Just looking for thoughts. Originally, the company had their mindset on the phenom 100 but after a quick 5 year cost break-down, it might not be the best, cost effective solution. Currently we operate the Sr22 Cirrus, so this first jump into the turbine world needs to be a smart decision.
Here's the specs:
1000nm typical service area. Doesn't mind a fuel stop.
3-5 people with pilot 9/10 times.
Must be turbo prop or jet
1.5m flexible budget
Preferable two engines
My thoughts were King air 200 or c90 with blackhawk conversion.
Thoughts?
Advertising above will not show if you are a registered user.
While cost of capital is very important, it is impossible to understate the difference in operating cost between a Cirrus SR22 and, say, a Phenom 100...and the operating cost delta between a Phenom 100 and a 25+ year old Citation II (or any flavor Beechjet) is almost as staggering.
Lots of people are lured into the turbine world by a cheap acquisition price thinking "that'll buy a lot of gas", then get sticker shock at the first month's fuel bills, ****ed off at the first unscheduled maintenance event, and sticker shock again after the first scheduled maintenance inspection.
Based on the stated mission and the aircraft you are currently operating, I think a TBM700C2 would be the best option. Yeah its only single engine, but it has long legs, good cruise speeds, **very economical to operate**, with the capability to carry 6 people a fair ways. A Meridian wouldn't be a bad upgrade option either, but they don't have good useful load, so anything more than 3 people in the plane and you're seriously cutting into range.
If you want a twin turboprop, I'd skip all the 90s and go straight to a B200 but take a look at a Turbo Commander with Dash 10 conversion.
If you're thinking of going from a Cirrus straight to a twinjet...you are going to have to do a LOT of legwork to make SURE the company knows what they are getting into financially. In that case, a CJ1 is probably the best most economical option...ESPECIALLY if you have any plans on flying it single pilot.
__________________
"Fat pilots carry less payload." - R.M. Grundman
BoilerUp is spot on and a very valuable source of info. After reading through your other post about duty/rest, it's doubly important that you educate your principle about the realities of going from a piston single into the turbine world. If you don't know them yourself, find some knowledgable people who can help you walk that path. if you can't find them here, PPW members and NBAA might be valuable resources.
The MX costs to overhaul the engines on an older Citation or even a King Air could pay for a LOT of flying in a Cirrus.
Unfortunately, I think too many would be owners think that $1.5m will get them a long way. The reality is that a $1.5m turboprop or jet is most likely not very new and will probably cost a lot to maintain and operate. So just be sure that the potential owners understand the difference between acquisition cost and operating cost. Moving from a Cirrus to a turboprop or jet is a big move from an operating cost standpoint.
We just bought a very, very nice B200 with reasonably low hours and great avionics for $2.3m, and it is 17 years old.
Similar Threads
Good plane under 1.5m?
Linear Mode
