UFO-flying-Airbus
18th May 2016, 17:15
Hello all,
I’m hoping to hear the views of anyone one here that might have some experience in owing/operating their own tow plane (in the UK primarily but anywhere in Western Europe really. I'm based in Southern Ireland).
I am very strongly considering buying a 100HP Rotax 912 powered light aircraft complete with tow hook in the near future.
This will be primarily used for recreational touring but I was also wondering whether or not there might be hire for it, on occasion, as a glider tow plane on a freelance basis?
I am a glider pilot with a Silver 'C' endorsement. I see on the British Gliding Website that there are close to 30 gliding competitions in 2016 in the UK.
This would only be part time as I’m a First Officer on the Airbus in Asia working a commuting (6 weeks on/3 weeks off) contract. I have a UK EASA ATPL so flying for ‘hire and reward’ shouldn’t be an issue if I’m not mistaken.
So, with that in mind, what might the economics of such an enterprise look like? I’ve read that aerotows cost 35-45 GBP(?) Presumably a visiting tow pilot would have to undercut that figure considerably in order to make it attractive to the airfield operator to generate a profit for their operation.
I’d be very interested to hear from anyone who might happen to have any knowledge of this. What legal issues are there, if any? For example is it necessary to register a company in order to invoice for services rendered? Any Insurance considerations?
But perhaps the most fundamentally important question I should first ask is this; Is there any possibility of making any inroads into this field?
Best regards,
John.
I’m hoping to hear the views of anyone one here that might have some experience in owing/operating their own tow plane (in the UK primarily but anywhere in Western Europe really. I'm based in Southern Ireland).
I am very strongly considering buying a 100HP Rotax 912 powered light aircraft complete with tow hook in the near future.
This will be primarily used for recreational touring but I was also wondering whether or not there might be hire for it, on occasion, as a glider tow plane on a freelance basis?
I am a glider pilot with a Silver 'C' endorsement. I see on the British Gliding Website that there are close to 30 gliding competitions in 2016 in the UK.
This would only be part time as I’m a First Officer on the Airbus in Asia working a commuting (6 weeks on/3 weeks off) contract. I have a UK EASA ATPL so flying for ‘hire and reward’ shouldn’t be an issue if I’m not mistaken.
So, with that in mind, what might the economics of such an enterprise look like? I’ve read that aerotows cost 35-45 GBP(?) Presumably a visiting tow pilot would have to undercut that figure considerably in order to make it attractive to the airfield operator to generate a profit for their operation.
I’d be very interested to hear from anyone who might happen to have any knowledge of this. What legal issues are there, if any? For example is it necessary to register a company in order to invoice for services rendered? Any Insurance considerations?
But perhaps the most fundamentally important question I should first ask is this; Is there any possibility of making any inroads into this field?
Best regards,
John.