Piaggio Vs. King Air 350 Pros/Cons

[Taxivasion]

What are the Pro's/ Con's between the two in the $2-2.5 Mil Range?

Typical mission 4-6 pax + small bags -1000- 1100 NM- Single Pilot

[cdnpilot77]

First thing I would look at is product support. That would make a pretty quick decision in my books.

[Heliian]

How many piaggio's have you seen lately?

You could probably do the mission with a cheaper 200 series even. As above, there is probably a king air of some type at every airport in north america gravel or otherwise.

[jpilot77]

Well for starters a King Air 350 must be flown with 2 pilots, being above 12,500 lbs and all.

[turbo-prop]

Well for starters a King Air 350 must be flown with 2 pilots, being above 12,500 lbs and all.

Actually it doesn't!!

[bobcaygeon]

King Air maybe a B200 (there's a pretty cheap 13,400lb MTOW kit), lots of parts, customer service, aftermarket options and low time air frames sitting around.
There's a King Air STC for just about every aftermarket aviation part ever made.

Can use a gravel runway (even if only just once).

Essentially every AMO has someone who can/has worked on one.

Piaggio has almost none of the above but it looks cool.

If your in a hurry. Get a Citation. Better all around.

BTW Aircraft Weight has no bearing on # of pilots required. (You're not trying to pick it up and move it).
The aircraft type certificate determines minimum crew required. It's also in the Limitations section of AFM.
B1900D/1900C are single pilot approved aircraft in Canada.

[AOW]

The King Air cabin is longer, but narrower and has less headroom. The Piaggio will cruise about 75 kts faster, which will be noticeable on a 1000+ mile trip. The King Air has a much larger useful load, giving you flexibility if that 4-6 pax suddenly becomes 8. The Piaggio likely can't carry more than 6 pax for that distance. The King Air will cruise lower, so you will have to divert around some weather that the Piaggio could fly over. The King Air weighs more, so may incur higher landing/parking fees. The King Air is built like a rock, with excellent factory support, and is ubiquitous enough that you can likely find somebody to fix it at every major, and most minor, airports. The Piaggio may be more delicate. To use an automotive analogy, I think you could compare it to maintenance on a Cadillac versus maintenance on a Ferrari.

[tailgunner]

Another outstanding type for your mission would be a C441 Conquest 11. 310 KTAS, and RVSM'd to 35000. Will burn around 400lbs an hour at 35000. Plus, there are numerous 441's in Canada for advice/support/technical. Any pilot who has flown one absolutely loves it.
Edited because of a brain cramp....

[NotDirty!]

Another outstanding type for your mission would be a C441 Conquest 11. 310 KIAS, and RVSM'd to 35000. Will burn around 400lbs an hour at 35000. Plus, there are numerous 441's in Canada for advice/support/technical. Any pilot who has flown one absolutely loves it.

Wow! 310 KIAS @ FL350 is about M0.899! That is moving!! The KA 350 can get to FL350 too, but the fuel burn will be a bit higher. Mind you, it has a lot more cabin space than a 441.

But if 1000+ NM is your typical mission, you may be much happier in something like a C560. The B350 probably gives you the most airplane for your buck, but while it is capable of 1000 mile + trips, its bread and butter are the 500-1000 mile flights, or special missions to small or unpaved strips. Your pax likely won't appreciate too many 4 hour flights!

Good luck!

[Zaibatsu]

I think that'd be true airspeed, not indicated, since it's higher than barber pole on a 737.

[ditar]

I think that'd be true airspeed, not indicated, since it's higher than barber pole on a 737.

The barber pole on a 737 is 340 KIAS, at lower altitudes, at least.

[oldtimer]

With an MTOW of 12,100 lbs. and a maximum of 11 seats, (2 pilots and 9 passengers), the airplane appears to be a Normal Category airplane which means it can be flown by one pilot and a maximum of 9 passengers but it does not have to have certified one engine inoperative take-off performance. However the airplane may have the actual ability to accomplish a continued take-off after loosing an engine at take-off decision speed so your company TC POI/ Company Operations Manual (required) may restrict the airplane to an RVR 2600/1/2 mile visibility take-off unless the pilots have specific extra training, (usually in a simulator) and are certified for 1200 RVR/1/4 mile.
The Beech 350, with a MTOW of 15,000 lbs and a seating capacity of 17, (2 pilots and 15 passengers), is designed to Commuter Category standards (CARS 523CC) and has certified one engine inoperative take-off performance and may be operated (with demonstrated pilot proficiency) at a visibility limit of 1200 RVR/1/4 mile visibility. Regulations constantly change and one may be able to obtain an Operations Specification that could allow the P180 to operate in 1200 RVR.
With proper pilot proficiency, the Beech 350 may be flown single pilot providing the passenger count remains at 9 passenger or less. Put that 10th passenger in the airplane and 2 pilots are required. Most Beech 350's are configured for 9 passengers in a double club seating plus one on the belted potty. It is recommended that both airplanes be operated with 2 pilots.

[JohnnyHotRocks]

It's Barbara Pull

Barber Pole LOL

[turbo-prop]

Get a King air 350 and put the -67's on it from blackhawk aviation. They say it will do 340kts TAS at FL280, and 325kts at FL350!!! With an older one you put G1000 in it, then you can put 9 pax in it full fuel and bags. Next best one is the B200, it can have a take off weight of up to 14,000lbs in the near future (if you have high float gear on it) which will let it take 8 pax full fuel and bags. Just a little slower.

[Taxivasion]

Thanks Fellas

Unfortunately a jet isn't in the cards because we visit YTZ and 3-3500ft strips quite frequently.

in regards to the C441- I've sent my clients in them before and they hated the cabin and comfort. - I agree as a pilot the numbers and performance are great but comfort is a huge factor with the high rollers.

[DrSpaceman]

The piaggio definitely has more wow factor. You can't find a larger cabin in that price range. The king air is a nice plane but it's more an utilitarian charter machine than an executive transport. The piaggio is the fastest machine you can use out of the island. 75kts makes a huge difference when you have 150kts headwinds.

[cdnpilot77]

When it's down for weeks at a time because you can't get parts, it doesn't matter how much faster it is...

[C-GKNT]

Never flown one myself but a few years ago I spend some time with a mechanic and pilot(s) operating a Piaggio.

Cool design but poorly implemented. They were not designed with maintenance in mind. For example, to get to the pressurization outflow valve, the entire bathroom had to be removed

Also they are not short field aircraft and prefer longer runways.

Glenn

[fish4life]

It's really too bad YTZ doesn't allow modern jets that are quiet, because that new pilatus jet seems like exactly what your clients need.

[co-joe]

Never flown one myself but a few years ago I spend some time with a mechanic and pilot(s) operating a Piaggio.

Cool design but poorly implemented. They were not designed with maintenance in mind. For example, to get to the pressurization outflow valve, the entire bathroom had to be removed

Also they are not short field aircraft and prefer longer runways.

Glenn

That's what I've heard, that the Beech wins out in field length, payload, and range, the P180 wins out in speed.