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Bonanza,
Centurion, Cirrus Skylane RG, Saratoga Insurance Requirements are an Instrument Rating,
500 Hours with 25 Complex Time If you fly fewer than 100 hours per year, one of these options would be far less expensive than sole-ownership or renting an airplane to fly a trip: 1) Fractional Ownership, 2) Partnership, 3) Cooperative, or 4) a Flying Club. Unlike
FBO's who are strapped with profit margins, corporate overhead, and stockholder return, a group undertaking functioning purely
for its members (4 people max per aircraft) will cut the sole ownership cost by 75%. Simple math. Furthermore, it will allow
access to "go somewhere" aircraft. In researching this, much to my surprise, I discovered that availability was
really not an issue. In a local flying club, for example, there was 1 aircraft for 5 members, and there was seldom a problem
with availability. And that was for only one aircraft. It all depends on schedules. Fractional Ownerships seem to follow the
same format with similar results. I am an orphaned 60 year-old pilot who recently sold my airplane after a 22 year run. Consequently,
I have a hangar available here at Frederick. Before giving it up, I am doing some reconnaissance to determine the feasibility
of starting a pilot group interested in flying upper-end, modestly used, single-engine aircraft. Similar to the AirShares
Elite program for Cirrus, this concept differs in several ways: a) members determine make and model of fleet, b) the exploitation
of the used aircraft market, and c) it does not cost a half-million dollars ($500,000) to own. "While
the idea of shared ownership is nothing new, few pilots realize the economic impact of adding just one owner to the airplane.
...There really is no better way to own an airplane, and most pilots would be surprised at how well a partnership works."
Lee, M. (2011). Getting Creative: 10 Ways To Fly For Less. Plane & Pilot These
options, cooperatives, partnership, fractional or a flying club, have three things in common: 1) an upfront cost, 2)
monthly fee, and 3) hourly flight charge. The monthly fee covers hangar, insurance, routine maintenance plus a reserve allowance.
The hourly flight charge is a dedicated TBO allowance. The upfront cost, of course, will depend on which make and model aircraft
the group decides upon that will satisfy their traveling needs. Owning 4 airplanes over my 43 years of flying have taught me many lessons, but the implementation
of such a program may very well prove the most efficient way utilizing aircraft of this caliber to take a business or
pleasure trip and stay current. If
interested, kindly drop me an e-mail at info@aviationventuresusa.com with your comments. If enough responses are received, we'll set-up a meeting to explore how such a program may be brought
to fruition. Will keep you updated on the progress. Thank you for your
interest. Respectfully, JEB Butler Aviation Ventures, USA
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Aviation Ventures USA, 103 S. Carroll
Street, Suite 1B, Frederick, Maryland 21701