The cost of a Phase V brings me down to earth on jets. My hangar neighbor has a Citation 7 and just completed a $100K PLUS Phase V.

Why haven't they suspended the Phase inspection system for part 91 and just implement an annual inspection?

Need to follow manufacturer's inspection program for multi-turbine, regardless of operation type.

Need to follow manufacturer's inspection program for multi-turbine, regardless of operation type.

Sort of ...

If embraer's approved maintenance program has an inspection every 12 months and not based on flying time, that is true.

BUT ... if embraer requires a landing gear overhaul every 5 years, and a windshield replacement every 10 years, and a non-destructive testing of the engine mounts every 4 years/2000 hrs ... you still MUST do it.

The issue with twin turbine maintenance programs is not so much the routine, repetitive annual-ish inspections, but the big ticket required items that come up on a half-decade scale. Really easy to run up against mid 5-figure bills that way.

I don't have knowledge of the Embraer plan. If they simply have an annual inspection with no further requirements ... that's awesome. But I suspect there are $urprises lurking after 5-10 years.

Charles,

I am fairly sure that for the Phenoms they are annual only for the major items. They have no calendar limit items for engines, gear... everything is cycle time based and annual inspection. The time limit items were rubber hoses and few other items. The plane is designed for owner flown pilots with limited annual hours.

Tim

If the cycle time limits are reasonable ... that's amazing. Those planes will hold value!

Old Citations or Lear 23's=Bic Lighters

2010 Phenom 100
2.85mil

1981 Citation ISP (fresh phase V)
569k

All comes down to:

- how much does money cost you ?
- what tax benefit do you have from depreciation ?
- how many hours do you want to fly ?

The difference in price alone at 5% cost of money is 136k per year. A 50k inspection every couple of years is suddenly not that painful. If depreciation doesn't do you any good, capital costs you money and you dont fly much, you can spend a lot of money on phase inspections before the new jet 'that only needs annuals' makes sense.

I did this math last year. I figured the difference in cost of entry would buy a lot of fuel. In the end, you have to look at total cost of ownership. Over 5 years, the old Citation cost A LOT more than an Eclipse ...

Plus there is a big difference between flying a jet from the 1970s and one that is a couple years old.

Florian,

You are making the assumption that everyone treats new and old as the same.

Tim

This is no different from the 'blinged out beech 55 vs. Gen 5 SR22' discussion we had here before.

This is no different from the 'blinged out beech 55 vs. Gen 5 SR22' discussion we had here before.

If you're buying outright with no financing, would that change the game?

Comparing the 500 to a 550, 525, 560 you still wouldn't be getting away from the Phase inspections, yeah (at a much more accelerated price point).

The initial cost difference to buy would still be a lot of fuel.

Only if you are willing to lie to yourself and pretend that the capital couldn't be put to some other use that makes you money. That is how everyone justifies ownership of smaller planes, boats, toys, works just the same with bigger numbers.