Looking at Navajos.

A few questions:

1). What are insurance costs and do they differ much between different models?

-Assume 3,000 TT, 100 hours in multi, Com ME.

2). Is flight safer always required? How often? Are yearly IPC’s enough to satisfy requirements?

Hello Ryan,

Insurance is going to be based on model year, the model itself, and how many seats are installed. With low multi time, Part 91, you can probably expect to pay a little bit the first year or so. I've heard rates $2-6K/yr, but you can plan on closer to $5K for a standard Jo, and $6-7K for a Chieftain, until you get more multi and time in type. Don't know if FS offers school for Navajos anymore. Most folks go to SimCom in FL. Not everyone is required to go, it depends on your experience, broker and carrier. I'd expect you'll have to go to recurrent your first year or so, or pay for qualified Navajo instructor refresher training, and pay $5-7K for insurance (depending on # of seats). You should go to Sim-Com for the first time, then you can probably get away with IPC thereafter, depending on your insurance carrier. Hope that helps a little.
~ ME

Our insurance only requires an IPC in category and class (not even make & model) each year. It would be a good idea to get sim training at least once, though. Flightsafety no longer has a Navajo sim, but I'm sure someone out there does.

Thank you for the replies. That all sounds reasonable.

I pay just under six for a 1982 PA-31 310 Panther. I have 2800 hrs, 1800 multi and I’m not instrument rated yet.

Rick

The SimCom simulator is actually based on a forward section of a Navajo that was chopped up for some reason. So, panel, controls, etc...are real Piper bits. It is not a motion sim, but like all stationary sims the graphics do a pretty good job.

Also like other simulators like this, it does not fly like the real plane. But that isn’t why you do sim training on this level of plane.

I went to SimCom Orlando when I was new to the Navajo, several years ago. Not sure if they still have that Sim or not.

More good info.

How do you know if a Navajo has extended wing nacelle lockers.

By looking at the specs. ?

For the “short” body I only know of one type of wing locker and it either has them or not. IIRC, no different sizes.

That said, the starboard side is shorter internally if it has factory A/C. The condenser sits in the forward part of the starboard wing locker. There was an aftermarket (again IIRC) A/C that had the condenser somewhere else...

I flew the -325 for several years before moving to King Airs and pt. 135. Ping me if you want any info on the short body.

The 310’s don’t have wing lockers, however I have nacelle fuel tanks for an additional 25 per side. The 325’s had wing lockers and the A/c system sits in one if it is equipped with factory A/c. The 350’s have wing lockers. The 310’s have an aftermarket A/C which is Keith A/C and it’s an electric system with the condenser in the tail.

There was an aftermarket wing locker mod for the 310's. I had one back in the 70's.