The Commercial License: Is it a good long-term investment?

[[email protected]]

Hello everyone,

Everyone knows that if you put in thousands of dollars for a solid
college education, you'll reap the benefits later on. Is it also true
for the FAA commercial license? If I put in the extra money to get a
commercial license, can recoup that money (and them some) by starting
an air chartering service? Is the air chartering industry profitable?
I have a great day job and would like to keep it. I'm willing to spend
evenings and weekends flying an air charter, but I don't know if I'll
go bankrupt. What are your two cents?

[Juan Jimenez]

The primary benefit of a commercial ticket is not the money you will make
but the fact that it will go a long ways to helping you become a better
pilot.

Remember, the fastest way to make a small fortune in aviation is to start
with a large one.

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hello everyone,
>
> Everyone knows that if you put in thousands of dollars for a solid
> college education, you'll reap the benefits later on. Is it also true
> for the FAA commercial license? If I put in the extra money to get a
> commercial license, can recoup that money (and them some) by starting
> an air chartering service? Is the air chartering industry profitable?
> I have a great day job and would like to keep it. I'm willing to spend
> evenings and weekends flying an air charter, but I don't know if I'll
> go bankrupt. What are your two cents?
>


*** Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com ***

[tom418]

Assuming you already have 500 hours to fly VFR, or 1200 to fly IFR air taxi
(these requirements were in effect when I flew charter- things may have
changed), you might want to consider a part time position (if you can get
it) flying 135 on someone else's certificate.

The maintenance requirements for a 135 airplane are far more strict than
they are for Part 91 operators. My Seneca was owned by an Air Taxi before
I bought it. It seems that there was a maintenance entry in the books on a
weekly basis for service bulletins and 100 hr in$pections. (I even found a
S.B. for rubber plugs in the corners of the glove box!)

If you decide to go 135, be prepared for a lot of paperwork. Submitting
applications, "Ops Specs" and the like to the FAA for review is no fun.

As another poster here said, you'll make a small fortune, after you start
with a large one :)
> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hello everyone,
>
> Everyone knows that if you put in thousands of dollars for a solid
> college education, you'll reap the benefits later on. Is it also true
> for the FAA commercial license? If I put in the extra money to get a
> commercial license, can recoup that money (and them some) by starting
> an air chartering service? Is the air chartering industry profitable?
> I have a great day job and would like to keep it. I'm willing to spend
> evenings and weekends flying an air charter, but I don't know if I'll
> go bankrupt. What are your two cents?
>

[Robert M. Gary]

> Assuming you already have 500 hours to fly VFR, or 1200 to fly IFR air taxi

Don't most 135 operators want 2000 TT and 500 multi (as a general
rule)?

-Robert

[tom418]

Oops. Sorry Robert. I forgot that I mentioned that OP should try to get a
job with another 135.

Some years ago, a few Air Taxis near me were having trouble filling their
pilot seats, and would hire with no multi (They were using Piper Cherry
Sixes.) It's been awhile for me so I don't know what today's requirements
are.
"tom418" > wrote in message
news:3Z62g.1203$9c6.895@dukeread11...
> Perhaps, but the OP indicated that he wanted to go into business for
> himself. In this case he would be governed by 14 CFR 135.244
> "Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > > Assuming you already have 500 hours to fly VFR, or 1200 to fly IFR air
> taxi
> >
> > Don't most 135 operators want 2000 TT and 500 multi (as a general
> > rule)?
> >
> > -Robert
> >
>
>

[Robert M. Gary]

> but I don't know if I'll go bankrupt.

Depends on how much money you start with. The more money, the longer it
will take you to go bankrupt. :)

-Robert

[[email protected]]

Thanks guys. It looks like people who want to get into aviation
shouldn't go in for the money. I love flying airplanes, but I was
hoping I could make it - less financially cumbersome to do so (i.e. by
recouping some of the expenses somehow). But, it sounds like my
options for accomplishing this are limited. Well, if you guys have any
other suggestions feel free to let me know! :-)

[[email protected]]

> wrote:
> Thanks guys. It looks like people who want to get into aviation
> shouldn't go in for the money. I love flying airplanes, but I was
> hoping I could make it - less financially cumbersome to do so (i.e. by
> recouping some of the expenses somehow). But, it sounds like my
> options for accomplishing this are limited. Well, if you guys have any
> other suggestions feel free to let me know! :-)

Keep your day job, become a CFI and teach on weekends.

The CFIs at my local FBO/flight school are divided into two groups:

young guys (and the occasional gal) building time as a CFI to get a
regular flying job

older retired guys doing it to get their feet off the ground and be
payed a bit for doing it

--
Jim Pennino

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