LeGreaseMan

Wow, very cool. Can't loose with a 350.

mojo6911

I don't understand the $4000/hr. operating cost. That seems awfully high unless there is something I am missing.

EVERY Part 135 passenger operation REQUIRES 2 pilots. You can get an autopilot exemption from the requirement if you like, but you still can run a 2 pilot crew with the exemption and both pilots can still log the time.

LeGreaseMan

[QUOTE=mojo6911;1456015]I don't understand the $4000/hr. operating cost. That seems awfully high unless there is something I am missing.



EVERY Part 135 passenger operation REQUIRES 2 pilots. You can get an autopilot exemption from the requirement if you like, but you still can run a 2 pilot crew with the exemption and both pilots can still log the time.

The cost seems about right to me. 8mill. or more dollar aircraft that burns 700 lbs am hour on average. Maintenance, hangars, pilots, scheduling and the list goes on.

LeGreaseMan

They better land with the gear down and locked every time or the name may need a change.

Ultralight

[QUOTE=
EVERY Part 135 passenger operation REQUIRES 2 pilots. You can get an autopilot exemption from the requirement if you like, but you still can run a 2 pilot crew with the exemption and both pilots can still log the time.[/QUOTE]


I currently fly part 135 passenger single pilot. If someone wanted to keep the right seat warm and play with the radio, it wouldn't be valid in their log book as its a single pilot aircraft. So is the Piaggio and the King Air, both having autopilots.

121 operators flying the Beech 1900 require 2 pilots and both log the time, Ameriflight flies it part 135 single pilot. No passengers though of course.

Avantair flew part 91k and required 2 pilots per their ops specs, that how both pilots got to log the time. Looks like this company may be operating part 135. I'm no expert on the regs but it looks like it could be possible to operate single pilot. As someone mentioned earlier though, customers and insurance companies like to see a second set of eyes up their. Not a bad idea when you could be flying for up to 10 hours a day.

Ultralight

[QUOTE=mojo6911;1456015]I don't understand the $4000/hr. operating cost. That seems awfully high unless there is something I am missing.
QUOTE]

It seats up to 8 people. That's potentially only $500 per person. Not a bad deal if you look at it that way.

EMAW

The autopilot in lieu of second in command only applies to 9 pax or less, also.

EMAW

Neither Avantair's Ops specs (135) nor their management specs (91K) REQUIRED them to have a second in command. The REGULATION requires a second in command. Avantair's ops/man specs just didn't have the authorization for autopilot in lieu of Second-In-Command.

mojo6911

Cool, you might want to brush up on 135 regs then.

You are wrong here. 135.101 requires an SIC.

135.105 allows you an exception, but it doesn't change the requirement.

Ultralight

O.K. So you don't need 2 pilots if you have the auto pilot in lieu of SIC exemption, but if 2 guys are up there anyway, they can both log the time regardless? Like I said, I don't hang out at Starbucks reading the FAR/AIM!

My point is, as the 350 is equipped with an auto pilot and it has less than 9 passenger seats, there is the possibility that this company could operate it single pilot. Unlikely, but possible.

I'm itching to see their pay scale, schedule, and bases. Hopefully some of the Avantair guys can find jobs there.