Great Advice! I've been working for 135 and 121 carriers for the past ten years, I've learned a lot, but I can honestly say I still have a lot to learn before I could successfully run a charter operation on my own. I think there are two needed items required to successfully run an airline:
1. Surround yourself with a team of experienced individuals, there is just too much for one person to handle. Finances, marketing/sales, training, compliance, maintenance, certification, facilities, insurance, publications, etc........ the list never ends
2. Experience, lots of it
I too have always wanted to start my own charter, but over the years have realized how daunting of a task it is. For me my best shot is to start small and with support. Currently I work for a rapidly growing 135 charter operation. I would like to take a few of the airplanes that are not being used and start flying some on demand night freight. A sitting airplane does nothing but lose money. my plan is to present our CEO with the option to take these planes that don't fly at night and pick up some on demand night freight or possibly organ harvest/medivac during the night. We have falcon 2000's, a hawker, falcon 20, CE560, CE414, Falcon 50, Falcon 900, Challenger601. I know when I flew for Kalitta Charters we made a lot of money flying emergency/rushed parts for factories like GM, airlines, and also medivac at night. The problem I am running into is finding the business. How do I find/advertise customers who need rushed on demand night freight? we have brokers who are great at what they do but their experience is finding passengers not freight. Id like to avoid medivac just because of all the hoops you have to jump through. Any thoughts ideas would be greatly appreciated. Hope I didn't hijack the thread!!! thought it might contribute a little to the conversation lol