DL or LtB for sightseeing flights (PA28, Cessna 172 etc)
Discussion
Hello folks,
I run a small non profit (ltd) organisation that runs sightseeing flights for our non-flying members around Sussex and Warwickshire, and need an aircraft to base at Shoreham airport for the Sussex flights, around 100 hours over the year but possibly 120+.
We had a 172-b last year on dry hire, which was fine but it broke down alot and didn't have enough grunt for 4 adults, so would like a 172-M or PA28-180, maybe a 160 as tours are usually 3 adults or 2 adults plus children (including pilot). This would be on a dry lease, but might consider a lease to buy option too.
Our local pilot in Shoreham has over 300 hours, and being a non-profit we can only afford to park on grass rather than hangerage but the aircraft is looked after like it's our own.
One thing we can do if you're an owner or relatively local, is add you to our pilot club. You get to pilot the aircraft on the pleasure flights for our non flying members at no charge - this could be a quick 30min weekday flight or 2-3 hours over 3 or 4 flights on a weekend, with the organisation paying all hire costs, fuel and landing fees. Our local guy built around 70 hours with us last year at no cost to him, largely because our only other two pilot members moved to Warwickshire but it's still a great way to get in the air.
I'd also be interested in borrowing a local plane (assuming we need to pick up from a base location and return each day) for a few weekends until we arrange a lease. Again if it's your aircraft you can even fly it yourself, but with us paying all operational costs.
Can anyone help? Thanks
I run a small non profit (ltd) organisation that runs sightseeing flights for our non-flying members around Sussex and Warwickshire, and need an aircraft to base at Shoreham airport for the Sussex flights, around 100 hours over the year but possibly 120+.
We had a 172-b last year on dry hire, which was fine but it broke down alot and didn't have enough grunt for 4 adults, so would like a 172-M or PA28-180, maybe a 160 as tours are usually 3 adults or 2 adults plus children (including pilot). This would be on a dry lease, but might consider a lease to buy option too.
Our local pilot in Shoreham has over 300 hours, and being a non-profit we can only afford to park on grass rather than hangerage but the aircraft is looked after like it's our own.
One thing we can do if you're an owner or relatively local, is add you to our pilot club. You get to pilot the aircraft on the pleasure flights for our non flying members at no charge - this could be a quick 30min weekday flight or 2-3 hours over 3 or 4 flights on a weekend, with the organisation paying all hire costs, fuel and landing fees. Our local guy built around 70 hours with us last year at no cost to him, largely because our only other two pilot members moved to Warwickshire but it's still a great way to get in the air.
I'd also be interested in borrowing a local plane (assuming we need to pick up from a base location and return each day) for a few weekends until we arrange a lease. Again if it's your aircraft you can even fly it yourself, but with us paying all operational costs.
Can anyone help? Thanks
Nothing to hide here, CAA are fully aware of our operations and we're fully compliant with current legislation surrounding experience or sightseeing flights. The Sussex operation used to have an AOC (started around 9 years ago) but this is no longer a requirement.
I've not tried PPune, had a go with Afors but it seems most posts for leasing are very old, or the companies no longer lease aircraft or have nothing available for a few months.
I've not tried PPune, had a go with Afors but it seems most posts for leasing are very old, or the companies no longer lease aircraft or have nothing available for a few months.
Also these aren't passenger transport like the Sala flight, that's what Wingly does. These are 20-90mins in a circle back to Shoreham in good weather only at around 1200ft (unfortunately being in the England we postpone flights due to weather quite often!). Any pilots need to be cleared by our chief pilot at his training school first, so it's all safe fun.
In terms of aircraft type, both PA28s and 172s should be fairly plentiful.
Back in the day, I built up my fixed wing hours on both and, for pleasure flights, 4-up, I think the Cessna would be more practical than the Piper - high-wing for greater visibility below, two doors and a rear screen. Don't some have a roof glass (Aerobat did)?
In either case I would want adequate performance reserves, but for short flights you can probably operate on a limited fuel load.
Back in the day, I built up my fixed wing hours on both and, for pleasure flights, 4-up, I think the Cessna would be more practical than the Piper - high-wing for greater visibility below, two doors and a rear screen. Don't some have a roof glass (Aerobat did)?
In either case I would want adequate performance reserves, but for short flights you can probably operate on a limited fuel load.
Actually I don't think it opened, but gave some extra viz.
Try the ‘Flyer’ forum.
PpRune is a waste of time and full of wingers.
I take it being in the Warwickshire area your aware EGBW have lost their appeal and all clubs may have to move out within 3 months!!! Real shame.
Unless your coventry based.
appreciate your request is for the south coast mind.
PpRune is a waste of time and full of wingers.
I take it being in the Warwickshire area your aware EGBW have lost their appeal and all clubs may have to move out within 3 months!!! Real shame.
Unless your coventry based.
appreciate your request is for the south coast mind.zombeh said:
Last I'd heard the council had actually started the CPO, are the land owners still hoping to kick everyone out and demolish everything before that happens? Seems a pointless waste of time and money messing about with a bit of land they're not going to keep hold of.
If they kick them out, the businesses move elsewhere, doubt they want the expense to move back, thus its no longer a viable working GA airfield and worthless other than for housing....Guess thats the line the land owner is taking.... CPO or not.
Thanks for the info, the Warwickshire ops have pretty much moved to Wolverhampton now but it's not a problem either way. We can also use Enstone/ Oxford.
Fully appreciate the benefits of a Cessna over a pa-28 etc, but as mentioned I'm just looking for a lease rather than a particular steer. We had a Cessna and when it worked it was great, but I'm not overly fussed either way, just needs to carry a few adults and be safe!
What we do might be sightseeing flights but most people are just happy to be up there, often taking pics of each other! The pilots always dip a wing when going past an actual attraction anyway (Beachy Head, Needles, Arundel Castle etc).
Had a look on PPrune after the suggestion yesterday but I think it's a very different type of user, have tried other flyer forums but it seems they have 100's of guest viewers looking at PPL training threads and little else. The only posts for aircraft sales or leases are ancient, or they're for death traps that haven't seen a check in 10 years...
Still, if anyone happens to have a nice little 4-seater parked up doing very little, I'd gladly come to a non-exclusive lease agreement with guaranteed minimum hours (we'll pay regardless if we use them, and you can still fly your plane
).
Fully appreciate the benefits of a Cessna over a pa-28 etc, but as mentioned I'm just looking for a lease rather than a particular steer. We had a Cessna and when it worked it was great, but I'm not overly fussed either way, just needs to carry a few adults and be safe!
What we do might be sightseeing flights but most people are just happy to be up there, often taking pics of each other! The pilots always dip a wing when going past an actual attraction anyway (Beachy Head, Needles, Arundel Castle etc).
Had a look on PPrune after the suggestion yesterday but I think it's a very different type of user, have tried other flyer forums but it seems they have 100's of guest viewers looking at PPL training threads and little else. The only posts for aircraft sales or leases are ancient, or they're for death traps that haven't seen a check in 10 years...
Still, if anyone happens to have a nice little 4-seater parked up doing very little, I'd gladly come to a non-exclusive lease agreement with guaranteed minimum hours (we'll pay regardless if we use them, and you can still fly your plane
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