520,
In days past there was a Basic Gas Turbines exam in Australia, I think it still exists in other parts of the world, maybe NZ. Now its covered in the ATPL syllabus. No specific turbine endorsement is on the current licence, from memory that will be changing under CASR Part 61.
CAO 40.1.0 lists aircraft that require a specific class or type endorsement, a turbine engine is not a special design feature endorsement at present.
If you have a PC12 endorsement that would allow you to fly a PC12 and the PC12/45, but not a C208, PC6, PC9 etc.
Who does them : endorsements are either done by flying schools, or organisations approved to conduct the training.
C208 : Seaair, GFS come to mind
PC12 : Pilatus Australia.
There are other organisations about that fly these aircraft, but you would need to check with them to see if they can train members of the public, some of them may only train their own employees (a condition of their check and training system).
Cost : I have been told a C208 is cheaper to run per hour than a C310, but due to supply and demand I would expect you would be paying a premium for the training.
The price mentioned by the wiz I would see as fairly accurate for a C208, a PC12 maybe extra as you would also need to obtain a pressurisation endorsement if you did not have one, and for turbine crop dusters low level if you don’t have that.
Flying a single engine turbine like a C208 in many ways is easier than a single or piston twin. Easier to start, no leaning, cannot crack a cylinder, simple fuel systems, lower prop RPMs etc.....................
Last edited by Woomera; 20th Feb 2004 at 06:15.