How to start cargo ops in Germany?

[flexmode]

I´ve been asked for possible cargo ops setup in Germany with initially one plane. Possibly Short, Cessna Caravan or Nomad 22A. What are the first steps to be taken? How to obtain a AOC? What´s better: plane lease or buy? Thanks for sharing experiency.

[Nightrider]

Not any different than for a passenger airline....write to the LBA, get the application papers, employ the people, get hands on the aeroplane, set up the maintenance, pay the application fee, fill in the bits and send the papers back, await the inspectors to come, explain, sort problems, alter set up, amend the manuals, pay more money, wait 6 months, fail the feasibility study, re-adjust papers, convince the bankers (fifth time) and once you have the docs, you can proudly lift off....

Have done this procedure a couple of times in several countries...do not expect real information or help without offering a reasonable amount of money for it.

Mail me if you want further contact.

[C Montgomery Burns]

Easiest way is to piggyback off another operator. If you will be operating entirely within the EU, then any EU operator flying the type you want to fly will do; if not, then you'll need to do a deal with a German carrier. Personally, I'd recommend a German operator called SkyTeam who are hungry for business and who specialise in ACMI leases.

[MaxBlow]

End of October 2002 you could probably buy EPA in Germany (Farnair Germany) operating Shorts and F27s.
Don´t know what´s happening with the acfts but the AOC will be for sale. Same with the A300 division in the Netherlands.

[Air Mail]

Maxblow,

What's happening to FarnAir in October?

Cheers.

Air Mail.

[C Montgomery Burns]

If you want an Eastern European operation, Farnair Hungary (with its Let 410s) is also available!

[MaxBlow]

Rumours has it that Fedex did not renew present contracts.
And if Hungry is also for sale it looks like the Swiss will only
keep the company in Basel. Smart move since they are free to operate within Europe very soon.
Who cares about the people ?

[C Montgomery Burns]

Farnair has a bunch of SD360s from Fedex that they are returning (even though they only cost them US$1/month!) and are getting a large number of ATRs to replace them with. They are also dumping the F27s and A300s which have turned out to be absolute dogs. They set up Farnair Hungary because they thought that would give them an 'in' into Eastern Europe - but of course forgot that they would be competing against all the ANs, ILs etc at peanuts per hour ACMI!!

[UhrCleared-Takeoff]

Out of interest, who has been awarded the FedEx contracts that Farn Air lost?

[Cup B]

@flexmode:

beware of the path you want to follow. It is a rough and long journey. The LBA gets several applications a day. So they only start helping you after you have your stuff (most of all your money) together.
Easiest way is to buy an AOC. I know of one small company that went bankrupt (yep, I was one of the unfortunate employees). So if you're still interested...