AeroOne™ Newsletter
February 2025
Dear Aeros:
What three things do these aircraft have in common?
1. They all carry valuable "cargo".
2. They all continue to perform reliably and with pride.
3. They all entered service 35 years ago in 1990.
A common question I get asked is how old is too old to buy. The answer is not as simple as one may think. Older, good pedigree, modern designed select aircraft models built in volume can be a smart choice for first-time buyers (or to accommodate a new job position?!). A recent article explores the relevance of the Learjet 35A in today's market.
As we enter the new Golden Age of America we can expect aircraft prices to "take off". As the US repatriates capital, enriching its citizens, expect demand to far outpace supply. Supply is highly inelastic given the production challenges faced by OEMs. In 1997 I witnessed prices of pre-owned, good pedigree older aircraft increasing at 50 percent every six months. That trend continued until the second half of 1999. Expect a similar trend to start developing within the next two years.
Our company specializes in selecting quality pre-owned aircraft for our customers, completely refurbishing inside and out as well as making them current mechanically and installing the latest avionics. You need your aircraft to perform reliably, maintain (or increase) its value, and bring many years of enjoyment.
I am not just the CEO but also an AeroOne customer. These are the before and after shots of my aircraft interior following the "AeroOne" process:
Since purchasing her in 2020 she has increased 50 percent in value over and above the capital and improvements cost. That's an average of 10 percent each year.
I recently had dinner with a pilot who works for a well known competitor. He told me how their aircraft are highly utilized by the owners but often-times roll up to the ramp with noticeable wear and tear. That is not acceptable to us. The AeroOne team details each aircraft upon their return to home base, keeping it looking like the day it left the completion shop. We even keep on hand multiple replacement rugs and other interior surfaces (included in your initial purchase price) to facilitate quick swap-outs if necessary. Our owners can be proud to fly, no matter what the age of their aircraft.
I am proud of the AeroOne team and our product. I hope you will be too.
Happy Flying,
Roger Proctor, CEO
DCA and PNE Crashes in Perspective
Firstly, heartfelt condolences to the families of the 74 souls who lost their lives in the air and on the ground in two horrific air crashes last week. Terrible tragedies like these, so close together, inevitably trigger people to question the safety of air travel. It should be noted that both crashes appear to be unrelated and accidents. Massive NTSB investigations will follow and safety enhancement recommendations will be made.
But let's put things into perspective. The last US commercial air crash was in 2009. On average 42,000 commercial flights take off each and every day in the US, 38 million flights in 2024 alone. Since the last serious US crash more than 700 million flights took off and landed safely. And that is just in the US and does not include private flights.
These statistics are not meant to trivialize the tragic loss of life last week, but to demonstrate that air travel is safe. That said, the US desperately needs to modernize its ATC system and ensure that only the best trained controllers and pilots become qualified to operate within the system.
BREAKING: The pilot in command (PIC) of the Black Hawk has just been identified as Biden White House Social Aid Captain Rebecca Lobach, 28 years old. Captain Lobach had 450 hours total time in aviation, yet she had operational control. In comparison, our PIC who did our last trip has over 7,000 hours, with 1,000 hours of that time spent on our aircraft type. He is a former F15 fighter pilot. We expect the NTSB will conclude that the DCA crash was caused by pilot error on the part of the Black Hawk crew. Experience matters. Just so incredibly sad.
Topic of the Month
Topic: Single Pilot v. Dual Crewed Jet Aircraft Operation
Crew costs are the single highest input cost to aircraft operations. For AeroOne assumes a three crew annual cost in its quoted monthly management fee (2 PICS and 1 SIC). This allows crew leave and rotation without affecting operations. The current cost is about $200,000 per year for an experienced PIC (pilot in command, captain).
Many new aircraft types (Phenom 300, 100, HondaJet etc) offer a single pilot cockpit. These options are popular with business professionals who happen to be pilots. In other words the amateur pilot.
The question is, are single operated jet aircraft safe? The answer according to the NBAA is single piloted jet aircraft are 30 percent more likely to suffer a serious incident (ie crash). Attached are relevant articles on the subject:
https://www.eurocockpit.eu/campaign/single-pilot-flights-gamble-safety
When I was a trial lawyer I represented large insurance companies defending claims on account of fatal aircraft crashes at the hands of amateur pilots who were also lawyers and doctors and other professionals. I learned first hand what can happen when a non-professional pilot gets into a bad weather situation or mechanical difficulty. it ain't pretty.
Single Piloted Phenom 300 Incident Dec. 30, 2022 at HHR, 7 PAX
If you are planning to buy a jet certified for single pilot operation and you plan to actually fly it solo you should ask yourself: what is the price you place on your and your onboard passengers' lives? Assuming the answer is more than $200,000 a year then I would strongly advise you to hire a PIC and, if you still want to pilot, get typed as SIC. Think of the peace of mind you will have no matter the adverse circumstances, not to mention the insurance premium savings. Please do not become a statistic in an NTSB report.
Safe flying.
PS Netjets offers for sale and manages Phenom 300s but their op specs require two-crew operation.
What are your thoughts on this subject? Would you want to fly with a single pilot crew? Are you a pilot that disagrees with this article? Would love to hear from you. Please email us at info@aeroone.org and let us know!
Honeywell Engine MSP Update
For Honeywell MSP contract renewals there is now a requirement to keep your engines protected, whether in a hangar or on the ramp. Here is an example that costs $980.00 and is easy to install:
Aircraft of the Month
