beech sierra ferry flight

comstsa

comstsa

Well-Known Member
I have the opportunity to ferry a beechcraft sierra from Atlantic City, NJ, to Mobile, AL but I have never flown one before. I was wondering if anyone on the forum could give me some tips or information on the operation of this plane. Obviously I'm going to do some good pre-flight planning and a nice hard review of the POH, but any extra advice would be nice. I've got around 100hrs of complex time, but only about 5hrs within the last 2 years so any heads-up or reminders would be appreciated as well. thanks.
 
also, one more thing... I've never done a ferry flight before so I have no idea what to charge the guy. I'm a CFI so I was thinking about just charging him by the hour the same rate I charge students. Anyone know a fair price for ferrying a single engine airplane 6.5 hrs? Thanks again
 
comstsa said:
also, one more thing... I've never done a ferry flight before so I have no idea what to charge the guy. I'm a CFI so I was thinking about just charging him by the hour the same rate I charge students. Anyone know a fair price for ferrying a single engine airplane 6.5 hrs? Thanks again
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Is he paying for you to return home? (Airline ticket, etc)
I've heard normal rates at 3 or 4 hundred a day...but I don't ferry either...
 
comstsa said:
also, one more thing... I've never done a ferry flight before so I have no idea what to charge the guy. I'm a CFI so I was thinking about just charging him by the hour the same rate I charge students. Anyone know a fair price for ferrying a single engine airplane 6.5 hrs? Thanks again
Click to expand...

My ferry charge is $54/hour, counted from the time I start the engine to the time I arrive back in my home base, until it maxes out at a flat rate of $294/day + expenses (food, lodging, charts, return transportation home, etc.)

So if somebody just needs me to run a plane over to a nearby airport and drop it off for its annual or something, that might only be $75 or $100. If the trip will take me away for more than 6 hours or so, it becomes a flat $294 and they can work me like a dog until midnight if they want.

Also, these are the exact same rates I charge for instructing.

As for the original question....you'll get plenty of good advice from other people. My $0.02 is to follow the checklist slowly, methodically, and exactly.
 
I have a lot of time in Beech Sierras...we have one as our complex trainer. It is not a terribly difficult airplane to fly. The POH will obviously give you all the information you need regarding speeds, power settings, and limitations so I probably don't need to get into that, but feel free to PM me with any questions. The one thing I can tell you about it is that it has a really high sink rate if you chop the power on short final. So, I recommend either carrying a little power to the touchdown or come in slightly steeper than a normal glidepath and it tends to land much better. I have found the Sierra to be a fun complex trainer.
 
comstsa said:
I have the opportunity to ferry a beechcraft sierra from Atlantic City, NJ, to Mobile, AL but I have never flown one before. I was wondering if anyone on the forum could give me some tips or information on the operation of this plane. Obviously I'm going to do some good pre-flight planning and a nice hard review of the POH, but any extra advice would be nice. I've got around 100hrs of complex time, but only about 5hrs within the last 2 years so any heads-up or reminders would be appreciated as well. thanks.
Click to expand...

How did you get selected to do the ferry flight w/o time in type? That is an insurance thing, not the owners request.
 
I used to own a little Beech. It was built like a tank and an all around good airplane but they are a little slower in speed and climb than the competition because they are a tad heavier. Land it like a Cherokee and you'll do fine, with one exception. If you carry extra airspeed on landing and bounce at all, the Beech can get into a nasty porpoise situation that I've never seen happen in a Cherokee. It's something to do with the landing gear. Anyhow, if you bounce it, you might be better off just going around. Also, don't carry extra speed on final.
 
I have over 500 hours teaching in the Sundowner (fixed gear version). The biggest thing was people coming in too fast and then trying to force it down. It lead to some very good porpoises.
 
Thanks alot guys, this is exactly the kind of info I was hoping to get. to answer a few of the questions... He is paying for my ticket to the plane and a hotel room in NJ, but I live in the Mobile, AL area so yes all the expenses are covered. And I do have a good bit of complex time just not in the Sierra and I think you may have meant to say make/model instead of "type" which would bring up a good question... If his insurance will cover me since I dont have anytime in the same model? Anyway I'm suppose to have a talk with his insurance agent Monday so I'll find out then, but based on the information I have given him, he sounds pretty confident that I will be covered. Thanks again for the great advice!
 
The only thing that does anything in any airplane is the yoke. All the buttons, knobs, switches, etc, are just there to impress the ladies :D
 
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