Comments on: How to Start Your Own Helicopter Charter Business http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/ Web site and blog for Maria Langer, freelance writer, commercial helicopter pilot, and serious amateur photographer. Thu, 24 May 2012 16:44:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: M. Stuart http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-11211 M. Stuart Sun, 15 Apr 2012 20:11:28 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-11211 Yeah, The work I tried to get on a 135 ticket was slim....however, the corporate sector was my life line. I met up with some top exec's and they ended up using me for everything from personal transport to the shore houses and such to the corporate commercials. My ship is now too small (the 44) and I need to move up. This is the scariest moment in my business life...what to move up to. The 44 was economical and fuel friendly...the next ship wont be. I guess I am asking for suggestions. What can haul 4 passengers and be cost effective? I fly the Philadelphia, Jersey shore and Chesapeak area. Any personal experiences would be a help. Thanks. Yeah, The work I tried to get on a 135 ticket was slim….however, the corporate sector was my life line. I met up with some top exec’s and they ended up using me for everything from personal transport to the shore houses and such to the corporate commercials. My ship is now too small (the 44) and I need to move up.
This is the scariest moment in my business life…what to move up to. The 44 was economical and fuel friendly…the next ship wont be.
I guess I am asking for suggestions. What can haul 4 passengers and be cost effective? I fly the Philadelphia, Jersey shore and Chesapeak area. Any personal experiences would be a help. Thanks.

]]> By: Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-10565 Maria Langer Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:46:01 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-10565 I'm definitely <em>not</em> infatuated by the tourism industry. Frankly, I'm downright sick of people trying to weasel down my rates or get a 10-minute flight for $25. What an incredible waste of time. I field, on average, 5-10 tourist calls a week and seldom fly more than 2 flights in the same time. I no longer do flights less than an hour long and that was probably the best decision I made for my business. I'll let my competition scrape the bottom of the barrel. No, the real money (for my business, anyway) is in aerial photo/survey and agricultural work. Anything that can get me 10+ hours of flight time in a week works for me. (I'm a small business owner and don't need more.) The 3-month lease I had back in 2004 was for a friend's helicopter. It was a great deal for me but a bad one for him -- although his ship was already paid for so he didn't lose any money. (He just didn't make as much as he could have.) I don't remember the details. Nowadays, you can expect to have to meet a monthly minimum for hours flown and will likely have to provide insurance, as well as pay for maintenance. It all depends on which leasing company you go with. I’m definitely not infatuated by the tourism industry. Frankly, I’m downright sick of people trying to weasel down my rates or get a 10-minute flight for $25. What an incredible waste of time. I field, on average, 5-10 tourist calls a week and seldom fly more than 2 flights in the same time. I no longer do flights less than an hour long and that was probably the best decision I made for my business. I’ll let my competition scrape the bottom of the barrel.

No, the real money (for my business, anyway) is in aerial photo/survey and agricultural work. Anything that can get me 10+ hours of flight time in a week works for me. (I’m a small business owner and don’t need more.)

The 3-month lease I had back in 2004 was for a friend’s helicopter. It was a great deal for me but a bad one for him — although his ship was already paid for so he didn’t lose any money. (He just didn’t make as much as he could have.) I don’t remember the details. Nowadays, you can expect to have to meet a monthly minimum for hours flown and will likely have to provide insurance, as well as pay for maintenance. It all depends on which leasing company you go with.

]]> By: Alan http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-10563 Alan Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:06:56 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-10563 Really enjoyed all the comments from your blog but cant understand the infatuation with the "tourism" industry!!?? Ten or twenty years ago it may have been something lucrative. But in todays day and age with the economy as it is and with most people that cant pay the hundred bucks to fly for 15minutes, it is a dying form of income for us helo pilots. I am a retired military helo pilot with over 12,000 hours of flying everything from power lines to my last gig of 2 years of law enforcement support in Afghanistan, and the money is in those programs that are "forced" on us and other companies by the federal government...the power, oil and gas industry. Not near as exciting as flying tourists around but very lucrative!! Sorry for the long intro but my question is, who did you go with for the lease and can you give me either on line or off, the requirments they had for the initial lease? Thanks again and looking forward to hearing from you.. Alan Really enjoyed all the comments from your blog but cant understand the infatuation with the “tourism” industry!!?? Ten or twenty years ago it may have been something lucrative. But in todays day and age with the economy as it is and with most people that cant pay the hundred bucks to fly for 15minutes, it is a dying form of income for us helo pilots. I am a retired military helo pilot with over 12,000 hours of flying everything from power lines to my last gig of 2 years of law enforcement support in Afghanistan, and the money is in those programs that are “forced” on us and other companies by the federal government…the power, oil and gas industry. Not near as exciting as flying tourists around but very lucrative!! Sorry for the long intro but my question is, who did you go with for the lease and can you give me either on line or off, the requirments they had for the initial lease? Thanks again and looking forward to hearing from you..
Alan

]]> By: Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-10312 Maria Langer Sat, 25 Feb 2012 12:50:14 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-10312 Yeah? What about them? Yeah? What about them?

]]> By: Peter Judson http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-10307 Peter Judson Sat, 25 Feb 2012 09:02:20 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-10307 What about other aviaton buisness thats more creative than just charter. Such as heli-skiing. What about other aviaton buisness thats more creative than just charter. Such as heli-skiing.

]]> By: Prashant Oak http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-10230 Prashant Oak Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:08:55 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-10230 You couldn't encourage me more... Maria... Thx. Grt to hear these words from you with a first hand ...... HANDS ON experience with a jump and leap into an adventure like this... Thanks...really and sincerely.... will keep in touch with you for advice... hope that's okay. Regards. You couldn’t encourage me more… Maria… Thx. Grt to hear these words from you with a first hand …… HANDS ON experience with a jump and leap into an adventure like this… Thanks…really and sincerely…. will keep in touch with you for advice… hope that’s okay. Regards.

]]> By: Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-10228 Maria Langer Sun, 19 Feb 2012 14:33:05 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-10228 Agreed. It's the pilot who performs the service. A pilot with a financial stake in the outcome of every flight is far more likely to do his/her best to deliver the best service possible. Agreed. It’s the pilot who performs the service. A pilot with a financial stake in the outcome of every flight is far more likely to do his/her best to deliver the best service possible.

]]> By: Prashant Oak http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-10226 Prashant Oak Sun, 19 Feb 2012 13:38:29 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-10226 Thanks...Maria...For Good Wishes and tips. Could agree more with you on the pace and focus. Here in my part of the Globe, our spoken reputation sells more in our kinda work... I am sure it must be the same there in Arizona. That goes for the chopper pilots' jobs and even the clients' expectations of operational excellence... Moreover, my experience tells me that we fliers ourselves can get more business than some MBA jerk speaking jargon and getting some impractical ideas that only SOUND BIG and deliver nothing. Finally the product in our work is delivered by the Flier...and that calls for personal unquenching thirst for delivery of operational excellence..... What do you say? :) :) Thanks…Maria…For Good Wishes and tips. Could agree more with you on the pace and focus. Here in my part of the Globe, our spoken reputation sells more in our kinda work… I am sure it must be the same there in Arizona. That goes for the chopper pilots’ jobs and even the clients’ expectations of operational excellence… Moreover, my experience tells me that we fliers ourselves can get more business than some MBA jerk speaking jargon and getting some impractical ideas that only SOUND BIG and deliver nothing. Finally the product in our work is delivered by the Flier…and that calls for personal unquenching thirst for delivery of operational excellence….. What do you say? :) :)

]]> By: Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-10214 Maria Langer Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:37:14 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-10214 I definitely wish you good luck. I think the key is to move forward slowly and build your business at a pace you can afford. Most businesses fail because they're underfunded; you need to know for sure that you can make those helicopter loan or lease payments at least a year into the future, even with ZERO revenue. Don't spend a ton of money on advertising, either. Most of that simply doesn't pay off. Word of mouth, networking, and a good Web site is worth far more than print ads, paid web links, etc. Best wishes for success! I definitely wish you good luck. I think the key is to move forward slowly and build your business at a pace you can afford. Most businesses fail because they’re underfunded; you need to know for sure that you can make those helicopter loan or lease payments at least a year into the future, even with ZERO revenue. Don’t spend a ton of money on advertising, either. Most of that simply doesn’t pay off. Word of mouth, networking, and a good Web site is worth far more than print ads, paid web links, etc.

Best wishes for success!

]]> By: Prashant Oak http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-10207 Prashant Oak Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:30:11 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-10207 Maria.... I am an Ex Indian Army pilot, retired a Colonel and I now fly and work for a charter operator in India. You have been absolutely candid and straight forward in your remarks and I respect your sentiment... It's your first hand experience ... so it's the Best. I myself am working towards this ... for two years now, after I left the Army...and trying to understand the industry. It is difficult, but not impossible... we would be a bunch of Ex Army veterans ...bums for years in the Army and now working on this. We believe that with good teamwork ... it will see good time. Sure will keep blogging you.... Wish Good Luck for us. Maria….
I am an Ex Indian Army pilot, retired a Colonel and I now fly and work for a charter operator in India. You have been absolutely candid and straight forward in your remarks and I respect your sentiment… It’s your first hand experience … so it’s the Best. I myself am working towards this … for two years now, after I left the Army…and trying to understand the industry. It is difficult, but not impossible… we would be a bunch of Ex Army veterans …bums for years in the Army and now working on this. We believe that with good teamwork … it will see good time. Sure will keep blogging you…. Wish Good Luck for us.

]]> By: PANDIT BITTU http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-10140 PANDIT BITTU Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:32:45 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-10140 i want to start my own business in this field how much amount enough for this purpose i want to start my own business in this field

how much amount enough for this purpose

]]> By: Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-10101 Maria Langer Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:34:47 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-10101 Sorry, but I know nothing about flying in Africa. Sorry, but I know nothing about flying in Africa.

]]> By: Linda Gold http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-9961 Linda Gold Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:30:35 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-9961 A friend of mine is setting up a helicopter charter business in Nigeria. From my knowledge he has limited information and havent done any business before. He is young, resourceful and with enough money to set it up. What advice do you have for such individual? He is asking me to help with research on the business when I stumbled on this site. Please comment A friend of mine is setting up a helicopter charter business in Nigeria. From my knowledge he has limited information and havent done any business before. He is young, resourceful and with enough money to set it up. What advice do you have for such individual? He is asking me to help with research on the business when I stumbled on this site. Please comment

]]> By: Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-8832 Maria Langer Tue, 04 Oct 2011 02:41:05 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-8832 You're kidding, right? You need to understand more about helicopters before you go any further. Visit a helicopter operator, look, and ask questions. Good luck. You’re kidding, right? You need to understand more about helicopters before you go any further. Visit a helicopter operator, look, and ask questions. Good luck.

]]> By: Amy http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-8818 Amy Sun, 02 Oct 2011 13:41:26 +0000 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2009/04/12/how-to-start-your-own-helicopter-charter-business/#comment-8818 I want to start a helicopter business with the purpose of transpotation and tourism at a strategic location that has no short-cut roads from land as it is all mountanious. My question is "how many people can fit into a helicopter as it will fly like an airbus?" And how much space needed to maintain a helicopter? (I have a 5 acre land can it be enough as a port? I want to start a helicopter business with the purpose of transpotation and tourism at a strategic location that has no short-cut roads from land as it is all mountanious. My question is “how many people can fit into a helicopter as it will fly like an airbus?” And how much space needed to maintain a helicopter? (I have a 5 acre land can it be enough as a port?

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