What type of single-engine aircraft would be good for freight delivery?

Question

I work for a logistics company and we encounter many on-demand deliveries that I think could be more profitable with a small plane with the high price of fuel. I'm looking for something affordable with a large available payload. I only hold a single-engine license so I need to stick with a simple and economical aircraft.

We would only be able to afford a piston engine aircraft. The freight that I'm thinking about hauling would not exceed 600 pounds.

Answer 1

You need to know more than the weight of the cargo - you need to consider the volume and size. If you want to haul 600 pounds of styrofoam, then you will need an aircraft with very large volume capacity. If you want to haul 600 lbs of 20 foot long aluminum irrigation pipe, then you need to consider a Shorts Skyvan. Then you also need to consider the distance you need to fly, the length of the airstrips, day/night, VFR/IFR, fuel availability and many more things.

Like many of the other answers have suggested, a Cessna Caravan is an excellent cargo plane, and the big cargo companies for more than its good looks. But assuming you have general cargo and freight that comes in boxes to a maximum of 400-600 lbs per load (depending on fuel requirements), and you want something substantially cheaper to buy and operate, then any Piper Cherokee or Cessna 180 will do fine. I'd recommend a tricycle gear airplane as opposed to a tail dragger, that just makes loading and unloading so much friendlier.

Depending on the regulations of the country you want to fly the cargo in (or to and from) you may need certification for the operation from your local aviation regulators. That will be a complex and time-consuming issue.

Answer 2

Fed-EX likes the Cessna Caravan but it's high acquisition cost may not work for a small company. What are you hauling? For small package freight there are lots of older birds out there that will get the job done. Cessna 206 or turbo 207 with cargo doors is a work horse as well as the Piper Cheroke Six or Lance. There are some unique aircraft new on the market that are similar to the Caravan such as the Airvan GA8, however, I'd bet that they also have a hefty price tag attached. New is nice and the Caravan and others out now are designed for cargo operations if you have the contracts to support them. Make no mistake the air freight business is a highly competitive business with high operational costs. If you as a owner of a start up air cargo company do not have an extensive background in aviation, and very deep pockets it will eat you alive. You say you have a single engine rateing....you need a comercial certificate with an insturment rateing and you would need to establish an air cargo company inclusive of an operations manual approved by the FAA then as a pilot have the proper qualifications and pass the required check-ride. You just don't buy a plane and start flying cargo....it just doesn't work that way. Look at aircraft aquisition costs,insurance, maintnence 100 hour inspections required, hangering, hourly operational costs, qualified pilot compensation and you will soon see that you are probably moving your freight at a very competitive cost at this time. Most freight moves during the eveining hours so if you like being home with the family don't quit your day job!

here is a link about the Airvan G8
http://www.flyingmag.com/article.asp?section_id=13&article_id=553&print_page=y

Answer 3

Large Single Engine Aircraft

Answer 4

Most everyone has hit the most popular single engine piston choices for hauling freight. The one person made a very good point about the size of the packages and having enough room for them. However, one thing to be emphasized is the regulations regarding on-demand cargo. (I'm assuming you're in the USA for this.) On demand cargo falls under FAR part 135 regulations. Knowing a guy who runs his own 135 op and my father who flies for a 135 op, it's not an easy business. There are VERY strict regulations on the aircraft and the pilot. Research the part 135 requirements thouroughly before purchasing the plane, because you may be disuaded right away.

Another thing.. you said "we encounter many on-demand deliveries that I think could be more profitable with a small plane with the high price of fuel". It is not cheaper to ship via air. Faster yes, but not cheaper. If you look at most single engine piston aircraft, on average they all get about the same "gas milage".. that is, if you take the TAS and the hourly fuel burn, they all come out to be around 10-15 miles per gallon. Cessna T210 ( ~200 mph, ~15 gal/hr = 13.3 mpg), Piper Arrow (~150 mph, 10 gal/hr = 15 mpg), etc. So, your 600 lb box (and we'll assume it'll fit in a small car since if it doesnt fit in a small car it isnt fitting in a small plane either) could go in a Honda Civic at 35 mpg. With auto gas at $3/gal, that's about 8.6 cents per mile. If we go with the T210 and 100LL at between $4.00 and $6.50 (let's call it $5.25), that's 39.5 cents a mile. Clearly, the aircargo is not cheaper... it's faster. And the faster you go (or the more you carry) the more expensive. Concider, an Aerostar (the twin engine aircraft, not the Dodge minivan) goes around 300 mph... it's also burning about 30 gallons per hour (~10 mpg)... (these numbers are a guestimate). Contrast with a Cessna Caravan which will do 200 mph on 360 lb/hr (~55 gal/hr) or 3.6 mpg, but it'll carry 3000 lbs of cargo... a T210 or C206 is only going to carry 900. All about tradeoffs, but the bottom line of all this drivel is that shipping by air is not cheaper, simply faster.

So, the bottom line is that if you're serious about doing this, you need to research very well and look at it very realistically.

Answer 5

The most popular single-engine freighter in the world is the Cessna Caravan... Fed Ex and UPS both fly hundreds of them. They fly just like a big, heavy 172! Ultra-reliable, but they're not all that fast, and if you plan on flying it yourself, you'll need to be rated for a turbine engine.

If you'd prefer to stick with piston engines, check out the Cessna 206 (Stationaire). It's smaller than the Caravan, but much less expensive to buy and operate.

Answer 6

The cessna caravan is a very versatile aircraft, especially the amphibian version. But it depends what you are carrying and how much you are carrying. Maybe a Piper Cherokee, a Cessna 172, 206, a Cessna 210 Centurion or a Cessna 421 would do....

Answer 7

Well, all single engined aircraft cannot fly very far, but I'd recommend a Cessna or spitfire.
Actually, a Cessna Grand Caravan is very reliable.
A Cessna Caravan Amphibian, which can drive on water, is also a high flyer, and can carry heavy payloads.

Answer 8

A caravan as suggested is an obvious choice. Although you mentioned a couple of points that lead me to believe a caravan might be overkill for your requirements. Namely the price for a used caravan is about $1 million dollars -- the jet engine that drives the turbo prop is expensive. Also, you mentioned that you hold a single-engine license which leads me to believe you have a private pilot's license and are considering a lower performance airplane that might be the air traffic equivalent of a good pick-up truck.

For a good pick-up truck of the sky I would try an older Piper Cherokee 300 (about $150,000 in good condition) or a newer model Saratoga (about $300,000 in good condition). Both enjoy good payload capacity, large cargo style doors, good range, easy to fly, etc.

Answer 9

depends on your needs and budget

The Cessna Caravan is the obvious choice if you can afford it, but if all you need is a really cheap plane to carry 100-500 pounds each trip: look for a used Cessna 172 or 182 and throw out the right and back seats!
You can get them (instrument equipped) between $30000 and $80000.

Answer 10

You'd have to work out the costs and benefits depending on cargo requirements (volume, size, and weight), distance, available airports, VFR/IFR, weather for the area you plan to fly in, pilot capabilities, etc.

The Cessna Caravan is certainly a very popular and capable aircraft in this field, but its expensive. Pilatus, DeHavilland, Piper and others make good aircraft as well, but you'd have to look at the specifics of your logistical challenges.