How to Minimise the Cost of Airplane Ownership
Owning your own airplane comes with the freedom of being able to fly wherever you want to go, whenever you want. However, it is also your responsibility to maintain the aircraft and keep it in good nick. For many, airplane ownership can seem too costly, but there are ways to minimise costs.
In this article, we’re going to look at the best practices to help keep costs on the lower side when entering the world of private plane ownership.
Buy wisely
The first and probably most important tip for lowering airplane costs is to buy wisely. It’s well known that the engine is the most expensive part of an aircraft. If the engine is near or beyond TBO, an overhaul is going to be costly. When embarking on purchasing a plane, do a lot of research; this means understanding the costs involved with different kinds of aircraft – for example an airplane with basic avionics will cost a lot less to maintain and repair than one with more advanced avionics.
Reduce repair costs
Maintenance is a very costly part of airplane ownership. If you’re willing to take the time to learn more about your plane, you can find ways to cut costs that will end up saving you a lot of money. Additionally, choose your mechanic wisely; the right mechanic who has good references from pilots you know can help you cut down on your repair costs.
Learn preventative maintenance
Another tip that can help you minimise the cost of airplane maintenance is to learn preventative maintenance. Take some time to become a bit more knowledgeable on your aircraft and its internals so that at the minimum you can change the oil. As small as a task may seem, you can save a decent amount. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, learn to change tires, replace batteries, and spark plugs.
Clean your own airplane
Not too dissimilar to preventative maintenance, cleaning your own plane will help you become more familiar with your aircraft and give you the opportunity to catch small problems before they turn into bigger problems.
At the end of the day, running and operating an airplane is expensive. But, if you buy wisely, learn as much as you can about your plane, use a reliable and knowledgeable mechanic and learn a bit of preventative maintenance, you can cut down the costs of airplane ownership by quite a significant amount.
