PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Purchasing and operating your own helicopter
Old 29th April 2005 | 13:07
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bladewashout
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 240
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From: UK
I'd suggest that you look carefully at the costs to simply fly based on renting aircraft by the hour from a recognised organisation. If you were going to do say 200 hours in a year, or more, you will be able to negotiate a decent deal, say at least 10% off the single hour rates. All the VAT will be recoverable, & you can get a well qualified pilot thrown in.

If the cost of that would be acceptable, and assuming you are up for 200-400 hours a year, then look at the cost of your own aircraft, but don't expect to save more than, say, 25% of the overall cost, and anticipate that by taking the risk on the maintenance, you may get a big hit.

If you are up for 500+ hours per year, you're almost certain to win having your own.

Sub 200 hours, your annual insurance, hangarage and maintenance costs are, in my view, likely to outstrip any significant cost reduction over hour-based renting, and therefore the risk on the maintenance is pointless.

Final comment is that as a manager, if you intended doing the flying of your staff yourself, there may be issues relating to personal liability in an accident if you don't have decent hours. Clearly, if you're a high time flyer, you're fine! If not, I'd make sure your personal/director/officer's (as opposed to the aircraft's) liability insurance won't be compromised.

BW
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