a one plane operation but oh well. Thank you.
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the most important thing is to have a client base. You will need a steady flow of work, and this would require that you have regular users. That is far more important than the money tree. I think that if you are relying on random customers to come for charter servioce that you will suffer. The key is getting the regular business.

Hope that helps.
 
Great point! I would probably do charters from highly visited places in the north east. This wouldn't happen for probably 10 years.

Thanks
 
It takes a while to get all the paperwork and inspections and everything done. Figure on a year from start until you get your operating certificate (or whatever it's called) and you will probably be optimistic.

:insane:
 
Yes, that is what I have heard. Does anyone know anything about flying cargo? Like how to get contracts, is it easier to get a certificate to do that than pax?

Thanks for any information.
 
Let me leave you with this tip...

Cash flow is far more important than profit margain. Maintain a large client group who will use your planes. Think "cash flow..."
 
Heard a maxim from a friend in the VC business. One of their mottos is "Friends don't let friends get into the airline business."

I then asked, "What about freight?"

"Oh, God, No..."
 
VC = Venture Capitalists. People who sometimes give you money for startup companies in exchange for equity positions.
 
Torch1930 said:
Hey,

A dream of mine in the future is to open a small air charter company. I have been thinking about it lately because I am on summer vacation and have nothing better to do.

Does anyone know anything about this? I cant find any information about it on the FAA website. Maybe I am searching for the wrong thing. Thanks for any help.
Click to expand...

You will either need VC or a rich uncle who indulges your every whim. If you want to do it all yourself, I recommend starting up a business in some other industry, making it profitable, and using that cash for your 135 operation. Then, hire me to fly your airplanes.

-C.
 
Torch1930 said:
Hey,

A dream of mine in the future is to open a small air charter company. I have been thinking about it lately because I am on summer vacation and have nothing better to do.

Does anyone know anything about this? I cant find any information about it on the FAA website. Maybe I am searching for the wrong thing. Thanks for any help.
Click to expand...


Probably a dumb question.... so why even ask? (Hate it when people start a question w/that line)

I'd tell you all I know..... but then I'd have to kill you (that's my opening line, haha)

I'm planning on starting up my own charted company w/a friend. We plan on starting up in early 2008. It's a loooong ways away, but we're making sure that there aren't any mistakes in our plan. If you want some info, PM me..... but then I'd have to virtually kill you
 
SteveC said:
It takes a while to get all the paperwork and inspections and everything done. Figure on a year from start until you get your operating certificate (or whatever it's called) and you will probably be optimistic.
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find an outfit that already has a certificate that would let you put a plane under it for a certain, say, commission. i know of an operation that started a charter with high hopes but now flys maybe 10 hours a year off it due to the owner getting a gig as a gulfstream captain. I would think the only thing you would have to do at that point is get the airplane inspected and do some paperwork. anybody know of anyone doing this.
 
The least risky was I can think of starting a charter company is to first work for a charter company. Build lots of time, get to know the industry intimately, and make connections. After you've done that for a fair number of years find a owner that's looking to offset some of their ownership costs. That way you'll be the owner of the charter company but initially it'll be someone elses money and risk. You don't want to own the airplanes cause airplanes cost too much money. Usually its a win/win for owners to lease back too because they get huge tax breaks.

I'm no expert on this subject but I am currently flying charter and I have first hand knowledge of someone who's going threw the process right now to start a single pilot 135 operation. It costs a lot of money. Like so far its been $20,000 or something crazy like that and that's only the cost of preparing paper work side.
 
Just my personal thoughts on the subject. If you do start a 135 operation, think SMALL. Everyone always makes the mistake of thinking a baron is as small as they should go in charter. Then most of the flying is with one or maybe 2 people. Why carry around 5-6 seats with 600HP when a 200HP mooney 201 would do the same thing just maybe 10% slower on 1/3rd the fuel bill. Im a CFI and i cant tell you how many times people have called my asking

"how much to fly to boston(200nm) for a business meeting?"

"Try xxx I can't legally fly you there for money"

"Called xxx, they said the smallest plane they had was a king air 90 and it would cost $x,xxx...thats nuts!"
 
Andrew_VT said:
Just my personal thoughts on the subject. If you do start a 135 operation, think SMALL. Everyone always makes the mistake of thinking a baron is as small as they should go in charter. Then most of the flying is with one or maybe 2 people. Why carry around 5-6 seats with 600HP when a 200HP mooney 201 would do the same thing just maybe 10% slower on 1/3rd the fuel bill. Im a CFI and i cant tell you how many times people have called my asking

"how much to fly to boston(200nm) for a business meeting?"

"Try xxx I can't legally fly you there for money"

"Called xxx, they said the smallest plane they had was a king air 90 and it would cost $x,xxx...thats nuts!"
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Of course with single engine 135 pax ops, the plane must have a backup electrical source and vacuum source. Not required for cargo ops.
 
RynoB said:
Of course with single engine 135 pax ops, the plane must have a backup electrical source and vacuum source. Not required for cargo ops.
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Cirrus SR22's are being used for air taxi service in the SE. Not sure on operating costs, but they seem to be making it work.
 
SR22s are being used by SATSAir out of Atlanta. They are certified due to their engine trend monitoring systems that help predict alternator failure.
And its not a back-up vacuum thats required, but rather an alternate static source. 135.163(e) and (f)
 
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