The plane currently has a public transport certificate, but will lose it when the engine hits 2000 hours (I think) then the certificate can be downgrade to "buy" another 200 hours, but don't quote me on that. 1875 hours at present.
I asked if the group was willing to upgrade avionics/ buy gps etc and was told there was a 50/50 split between VFR only for fun flyers and IFR/ IMC will go anywhere flyers. In a group of 16 I suppose that is par for the course! The avionics look old, dial up VDF. I have no idea how well they work, only sat in the plane so far.
FM immune -thanks for that tip, no idea, will look it up- this really is all new to me. My instructor has done some pilot checks on this plane & from his memory he thinks the avionics are OK- hardly a precise answer!