Lee Elson wrote:

I'm wondering whether providing light aircraft transportation services
(people and/or cargo) and consulting to small businesses is likely to
be a successful approach to setting up a very small aviation business.

I am not even American, much less an expert in the FARs, so I won't comment
on that part of your posting. On the business side, however, you need to be
careful. Do you really know much about the aviation business? How are the
existing businesses within 250 nm doing? What *are* the existing businesses
within 250 nm?

If I ever felt compelled to do something like open a restaurant or start an
aviation business, I'd force myself to spend at least three years working in
the industry first so that I could get at least a clue about how the
business works: wait tables, wash airplanes, or whatever. I'd also hire a
manager who hated restaurants or airplanes, so that I'd have someone who
could make impartial cost/benefit decisions without being blinded by the
glamour of the whole thing.

Once I'd done that, I would set aside a fixed amount of money (say, USD
400K), with the understanding that

a) I won't give up on the business until the money runs out; and
b) I won't put any more money into the business if the money does run out.

Obviously, you will need enough money to make it through at least a couple
of bad years. If you (or your investors) cannot afford to lose that money,
then don't start the business.


All the best,


David