Info for starting an air taxi.
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Info for starting an air taxi.
I'm looking for some info on starting up an air taxi operation, are there any books that have been published or any other type of info. Thanks.
"Hey there's a plane! And where there's a plane, there's a pilot. And where there's a pilot there's a bar!"
Piece of cake 
... you're going to want to bookmark the TC Commercial & Business Aviation website. Then start off with the Transport Canada publication TP 8880 "Starting a Commercial air Service". After that, I'd become really well familiar with the "Air Operator Certification Manual" (this is the manual that tells TC inspectors how to process your application - which should give you good insight into the process). Those should give you a good idea of where to start.
The process itself is fairly straight forward. You start by filling in a statement of intent (and a bunch of other forms) and cutting a cheque to TC for the application fee.
Then you start writing manuals, lots of them! You also need to get aircraft, facilities and management personnel figured out early on in the process; as these will require inspections (and exams for the personnel). Expect that your manuals may go back and forth between you and TC for a while - I'd say they can take the longest.
Also, don't forget that at the same time you're jumping through hoops for TC, you should also be applying the the Canadian Transportation Agency licence too.
Most of the forms, manuals and guidance material are readilly accesible from the C&BA site. One of the first things TC will do once you submit your statement of intent (and application fee) is assign primary operations and maintenance inspectors... And they will let you know what it is they expect from you.
Good luck!
... you're going to want to bookmark the TC Commercial & Business Aviation website. Then start off with the Transport Canada publication TP 8880 "Starting a Commercial air Service". After that, I'd become really well familiar with the "Air Operator Certification Manual" (this is the manual that tells TC inspectors how to process your application - which should give you good insight into the process). Those should give you a good idea of where to start.
The process itself is fairly straight forward. You start by filling in a statement of intent (and a bunch of other forms) and cutting a cheque to TC for the application fee.
Then you start writing manuals, lots of them! You also need to get aircraft, facilities and management personnel figured out early on in the process; as these will require inspections (and exams for the personnel). Expect that your manuals may go back and forth between you and TC for a while - I'd say they can take the longest.
Also, don't forget that at the same time you're jumping through hoops for TC, you should also be applying the the Canadian Transportation Agency licence too.
Most of the forms, manuals and guidance material are readilly accesible from the C&BA site. One of the first things TC will do once you submit your statement of intent (and application fee) is assign primary operations and maintenance inspectors... And they will let you know what it is they expect from you.
Good luck!
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marktheone
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- Location: An airplane.
Yep, exactly! The process can be a right royal pain in the ass. Depending on the level of complexity (and level of cooperation by TC) a basic operation can be done in a few months, but if its more complex and/or its your first time a year wouldn't be surprising.marktheone wrote:If you haven't ever gone through the process I would suggest hiring someone who has. Unless you have management experience in aviation you will be mired in the government muck for at least a year.
Ditto.marktheone wrote:I can offer some help, PM me if interested.
Cheers,
Brew
Brew
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ScudRunner
- Rank 11
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- Joined: Tue Jun 08, 2004 11:58 am
I know an operator that basically took anothers OC and everything and changed the names and all the stuff to suite his operation. And it was rejected with a list of things to change. He completed the changes as per transport and sent it back in, it then came back with an even longer list of things to change, he called the TC guy who was dealing with his file and turns out the inpector that was dealing with it retired in the meantime and another guy was now dealing with it and didnt like the other TC guys changes and wanted things completly changed. Remeber this was an already Approved OC of an operating Air Taxi out of the same location to start with. After jumping through these hoops he finally was aproved but lost a lot of hair/weight and aged about 10 years in a very short period. 
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Dust Devil
- Rank 11
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- Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 10:55 am
- Location: Riderville
Having gone through it ... I will offer two pieces of advice:
1. Triple ALL time estimates you are given, whether from TC or suppliers or whatever.
2. Triple ALL planned or estimated costs.
If you do these two things you will have prpared yourself for reality and reduce your stress factor greatly.
1. Triple ALL time estimates you are given, whether from TC or suppliers or whatever.
2. Triple ALL planned or estimated costs.
If you do these two things you will have prpared yourself for reality and reduce your stress factor greatly.
"Going to the Dark Side"
