Why are turboprops more expensive

Placing a pre-owned aircraft into service is likely to require additional funds. Major maintenance checks could also be due soon and must be budgeted for when the aircraft is purchased. Engine overhauls vary considerably across this category partly depending on whether the aircraft has one engine or two.

Operating costs for turboprops depend on their size, age and engine s. Data costs will vary based on the type of connection, speed, and amount of data used, and where you fly, but Wi-Fi is becoming a more popular item in this class of aircraft — especially on the newer models. Maintaining internet connectivity ranges from an air-to-ground system North America or a basic satellite system.

There are different installation and rate plan options designed to fit the needs of both the passengers and pilots. Two pilots may be used for additional safety measures on single-pilot approved airplanes, or they may be required for charter operations.

Many turboprop owners make use of their FBO and local service center for maintenance. If the flight department schedule is complex and involves frequent changes and multiple individuals who can authorize use of the aircraft, a flight scheduler is recommended.

If the aircraft spends a lot of time outside of developed countries, those costs may be much higher. Refurbishment: Paint and interior refurbishment should also be considered. A new interior and paint job may last from seven to nine years with excellent care.

Additional costs that can be incurred include acquiring aircraft technical publications for the aircraft and flight crew, and additional maintenance, office and travel expenses. Our biggest disciples are pilots who just came from a turboprop. Overall, Lockard agrees. Journey Business aviation insights, resources and stories. Back to Journey. How performance numbers compare With the lower-than-expected acquisition and operating costs, very light business jets are competing head-to-head with high-performance, single-engine turboprops.

Accurately comparing aircraft performance When comparing performance, especially speed and range, operators should consider real-world numbers from current owners. Corporate jets are iconic if nothing else at all; they are the ultimate status symbol. In yesteryear, the LearJet was the ultimate item in the arsenal of the rich and famous.

While LearJet does still manufacture jets, they have very stiff competition in the form of some very successful competitors. Cessna was at the forefront of the light jet movement, a category of jets which can be piloted by either one or two pilots, allowing considerable latitude in extending the range and utility of the light business jets.

The M2 is the smallest of their lineup but does not lack anything in terms of power, speed, or amenities. With a seating for seven total, two up front and five in the back, the M2 offers a maximum cruise of knots, which is 74 knots faster than the TBM , one of the fastest turboprops on the market, and is over knots faster than the King Air.

When you consider this sizable increase in airspeed, the actual disparity in fuel burn is reduced a lot because the M2 spends so much less time in the air.

The M2 is a new addition to the Citation lineup so deliveries are relatively few, but that is a misnomer; they all share common lineage and the Citation brand has over 7, total units sold since the s, securing the position of most prolific fleet of business jets in the world. This beauty is relatively new to the very light jet scene but has made a tremendous splash with close to deliveries since deliveries commenced in December Embraer set out with a specific game plan for the Phenom : radically simplify the pilot workload, and so they did by reducing the checklist items to somewhere in the ballpark of seventy less than competing aircraft.

It was made from the ground up to be flown by a single pilot, rather than adapted from an aircraft designed for two pilots. Embraer adopted intuitive avionics centered around the Garmin to reduce pilot burdens. It is next to impossible to analyze appropriately turboprops versus jets in such a small and limited setting; there are so many variables in the equation.

Twins versus singles, which size category, and so on. Turboprops burn less fuel but they are much slower so it ultimately evens out in the end. Jets are much more sensitive to austere and unprepared or unmaintained airfields and require considerably longer pavement for takeoffs and landings.

However, one huge tradeoff is altitude: turboprops are only rated for FL give or take where the very light jets routinely operate at FL, generally above the weather rather than through it. Hopefully this offers a glimpse at the performance envelopes, strengths and weaknesses of a handful of the most popular high performance turboprops and very light jets on the market today.