Making Money with Cessna Caravans

jspeed87

jspeed87

Well-Known Member
I was just curious to know if starting an Air Cargo or charter business with caravans is lucrative? My goal is to become an Airline Pilot but I also like business and It's going to be my major in college. I could rent out like 5 Caravans and charter them around the caribbean cheaper then most airlines! Once I get big I could get some Jets or twin turboprops and expand! How much starting money would I need, and where can I go to get more info, this is something I want to do once I retire from a Legacy or NetJets... lol
 
I dream of starting my own charter company too! :)

Caravans, I'm no expert but I guess they'd be good for certain types of charter. They're also good freight workhorses. I'm sure others will chime in!
 
jspeed87 said:
I could rent out like 5 Caravans and charter them around the caribbean cheaper then most airlines!
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How do you know that? While you need to make every flight count, the airlines could dump seats against you and make up the difference somewhere else.
 
Cptnchia said:
How do you know that? While you need to make every flight count, the airlines could dump seats against you and make up the difference somewhere else.
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That's why I hate the idea of Virgin America in the United States.
 
Captain_Bob said:
Aren't we all in that same boat? ;)

Bob
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Some, not you brotha!, still have their gasoline paid for by another carrier.

It MAY be part of the capacity feed contract or not, but as we approach and surpass $100/bbl oil, it's going to get very interesting on all levels.
 
Cptnchia said:
How do you know that? While you need to make every flight count, the airlines could dump seats against you and make up the difference somewhere else.
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I suppose it would depend on the type of Caravan and what kind of routes are being flown. I could see something like a charter for island hoppers to be quite a nice little niche, especially with the Caravan Amphib.

But compete against airlines on routes like KFLL to MYAM? Probably not.
 
Its fairly easy to get a Caravan busy flying jumpers. Think 20% down to get started. Get a nest egg of 200-300k and get going!. Or start with a 182 and work up from there. Any plane will make you money if you can get it flying a lot, even a 150.

-Jason
 
There's an old saying about aviation that I've proven to be true...

The best way to make a small fortune in aviation is to start with a big one.

:(
 
Aviation....any kind of aviation....is a tuff cut throat business. Most Caravans stateside are being used in cargo ops of one kind or another. In other places in the world they are used for both pax and cargo on a regular basis. Hell I know a charter operation in Botswana that is doing okay with 206's 210's and two C90's.
 
CAP_Flyer said:
I suppose it would depend on the type of Caravan and what kind of routes are being flown. I could see something like a charter for island hoppers to be quite a nice little niche, especially with the Caravan Amphib.

But compete against airlines on routes like KFLL to MYAM? Probably not.
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Yea Island hoping, caravan amphibian would be nice for these missions :rawk:
 
Caravans... they look like they're pregnant and may scatter offspring to the wind at any given moment. But I guess they're pretty utilitarian...
 
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