Shared Ownership of a Piper Cherokee Six

About two months ago I saw a quarter share in a Piper Cherokee Six hangered in Springbank (CYBW) advertised in the COPA Plane Trade section of the COPA Flight newspaper. I contacted the seller, did some research and took a test flight. The aircraft’s annual was due so I piggybacked on that and got it inspected. And then last Friday I signed on the dotted line and handed over a swack of cash, making me a 25% owner in a 1971 PA32-300 Piper Cherokee Six.

As I suspect is the case with most people who take the aircraft ownership plunge, I was motivated by aircraft suitability, convenience, control. I love the Calgary Flying Club and I think they are making huge strides in making renting there even better, but I think I’ve outgrown the club. The only aircraft that made any sense for me to rent was the CFC’s Cessna 182, which was fast and had a decent useful load. But even with it’s 1100 pound useful load, with full fuel you are left with 800 pounds for a 4 seat aircraft. That’s reasonable for 3 people but not nearly as good for 4 people with luggage. And since most of my flying is cross country and since I’d like to do more trips with another couple in the plane with us, the Cessna 182 isn’t going to work. Convenience is high linked to availability, and with only one Cessna 182 available to all members at CFC, that meant that it was next to impossible to just rent the plane on a whim. In checking the online booking system, as of today the club’s Cessna 182 is rented pretty much every weekend and most days during the week for the next few months – great for the club but not so good for me. The issue of control is also another factor. The GPS in CFC’s Cessna 182 is pretty basic, and takes up about the same size as an AI. Ya, it’s small. And old. And I’d love to see it replaced. But as a member, I don’t have direct control. Yes, I can talk to the administration and raise the issue at the AGM but with ownership comes the ability to just do it.

Costs don’t typically come into consideration when thinking about aircraft ownership because it’s fairly hard to beat a non-profit club given the amount of hours they are able to put on the aircraft (thus reducing the cost per hour for fixed costs like hanger space and insurance). But as I continue to increase the amount of flying I do per year and in combination with the rising costs associated with paying employees, I am convinced that I can fly cheaper per hour with my new PA-32 (as one of four co-owners) than I can at the flying club. The truth remains to be seen but I will report after a year of flying.

Don’t get me wrong though. I love the Calgary Flying Club and I have a lot of fond memories associated with them. And I suspect I will still participate in some of the Saturday show and fly events. But I don’t see myself renting there again, other than to perhaps check out the new Diamond DA-20 or to take multi-engine training, because I now have an aircraft of my own.

1 comment »

1. By Dean 7 days later:

   
   
   Yeah! In your face Flanders!