AOC question

[FreightDog29]

Hi, so I’ve spent many years working at Melbourne Airport, and have recently become interested in running freight on some temporary contracts (up to 1 year). Now, I can source and potentially hire an aircraft for this term to conduct the operations, but my issue is that I of course don’t have an AOC, or my own aircraft, and as I understand it, an AOC is understandably not easy to get, and takes a long time, surely longer than these contracts will be available for. What would be my best course of action.

Much appreciated!

[Global Aviator]

In simple terms your only options are -

1 - work with a broker who can source you options with several operators.

2 - approach operators directly and see if you can give them the work and make a buck.

I think the major problem you find will be that the cargo you are looking at most likely has everyman and his dog chasing it. If you are in the unique position of being the only one with the info then you are in a great spot.

If you need a broker pm me. 😉

[Gerald Garrett]

I've sent you a PM FreightDog29.

[FreightDog29]

I've sent you a PM FreightDog29.

I can’t even use the messaging system yet because it’s restricted to members with more than 3 posts 😂

[FreightDog29]

In simple terms your only options are -

1 - work with a broker who can source you options with several operators.

2 - approach operators directly and see if you can give them the work and make a buck.

I think the major problem you find will be that the cargo you are looking at most likely has everyman and his dog chasing it. If you are in the unique position of being the only one with the info then you are in a great spot.

If you need a broker pm me. 😉

Hi mate!

Could you elaborate on what a broker can do for me?

I should probably clarify that as well as cash (that would be nice!), my main interest in this is the ability to build some valuable hours in a Chieftan or similar, as I’m still a relatively low hour pilot (approx. 400 TT).

cheers!

[Checkboard]

Hmmm. Dodgy crayfish runs to Bass Straight? :)

They were the thing in my day.

[evilducky]

If you want to an approach an operator, have an idea of the numbers involved and go to them with that.

You’re asking to be inducted and trained to fly the freight yourself, in a Chieftain. Have a think about what costs the operator will incur in doing that - a day or two of induction training, drug test, HFNTS, dangerous goods course, etc. Assume you don’t already have Chieftain experience, so you’ll need a conversion/endorsement/61.385 competency. Throw in a reasonable amount of ICUS (let’s say 20ish hours, although that’s on the lighter side, I’ve seen people take much longer to ‘get it’ at 400 hours TT). OPC and line check. Direct cost to the operator to take you on is probably in $10k region.

Margins in GA are single digit %. But let’s be hopeful and say the operator is making 10%. So all of a sudden this freight contract you have needs to be worth more than $100k just to break even and cover the costs of putting you on their books as a pilot.

What’s the freight contract worth in total value?