Jump to content

Starting a small, part-time business utilizing low time?


Recommended Posts

I've read over the countless threads in here in regards to time-building and get the gist of the monetary costs involved after getting your initial commercial cert.
But has anyone here considered purchasing their own helicopter out right and using it to fly for any particular work assignment on a part-time basis?

I drive trucks and make a pretty good living off of it.
I intend to use some earnings to pay for flight training and eventually look at purchasing my own, small helicopter in the future.

I mean, there's truckers that go from company driving to independent contractor/Owner-operator.
They typically purchase tractor trailer combos that are about the same price as say, a used Robinson or Hughes 300.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

But has anyone here considered purchasing their own helicopter out right and using it to fly for any particular work assignment on a part-time basis?

 

No, no one has ever thought of it before.

 

 

I mean, there's truckers that go from company driving to independent contractor/Owner-operator.

They typically purchase tractor trailer combos that are about the same price as say, a used Robinson or Hughes 300.

 

The difference is that the cost to get your CDL is nowhere near the cost to get your CPL, which is what you would need to get paid for your piloting services.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I knew a guy who started his own flight school to build hours. He had two 22s and a 44. I don't know how he funded it all as I know he wasn't rich, but actually in debt 100k for his training, but he did it.

 

Eventually he got an offer to fly in the GOM after getting to about 2000 hours, so he closed the school and took it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's a thought. Your a truck driver right. Get on with an AG company driving/ground support, learn the business, get your ratings, buy a 44, then put it on a trailer and drive around to every farm you can find and offer your services, spraying, frost patrol, cherry drying.

 

In between seasons go back to driving the truck.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

You have lots of enthusiasm and that's good. However, this idea of yours would have a very small chance of success. The problem is, as a brand new commercial pilot (150 hrs or so) you don't know how much knowledge you still are severely lacking….not just to run a business but to be a pilot in command with paying customers. In addition, you would be in direct competition with someone who has experience. Not to mention, who is going to wrench on the thing? So unless you want to just own one and fly it around yourself I would say the safer thing to do is get your CFII and work for someone. It's not the glamorous road to being an experienced pilot but its a proven way to get there. Plus, flight instruction really is fun.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've read over the countless threads in here in regards to time-building and get the gist of the monetary costs involved after getting your initial commercial cert.

But has anyone here considered purchasing their own helicopter out right and using it to fly for any particular work assignment on a part-time basis?

 

I drive trucks and make a pretty good living off of it.

I intend to use some earnings to pay for flight training and eventually look at purchasing my own, small helicopter in the future.

 

I mean, there's truckers that go from company driving to independent contractor/Owner-operator.

They typically purchase tractor trailer combos that are about the same price as say, a used Robinson or Hughes 300.

 

I've worked with a number of pilots who have built time by starting their own business. "Business" is the operative word in that sentence, it was a business that happened to operate aircraft. I couldn't begin to tell you the ins and outs of doing that, I am most definitely do not have a business sense or training.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You have lots of enthusiasm and that's good. However, this idea of yours would have a very small chance of success. The problem is, as a brand new commercial pilot (150 hrs or so) you don't know how much knowledge you still are severely lacking….not just to run a business but to be a pilot in command with paying customers. In addition, you would be in direct competition with someone who has experience. Not to mention, who is going to wrench on the thing? So unless you want to just own one and fly it around yourself I would say the safer thing to do is get your CFII and work for someone. It's not the glamorous road to being an experienced pilot but its a proven way to get there. Plus, flight instruction really is fun.

I'm guessing the other thing I could do is also find a community college that has certification/degree program for aviation, specifically helicopter, maintenance.

As I said, I'm working a "day" job as truck driver and make decent enough money off of it to afford one or two outside ventures.

And the CFI thing sounds pretty good too, but as I don't want to take out any loans to pay for training towards that, I fully intend to keep my full time job for quite awhile to pay for it all over the course of time.

On that note, would it be possible to get CFI certification in the near future and just train as a part-time gig/second job?

 

Money's up and down, but I'm always going to have time to do this.

It's either that or sit on the couch when I'm not working.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Don't let the nay sayers discourage you. That idea has been used in the airplane side of the industry for since Orville and Wilbur. It is not so common in the helicopter world, primarily due to the cost of entry being so much higher. However I do know of 2 pilots that did it with helicopters. I personally know of several cases on the airplane side where the pilot actually sold their airplane for much more that their purchase price, especially after 1985 when almost no new low end piston airplanes were being manufactured. Don't expect that on the helicopter side.

 

As for leasing your machine to a flight school, be careful. There are several companies that lease helicopters to flight schools, and they are in the business of leasing helicopters. As a lease back, you will not get as good a deal as the leasing companies get. It will depend on what inspections you are responsible for and which ones the flight school is responsible for. And how is responsible for the insurance. Most operators will prefer that you go through them for your insurance as they really don't want to deal with more than 1 insurance carrier if they can avoid it. Keep in mind that many leasing company leases are written in a way that ensures that their machines will get used. In other words the more they are used, the less they cost per hour. That will ensure they get used first. If the school owns most of their ships, plan on the owned ships being used first.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This has all been very eye opening and thought provoking.
In the meantime, I'm just going to stay focused on getting the private w/instrument first and see where my thoughts evolve from there.
At the very least, I may just build up personal hours by either joining some flying club/fractional ownership group with a helicopter.
Or save up money over time and just buy my own Robinson or Hughes 300 for my own personal transport and enjoyment.

Just another part of the whole "I did jack in my 20s, so here's to getting a jump on things in my 30s!" 10 year plan.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've read over the countless threads in here in regards to time-building and get the gist of the monetary costs involved after getting your initial commercial cert.

But has anyone here considered purchasing their own helicopter out right and using it to fly for any particular work assignment on a part-time basis?

I drive trucks and make a pretty good living off of it.

I intend to use some earnings to pay for flight training and eventually look at purchasing my own, small helicopter in the future.

I mean, there's truckers that go from company driving to independent contractor/Owner-operator.

They typically purchase tractor trailer combos that are about the same price as say, a used Robinson or Hughes 300.

You have a decent idea. Pay no attention to the nay-sayers here. Most people are negative, that's why 5% of the population owns 95% of the wealth and the other 95% of the population only owns 5% of the wealth.

If you live in an area that is suitable for tours, maybe you could get your commercial and then give tours.

I swear, I rarely visit these forums because of all the negative posters who seem to either enjoy shooting down other folks' ideas or else they are abject failures and misery loves company.

Again, you have a decent idea. Keep thinking.

Read Napolean Hill's Think and Grow Rich. Pretty good read and it will tell you a lot about yourself.

Other than the bible, it's the best how-to book I've ever read.

Good luck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You have a decent idea. Pay no attention to the nay-sayers here. Most people are negative, that's why 5% of the population owns 95% of the wealth and the other 95% of the population only owns 5% of the wealth.

If you live in an area that is suitable for tours, maybe you could get your commercial and then give tours.

I swear, I rarely visit these forums because of all the negative posters who seem to either enjoy shooting down other folks' ideas or else they are abject failures and misery loves company.

Again, you have a decent idea. Keep thinking.

Read Napolean Hill's Think and Grow Rich. Pretty good read and it will tell you a lot about yourself.

Other than the bible, it's the best how-to book I've ever read.

Good luck.

 

Is this to mean, you are a part of the 5% who own the wealth, AND, fly helicopters for a living? If so, please let us know how you did it……

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Get your commercial and give tours. Sounds easy enough. Although I don't know that many of here are wealthy, but I do know several people here would be considered as "arrived" by helicopter industry standards. AD, do you fly for a living? If you do, you'll have to admit "get your commercial and fly tours" isn't going to work by even a long shot. Unless you are independently wealthy, you wouldn't even find anyone to insure your operation as a 200hr pilot.

Edited by Flying Pig
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've read over the countless threads in here in regards to time-building and get the gist of the monetary costs involved after getting your initial commercial cert.

But has anyone here considered purchasing their own helicopter out right and using it to fly for any particular work assignment on a part-time basis?

 

I drive trucks and make a pretty good living off of it.

I intend to use some earnings to pay for flight training and eventually look at purchasing my own, small helicopter in the future.

 

I mean, there's truckers that go from company driving to independent contractor/Owner-operator.

They typically purchase tractor trailer combos that are about the same price as say, a used Robinson or Hughes 300.

 

This is not meant to sound sarcastic, but I’ll relate this to your particular expertise….

 

Would it be reasonable for me to believe, I could simply go down to my local DMV and acquire a CDL and afterwards purchase an 18 wheeler and expect to compete for loads with someone like you?

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

This is not meant to sound sarcastic, but I’ll relate this to your particular expertise….

 

Would it be reasonable for me to believe, I could simply go down to my local DMV and acquire a CDL and afterwards purchase an 18 wheeler and expect to compete for loads with someone like you?

Believe it or not, it does happen.

But those loads are typically short and sometimes "under the table", so I wouldn't recommend it.

That and I'm a company driver, so my expertise in the owner-op world is so-so.

 

But like I said, I'm just going to stick with my job and just build hours on the outside for as long as time and finances allow.

Better to start now in some capacity than twiddle my thumbs and worry about risks like some accountant.

Still though, I'd think having a personal helicopter of some type just for mere recreation or personal transport would be pretty cool.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Believe it or not, it does happen.

But those loads are typically short and sometimes "under the table", so I wouldn't recommend it.

That and I'm a company driver, so my expertise in the owner-op world is so-so.

 

But like I said, I'm just going to stick with my job and just build hours on the outside for as long as time and finances allow.

Better to start now in some capacity than twiddle my thumbs and worry about risks like some accountant.

Still though, I'd think having a personal helicopter of some type just for mere recreation or personal transport would be pretty cool.

 

 

Correct me if I’m wrong, but simply gaining a CDL just allows me to get paid to drive. It by no means allows me to immediately qualify to drive an 18 wheeler, right? And, no body, check that, hardly anyone would trust me to drive their cargo with a day-old CDL in my pocket and an 18 wheeler which I’ve never driven before….. In any case, I think you get the point.....

 

Furthermore, within your initial post, you mentioned “time-building” so this is where things got confusing as most pilots interested in building flight time are doing so to better qualify them for an entry-level job which is far different from private ownership…. Therefore, if your goal is to fly helicopters for a living; then getting qualified is priority #1. That is, you can’t apply to a job you’re not qualified to do…. Luckily, this is easy to do and doesn’t require you to read a motivational book written in 1937. All you need to do is start reading the Helicopter Flying Handbook…. Although the truth is, neither book will make you a part of the so-called 1%.....

Edited by Spike
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Touchy thread I done started.
But yes, this was just a thought on how I should go about building up hours if I wanted to bounce from driving a truck full time and into commercial helicopter piloting.

Seems the best thing to do right now, money and time wise, is to just do like most presumably would and work it up from PPL to the commercial endorsements with all the required goodies.

May take me 5 years, may take me 10 years to get it all done out of pocket and with no loans taken whatsoever.
But I'm not getting and younger and wishing I was able to start when I was 18/21 is only further making things dismal.
Guess it seems somewhat easier to do now for myself than it was 10-15 years ago any way.

I've actually got a good job and a means of being able to travel the distance to the flight schools(I didn't even have a car, let alone a drivers license back then).

Another thing was I let the lack of any close support get me down.
You know, the naysayers who said "that doesn't make any money. It's too expensive to do, be a nurse or some other thing I'd lose interest in instead."
But after all the time, you got to learn to rise above, throw the middle fingers up, and garner it from the inside.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bentstrider83-

I don't want to rain on your parade anymore than has been done, but getting the certificates is the easy part of the path to getting paid. One still needs to get from the new certificate to 1000, 1500, or more hours.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bentstrider83-

I don't want to rain on your parade anymore than has been done, but getting the certificates is the easy part of the path to getting paid. One still needs to get from the new certificate to 1000, 1500, or more hours.

Reading from these threads, it seems there's various ways of getting that done.

I've read about some cases here where there were some getting various gigs at the 500-600 hour mark.

Not well-paying, but enough to continually build up time as needed.

 

As I mentioned before, I still intend to get my certifications as time goes on.

But I'm not going to be quitting the trucking thing any time soon either.

If I stay on with the current company and position I've been at for the past, three years, I could see 4-5 years from now for all of my certifications acquired being a reality.

 

Another five years of trucking and time-building beyond that, I could see some additional things begin to open up.

 

So yep, trucking and flying will most likely be two main games in the long term for me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Most of us will have been replaced by drones and the Grand Canyon tour market will be reduced to just one lonely Astar after this f*cked up drought we're having here in the West reduces Vegas to a dust filled truck stop!

Edited by eagle5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...