Beacon/Dynamic Aviation King Airs in NE

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07-28-2015, 04:51 PM

#11

deadstick35

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Joined APC: Apr 2007

Posts: 867

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boris Badenov

AFAICT, Medevac is rapidly moving from KAs to PC-12s. There must be a reason...

You're biased!

IIRC there are new KA operators in TX and 7Bar put one up in ME(?). I did hear Vandy went with your old outfit and a Platypus. That's really funny after all the multiengine helicopter drama and advertising in TN over the years.

07-28-2015, 05:35 PM

#12

Toonces

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Joined APC: Aug 2013

Position: FO

Posts: 627

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotwithnoname

Also insurance will likely be cheaper on the ME aircraft. I have heard of plenty of King Airs that shut down engines, that's a little trickier on the PC12...

Aircraft insurance would be a drop in the bucket compared to the increased operating costs. Some of the issues may arise from business executives with life insurance plans prohibiting travel on single engine planes. However, the cost of buying used B200 and B1900s and refurbishing them (in addition to their ubiquity) is probably far less than acquiring even older PC-12s.

07-28-2015, 05:59 PM

#13

Cloudnine

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Posts: 48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fetzervalve

True about the lower operating costs, but you can probably pick-up older B200s and 1900Ds for relatively cheap on the used market these days. I assume there will be a cost associated with standardizing the B200 cockpits as well since there are so many with different cockpits these days (traditional analog, basic EFIS, G1000, etc.). Maybe Great Lakes will sell them some idle 1900Ds.

No doubt the founder of Beacon probably has a lot more private equity money behind him for this venture after the initial success of Surfair.

The whole appeal of the membership model is business class comfort and private aviation service for commercial prices. People willing to spend 2k per month on air fare only are making 300k per year and want to fly in brand new NGs , not Great Lakes hand me downs.

So they're gonna have to do a lot more than reupholster the carpets ! Not sure how much the upgrade would be for a new paint job and interior and avionics on a 1900D ? 500k ?

I'm definitely interested to see this rivalry unfold. They booted Wade Eyerly last year and he's come back with a vengeance

07-28-2015, 06:12 PM

#14

Cloudnine

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SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Surf Air, the nation’s first All-You-Can-Fly membership airline, announced today a total order of up to 65 new Pilatus aircraft (15 firm orders and 50 options) to be delivered over the next five years, with a total order value of approximately $312 million. The first 15 aircraft are being financed by a $65 million senior facility from White Oak Global Advisors, alongside an additional $8 million equity round from new and existing investors, bringing the total equity raised to $17 million. With this order the company has formed an unprecedented exclusive partnership with Pilatus Aircraft whereby Surf Air will be the only membership-based operator to utilize the PC-12 NG in the United States.

And that might explain it.

07-28-2015, 06:19 PM

#15

deadstick35

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Joined APC: Apr 2007

Posts: 867

The 1900D Executive version has a nice double club AND an enclosed lav. The DOC could be offset if there's not debt and these are ISR aircraft.

Dynamic maintenance in VA can darn-near build on from scratch. The delivery schedule works with overhauling (re-certifying ?) and refurbing these birds.