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BoilerUP · 09-02-2008, 04:21 AM

Where to start...

1. Determine what the typical mission is, and what kind of aircraft would be best suited for that mission. Are average hops 300nm with 3 passengers into short runways (King Air 90), are they 600nm with 5 passengers into moderate runways (Lear 31A, Citation 525/550/560), or are they transcon (Hawker, G100, etc)? What will the average monthly and yearly utilization be? Don't let your principal buy more airplane than they really can afford - it might cost you your job down the road, or get you put on somebody's 135 certificate to subsidize the cost of ownership.

LOTS goes into this...acquisition cost, availability of maintenance, local hangar and fuel availability, etc. Less than 200 hours of utilization per year and fractional ownership is more cost-effective, over that straight ownership becomes more economical. Will the airplane operate with a single pilot or dual crew? A new airplane or used, and if used, how old? What's more important to the principal, low acquisition cost or low operating cost? Does he/she require a striking ramp presence or simply nice, reliable transportation?

2. Get good people to manage and operate said department. That should include you and at least one other pilot. Fly over 400 hours per year or lots of weekends - add at least a third pilot IMO. Need dispatch reliability - add a mechanic. Pay your people well so they don't leave. Source insurance for the new airplane, figure out training for the pilots and/or mechanic.

3. Work with FSDO to obtain RVSM and MEL LOAs.

4. KEEP YOUR BOSS AWAY FROM 135.

The above list is FAR from complete, but hits on what I think are the high points. I did not help form my current department, but I do manage two airplanes and am working on the acquisition of a new jet. If I can do it anybody can, but there are LOTS of things to learn and the learning curve is quite expensive. Good luck!

09-02-2008, 04:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
BoilerUP Gets Weekends Off Joined APC: Sep 2005 Position: CE550, soon CE525A Posts: 1,947	Where to start... 1. Determine what the typical mission is, and what kind of aircraft would be best suited for that mission. Are average hops 300nm with 3 passengers into short runways (King Air 90), are they 600nm with 5 passengers into moderate runways (Lear 31A, Citation 525/550/560), or are they transcon (Hawker, G100, etc)? What will the average monthly and yearly utilization be? Don't let your principal buy more airplane than they really can afford - it might cost you your job down the road, or get you put on somebody's 135 certificate to subsidize the cost of ownership. LOTS goes into this...acquisition cost, availability of maintenance, local hangar and fuel availability, etc. Less than 200 hours of utilization per year and fractional ownership is more cost-effective, over that straight ownership becomes more economical. Will the airplane operate with a single pilot or dual crew? A new airplane or used, and if used, how old? What's more important to the principal, low acquisition cost or low operating cost? Does he/she require a striking ramp presence or simply nice, reliable transportation? 2. Get good people to manage and operate said department. That should include you and at least one other pilot. Fly over 400 hours per year or lots of weekends - add at least a third pilot IMO. Need dispatch reliability - add a mechanic. Pay your people well so they don't leave. Source insurance for the new airplane, figure out training for the pilots and/or mechanic. 3. Work with FSDO to obtain RVSM and MEL LOAs. 4. KEEP YOUR BOSS AWAY FROM 135. The above list is FAR from complete, but hits on what I think are the high points. I did not help form my current department, but I do manage two airplanes and am working on the acquisition of a new jet. If I can do it anybody can, but there are LOTS of things to learn and the learning curve is quite expensive. Good luck! __________________ Burning up the sky at 262 KIAS...