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-   -   Plane for 8-10 passengers!? (https://www.pprune.org/african-aviation/458931-plane-8-10-passengers.html)

The Ancient Geek 2nd Aug 2011 00:59

Things to consider :-

1) Number of seats - You have already decided.
2) Field types and length - Are any short or rough strips expected
3) Sector length - STOL capable types tend to be a tad slow for anything over about 250 miles
4) Support - generally better for big names like Cessna or Beech, what do the local FBOs and workshops support.
5) Turboprop or jet - Small jets use more fuel, have very cramped cabins and poor short field performance - only consider for longer sectors.
6) Crew availability - Plenty of Caravan or KingAir pilots around.
7) Load capacity - If you are taking tourists to & from hotels they will have a lot of heavy baggage to consider so you may need a larger aircraft.
8) Competitive pressures - If seat price is an issue you need to keep costs down with something like the Caravan.

Solid Rust Twotter 2nd Aug 2011 08:47

Also, what kind of operation are you planning? Will you require all weather ops? Day/night ops? SE IFR may place limitations on you under local regs that could affect how you operate. ME may be a better option, possibly also for passenger insurance purposes.

Alexander Pichler 14th Aug 2011 16:27

1) Number of seats - 8-10.
2) Field types and length - Long concrete runways, all IFR approaches equipped.
3) Sector length - maximum length of 400nm, flying time maximum of 2 hours.
4) Support - Beechcraft, Cessna and Piper fit best, due to the high proximity of local workers that are familiar with these manufactures, especially Beechcraft.
5) Turboprop or jet - As said not older than 15 years, turboprop not that expensive when buying it but affording and using it mostly ends up with higher costs than for the jet. Affording the jet costs more but using it comes mostly cheaper, thats why I thought of the Premier jet.
6) Crew availability - Certainly a good thought, though I would be flying myself and other crew, doesn't matter on which type is available from my side!.
7) Load capacity - Yes this is true with the tourists, that's why a turboprop would be better in that case, without thinking of any bigger jets like CJ3 or else.
8) Competitive pressures - Yes, and this is another thing, but the hardest is to find a plane that fits apart from the King Air, which is not older than 15 years.

Flying day and night would be planed, IFR of course, all weather ops, well weather in Egypt, mostly not expecting visibility around 200 meters like in Europe, but certainly CAT1 approved commercially.

I am back from Africa, at the moment as you know, August is the Ramadan month, so there is not much going on at the moment with the project. Step by step.

Iron Duke 14th Aug 2011 16:48

I flew the Rheims Cessna F406 Caravan 2 in the early 90's, and it was a fabulous A/C. 2 500hp PT6A's, giving great reliability and performance.
CAT 1, with a simple but effective Auto-pilot and very straightforward and forgiving to fly .. but equipped with everything you need.
Good baggage capacity behind engine nacelles, and in the long nose.
Unpressurised .. therefore cheaper, but still cruised at 240kts TAS (retractable gear)
Handsome aeroplane as well ...
I don't know too much about availability, or lease rates at the moment but I could not recommend it highly enough ..

Propellerpilot 14th Aug 2011 18:39

If you can find a Beech 1900D that is not older than 15 years in good condition, I would go for that since you are planning to fly tourists - then you will not run into payload problems in terms of luggage and will give you more flexibility. The operating costs are only marginally higher, than operating a B200. Another option if you want to trade the space for a little more speed, is the B350 - and those are still being produced - brand new.

Alexander Pichler 16th Aug 2011 08:38

@ I. Duke: That is a very nice plane, indeed, I was looking now for it on the internet, but found out, that only about 100 of them exist, and then ones which are for sale are all older than 15 years, so looking for something which is newer than 1996, can you help?

Yes, 1900 is still the best ciioce, though there is a difference in the purchase price of up to 1,5 - 2 millionens $.

scarrymike 17th Aug 2011 05:56

Kodiak by Quest
 
A little slower than the Caravan and only eight passenger seats - the Quest Kodiak. Made in Idaho. Send them a check and I will fly it over for you!

When you're not flying tourists you can fly missionaries and convert all those heathen over there. (it was designed with the missionary pilot in mind)

Alexander Pichler 17th Aug 2011 07:19

Thanks, this is another good advice, though we are trying to focus on a ME due to a lot of facts. Caravan is certainly a nice aircraft and that one as well. Maybe you can think of such an aircraft, a ME that we are looking for!

Kamalasound 18th Aug 2011 15:07

We have gran caravan's 9 to 12 pax availlable during the winter season on a valid commercial passenger transport EASA AOC.
We have them in Italy but cold relocate one in Egypt if the project is well worth.
Night operations are a problem though unless you get a special permit or derogation from Egypt caa.
Other planes with 9 or more passengers I would say are difficult to find with less than 15 years.

Alexander Pichler 19th Aug 2011 15:12

Hi,

thanks for the information. In case it is possible to find anything suitable (METP), we will have to step down anyway onto SET. If that is the case, it would be nice to get in touch with you. Thanks again for the information.

Cheers


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