Starting my own charter operation
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Starting my own charter operation
How's this for a plan? Get my CPL in South Africa (only 10k UK Pounds, the Rand is very weak), buy a used Lake amphibian for 200 UK Pounds, and provide charter flights for tourists, divers etc in a suitable location in South East Asia or the Pacific. Given that I'll be self-employed, what quals do I need in order to do this? And what are the local aviation authorities likely to require of me? If you don't know about these parts of the world, maybe you know what's required in the US or UK? Don't hesitate to state the obvious - I am probably even more ignorant than you think, but I need to cost EVERYTHING before I go much further. Thanks.
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Nick
FYI, most of the diving in SE Asia is centred around the Phillipines, Indonesia and the islands off the East Coast of Malaysia....
Recreational diving is generally of two types, those on weekend diving trips escaping Singapore, KL, Hong Kong etc, or those on longer dive holidays, usually based at a dive resort or on a dive boat.
Ignoring your 'flying ambitions' your biggest problem would getting approval to work in these countries.... Unless you have a local partner...
Also remember divers may have rather heavy bags...
FYI, most of the diving in SE Asia is centred around the Phillipines, Indonesia and the islands off the East Coast of Malaysia....
Recreational diving is generally of two types, those on weekend diving trips escaping Singapore, KL, Hong Kong etc, or those on longer dive holidays, usually based at a dive resort or on a dive boat.
Ignoring your 'flying ambitions' your biggest problem would getting approval to work in these countries.... Unless you have a local partner...
Also remember divers may have rather heavy bags...
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Ta. I'm sure you're right about the local partner being the key...perhaps a dive school or travel agent. I visualise a base in the resort of Sihanoukville, offering trips to the wrecks (including a US helicopter) off Koh Prins...40 metres viz and lots of fish, so they say. Takes 7 hours to get there by boat, so a Lake would do it in less than one. Do you think this would appeal to many divers as a holiday destination?
Hi there
Pardon my own ignorance,but I thought one couldn't dive within 24 hrs of any flight.Would this not create unnecessary delays in such a project?
regards and good luck!
TDD
Pardon my own ignorance,but I thought one couldn't dive within 24 hrs of any flight.Would this not create unnecessary delays in such a project?
regards and good luck!
TDD
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Two Dead Dogs - your "signature" is offensive, but then your name is probably indicative of the highest level of companionship that you aspire to.
NHorley, I will be the doom merchant here: if you are a squillionaire, by all means follow this particular dream but I think it might be cheaper and less stressful to stand on the side of that lake/sea (take a picnic with you to make a day of it if you like), and liberally throw 10 pound notes into the briney. Even then you would most likely have trouble keeping up with how much this will cost you. That is if by the time you have navigated your way through the bureaucracy / bribery needed in some parts of the world to even contemplate getting off the ground. A lovely bucolic dream but I fear the days of Clutch Cargo are gone.
Sorry to be the bearer of a wet blanket.
NHorley, I will be the doom merchant here: if you are a squillionaire, by all means follow this particular dream but I think it might be cheaper and less stressful to stand on the side of that lake/sea (take a picnic with you to make a day of it if you like), and liberally throw 10 pound notes into the briney. Even then you would most likely have trouble keeping up with how much this will cost you. That is if by the time you have navigated your way through the bureaucracy / bribery needed in some parts of the world to even contemplate getting off the ground. A lovely bucolic dream but I fear the days of Clutch Cargo are gone.
Sorry to be the bearer of a wet blanket.
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Oleo,
Your obviously not a Father Ted fan then
I think the signature line doesn't have to be serious, you can put something humorous in there! I'd like to think as Pilot's we don't have to have a sense of humour bypass as well. 
nhorley,
Ignore some of the doom and gloom merchants here, they are probably just jealous they aren't in a position to do the same themselves. Good luck with your plans, hope it works out.
Your obviously not a Father Ted fan then
I think the signature line doesn't have to be serious, you can put something humorous in there! I'd like to think as Pilot's we don't have to have a sense of humour bypass as well. nhorley,
Ignore some of the doom and gloom merchants here, they are probably just jealous they aren't in a position to do the same themselves. Good luck with your plans, hope it works out.
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Wahey! I got mail! Nice to get some replies even though they're a bit thin on information...oh well. TwoDeadDogs, you're right about diving after a flight but I plan to beat this by flying at low level - say 500 feet. There are a few seaplane and helicopter operators who do this when carrying divers to the Great Barrier Reef.
Well Oleo, there's a certain amount of truth in what you say. Rest assured I wouldn't acquire the aircraft until I'd got permission to operate it...but I reckon that in a poor country like Cambodia where tourist bucks are desperately needed it shouldn't be too expensive to grease the necessary palms. I've allocated 10 grand to that bit of the budget.
I happened across a survey done by one of the big cruise lines, asking passengers worldwide to vote on their favourite excursion. There were a great many to choose from. 2nd overall was a seaplane tour of the Virgin Islands. So I remain convinced that this little corner of aviation could be a growth industry.
Well Oleo, there's a certain amount of truth in what you say. Rest assured I wouldn't acquire the aircraft until I'd got permission to operate it...but I reckon that in a poor country like Cambodia where tourist bucks are desperately needed it shouldn't be too expensive to grease the necessary palms. I've allocated 10 grand to that bit of the budget.
I happened across a survey done by one of the big cruise lines, asking passengers worldwide to vote on their favourite excursion. There were a great many to choose from. 2nd overall was a seaplane tour of the Virgin Islands. So I remain convinced that this little corner of aviation could be a growth industry.
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Nhorley (are you near Horley ?)
Sounds like a nice little business if you can get all the bits to tie up.
My only worry is again with the flying / diving mob. I dont know ****** all about anything too medical but as has already been stated....this can be a bit risky!
I recently did an Ambulance escort into central London with a women who had suffered the bends as a result of flying too soon after diving. It was touch and go just getting her there...I dont know if she survived !
Good luck with whatever you decide !
[ 16 September 2001: Message edited by: BIG BLACK RAT ]
Sounds like a nice little business if you can get all the bits to tie up.
My only worry is again with the flying / diving mob. I dont know ****** all about anything too medical but as has already been stated....this can be a bit risky!
I recently did an Ambulance escort into central London with a women who had suffered the bends as a result of flying too soon after diving. It was touch and go just getting her there...I dont know if she survived !
Good luck with whatever you decide !
[ 16 September 2001: Message edited by: BIG BLACK RAT ]
