Making Money with Cessna Caravans

[jspeed87]

I was just curious to know if starting an Air Cargo or charter business with caravans is lucrative? My goal is to become an Airline Pilot but I also like business and It's going to be my major in college. I could rent out like 5 Caravans and charter them around the caribbean cheaper then most airlines! Once I get big I could get some Jets or twin turboprops and expand! How much starting money would I need, and where can I go to get more info, this is something I want to do once I retire from a Legacy or NetJets... lol

[scramjet]

I dream of starting my own charter company too!

Caravans, I'm no expert but I guess they'd be good for certain types of charter. They're also good freight workhorses. I'm sure others will chime in!

[BuickCFI]

aren't new caravans like 1.5-2.0 million? so you are looking at roughly 10 million just for aircraft


edit:yup http://caravan.cessna.com/financing.chtml

[jspeed87]

Originally Posted by BuickCFI

aren't new caravans like 1.5-2.0 million? so you are looking at roughly 10 million just for aircraft


edit:yup http://caravan.cessna.com/financing.chtml

I think you lease them instead of buying them straight up like that lol

yea scramjet maybe we can become business partners in the near future...

[Cptnchia]

Originally Posted by jspeed87

I could rent out like 5 Caravans and charter them around the caribbean cheaper then most airlines!

How do you know that? While you need to make every flight count, the airlines could dump seats against you and make up the difference somewhere else.

[Doug Taylor]

Originally Posted by Cptnchia

How do you know that? While you need to make every flight count, the airlines could dump seats against you and make up the difference somewhere else.

That's why I hate the idea of Virgin America in the United States.

[Cptnchia]

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

That's why I hate the idea of Virgin America in the United States.

It's gonna be interesting to see how they do with $100.00 oil.

[Captain_Bob]

Originally Posted by Cptnchia

It's gonna be interesting to see how they do with $100.00 oil.

Aren't we all in that same boat?

Bob

[Doug Taylor]

Originally Posted by Captain_Bob

Aren't we all in that same boat?

Bob

Some, not you brotha!, still have their gasoline paid for by another carrier.

It MAY be part of the capacity feed contract or not, but as we approach and surpass $100/bbl oil, it's going to get very interesting on all levels.

[CAP_Flyer]

Originally Posted by Cptnchia

How do you know that? While you need to make every flight count, the airlines could dump seats against you and make up the difference somewhere else.

I suppose it would depend on the type of Caravan and what kind of routes are being flown. I could see something like a charter for island hoppers to be quite a nice little niche, especially with the Caravan Amphib.

But compete against airlines on routes like KFLL to MYAM? Probably not.

[ElyJs]

Its fairly easy to get a Caravan busy flying jumpers. Think 20% down to get started. Get a nest egg of 200-300k and get going!. Or start with a 182 and work up from there. Any plane will make you money if you can get it flying a lot, even a 150.

-Jason

[mikecweb]

I'm a firm believer that no one has ever made money in aviation.

[Nihon_Ni]

There's an old saying about aviation that I've proven to be true...

The best way to make a small fortune in aviation is to start with a big one.

[HercDriver130]

Aviation....any kind of aviation....is a tuff cut throat business. Most Caravans stateside are being used in cargo ops of one kind or another. In other places in the world they are used for both pax and cargo on a regular basis. Hell I know a charter operation in Botswana that is doing okay with 206's 210's and two C90's.

[bap327]

Take a look at Linear Air, www.linearair.com, out of KBED. They are doing well and have just got their first of 30 Eclipse 500's.

[BajtheJino]

Originally Posted by mikecweb

I'm a firm believer that no one has ever made money in aviation.

You should see my former bosses house, boat, lake house and not to mention his wife.

[jspeed87]

Originally Posted by CAP_Flyer

I suppose it would depend on the type of Caravan and what kind of routes are being flown. I could see something like a charter for island hoppers to be quite a nice little niche, especially with the Caravan Amphib.

But compete against airlines on routes like KFLL to MYAM? Probably not.

Yea Island hoping, caravan amphibian would be nice for these missions

[Berkut]

Originally Posted by mikecweb

I'm a firm believer that no one has ever made money in aviation.

Even the various flight academies?

[jspeed87]

Originally Posted by Berkut

Even the various flight academies?

yea I was thinking about that too.. come on people, chime in on how lucrative an aviation business can be!

[Cjordan]

Caravans... they look like they're pregnant and may scatter offspring to the wind at any given moment. But I guess they're pretty utilitarian...

[jspeed87]

to the top!

[bronco21016]

Originally Posted by jspeed87

I was just curious to know if starting an Air Cargo or charter business with caravans is lucrative? My goal is to become an Airline Pilot but I also like business and It's going to be my major in college. I could rent out like 5 Caravans and charter them around the caribbean cheaper then most airlines! Once I get big I could get some Jets or twin turboprops and expand! How much starting money would I need, and where can I go to get more info, this is something I want to do once I retire from a Legacy or NetJets... lol

If you wanna fly around the islands then check out these guys... www.seaborneairlines.com

[Cjordan]

Originally Posted by bronco21016

If you wanna fly around the islands then check out these guys... www.seaborneairlines.com

Dream job.