Sightseeing Pilot in Central/South America
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Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Toronto
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Sightseeing Pilot in Central/South America
Hello everyone,
I figured it would be easiest to explain my end goal.
I would like to move my life to Central or South America. Ideally I would like to have a source of income while down there. I was originally thinking about a bar, restaurant, hostel but ultimately none of those options inspired me.
I am now looking into purchasing my own plane and starting a small, personally run tour company. I think given my personality and what I like to do this would be a great fit.
Background:
I am 27 (almost 28) making good pay in Canada.
Strategy:
-Get private pilot's license over the next 2 years while maintaining my employment.
-Purchase a used plane
-Move south
-Make friends with hotel/hostel owners and create a referral based business
I have many questions:
1) would my private pilots cover this exceptionally low key operation? (little to no advertising outside of some hostels/hostels. Cash only business.
2) What sort of annual costs should I be expecting? (Obviously variable depending on the country)
3) Thoughts on helicopter or fixed wing? I think fixed wing is the way to go. Both have pros and cons.
4) Insurance??? Variable also I'm assuming
I'm sure I'm missing a lot. I just wanted to write as much as possible to try to get the framework of a potential plan going.
Please tell me your thoughts. Everything is appreciated. Is this a good idea? Has anyone looked into this before? Am I a moron? Please don't hold back.
I figured it would be easiest to explain my end goal.
I would like to move my life to Central or South America. Ideally I would like to have a source of income while down there. I was originally thinking about a bar, restaurant, hostel but ultimately none of those options inspired me.
I am now looking into purchasing my own plane and starting a small, personally run tour company. I think given my personality and what I like to do this would be a great fit.
Background:
I am 27 (almost 28) making good pay in Canada.
Strategy:
-Get private pilot's license over the next 2 years while maintaining my employment.
-Purchase a used plane
-Move south
-Make friends with hotel/hostel owners and create a referral based business
I have many questions:
1) would my private pilots cover this exceptionally low key operation? (little to no advertising outside of some hostels/hostels. Cash only business.
2) What sort of annual costs should I be expecting? (Obviously variable depending on the country)
3) Thoughts on helicopter or fixed wing? I think fixed wing is the way to go. Both have pros and cons.
4) Insurance??? Variable also I'm assuming
I'm sure I'm missing a lot. I just wanted to write as much as possible to try to get the framework of a potential plan going.
Please tell me your thoughts. Everything is appreciated. Is this a good idea? Has anyone looked into this before? Am I a moron? Please don't hold back.
Well.....
First of all being an enterprise that will make you money instead of just costing you money you will need a CPL including a local conversion.
The airplane you intend to use should probably be on the host countries registry.
Your Spanish will need to be fluent.
No doubt you will be meddling in somebody else area of operation.
You will no doubt need to bribe.
Private aircraft operations may not be allowed/legal in certain countries.
You may need to file flight plans many hours if not days in advance which makes it wholly impractical for what is basically an "impulse" decision on the side of your prospective customers.
Fuel for piston aircraft may be very hard to find or very expensive.
The expenses of an airplane don't change with geographical location.
So you will end up with prices that the locals are not able to pay so you will be entirely dependent on tourists.
In its entirety its not a good idea....sorry
First of all being an enterprise that will make you money instead of just costing you money you will need a CPL including a local conversion.
The airplane you intend to use should probably be on the host countries registry.
Your Spanish will need to be fluent.
No doubt you will be meddling in somebody else area of operation.
You will no doubt need to bribe.
Private aircraft operations may not be allowed/legal in certain countries.
You may need to file flight plans many hours if not days in advance which makes it wholly impractical for what is basically an "impulse" decision on the side of your prospective customers.
Fuel for piston aircraft may be very hard to find or very expensive.
The expenses of an airplane don't change with geographical location.
So you will end up with prices that the locals are not able to pay so you will be entirely dependent on tourists.
In its entirety its not a good idea....sorry
