Hotpot
17th Jan 2003, 10:52
Would anyone have any idea on what the direct operating cost's to operate a Twin Otter, would be in charter and/or RPT OPS in Australia? Going by what some operators are charging in charter rates in PNG, the figure would be around about A$1500's per hour. Also are the aircraft now required to have GPWS fitted to them if carrying more than 10 pax ? Any positive information would be much appreciated ?
Sheep Guts
17th Jan 2003, 16:42
Gday Hotpot,
Im not the person to ask this to. But heres my 2 cents, worth.
1. Make sure you operate DHC-6-300s not 200s. There are a few 200s around,they are less in MTOW hence less in Payload and have the PT6A-20 engines which are maitenance intensive compared to PT6A-27s in 300s.
2. In general a fuel burn of around 600lbs an hour for the -300s.
Thats works out to 90USG/hr or 340ltrs/hr burn. Now whatever Avtur is in Oz at the moment you can work on that one.;)
That burn based on normal short hop ops etc. If you are going to operate it higher and longer legs you could cut down the burn, but it also cuts ya payload obviously.
3. Engines have a normal life of around 3500 hrs, with Trend montitoring sent back to P&W Canada, it can be extended to around 5000 or more dependant on condition. An engineer can step in at anytime here :D .
4. Because the Aircraft is below 5700Kgs it can be flown by a CPL minimum. But youll find that CASA will require ATPL if doing RPT ops.
5. You have to pay your pilots. I wont comment on the award not sure what it is.
6. Youll have to have some ground staff to help load and dispatch etc. As it gets a bit too much for the pilot alone, due increased volume, and pax numbers.
Cant think of anything more, but the registration,insurance, parking fees, movement fees, Oil usually texron 3380 a bit more expensive than BP 100 but you use way less than a piston. Tyres are expensive as are Landing Lights. Make sure you get one that doesnt wind shield heat, or if it cracks dont get another. Most of the ones on the market in Oz and PNG will have alot of the Deice anti-ice stuff removed, some will even have the Intake deflectors dissabled. So watch for that.
Cant think of anything else hope this gives you an idea. Anyone else feel free to comment. Oh thereis one more thing, there are more AD and STs on an Otter than most other types Ive heard. Could be wrong on that one.
Regards
Sheep
PS. The GPWS issue is a valid one yes youll need to get a GPWS allthough I hear some OZ Companies have got dispensations from CASA. Its a bit tough issue really. Most countries outside OZ require a Flight Voice recorder and or Flight data recorder instead, there just as expensive even more probabaly. But you find alot of the machines will still have the voice recorders installed as they were all assembled in Canada werent they.:D ;)