Brent, that is not quite true. You have a shop visit every year, but the amount of work performed is staggered.

The numbers of labor hours in right-hand column.

Thanks for correcting and clarifying.

Why don't you suggest they go on the low utilization TAP payment plan? No minimum hours on that plan.

Last time I talked to Williams, this was the deal:

On standard contract, 5 year term, they forgive one year in five if you failed to achieve 150 hours. Whichever year you first fail to achieve 150 hours is that year. So if you have 145 hours one year, make sure to fly those 5 extra hours so your forgiveness is not wasted on a trivial deficit (or maybe pay in an extra 5 hours you can use next year).

They did offer another contract which was to pay 300 hours in advance as a lump sum (~$100K at current TAP Blue rates). Then at every anniversary, you "topped up" to 300 hours and then there was no minimum hours per year. Basically Williams got to sit on your money in exchange for no minimum hours per year.

Since Williams makes all the rules, they can arbitrarily decide to change what they offer, so there is no assurance they will offer the above today.

Mike C.

Last time I talked to Williams, this was the deal:

On standard contract, 5 year term, they forgive one year in five if you failed to achieve 150 hours. Whichever year you first fail to achieve 150 hours is that year. So if you have 145 hours one year, make sure to fly those 5 extra hours so your forgiveness is not wasted on a trivial deficit (or maybe pay in an extra 5 hours you can use next year).

They did offer another contract which was to pay 300 hours in advance as a lump sum (~$100K at current TAP Blue rates). Then at every anniversary, you "topped up" to 300 hours and then there was no minimum hours per year. Basically Williams got to sit on your money in exchange for no minimum hours per year.

Since Williams makes all the rules, they can arbitrarily decide to change what they offer, so there is no assurance they will offer the above today.

Mike C.

The pay 300 hours in advance and top it off every year based on actual hours used is the plan I was referring to. I know people are on it and it is generally available.

I have heard that you can switch from the monthly payment 150 hour minimum plan to the 300 hours on deposit annual top off plan and back as your utilization changes year to year.

Should be no reason for a smart owner to pay Williams for unused hours to make the minimum.

Having $100K in the Bank of Williams does cost something to get the minimum waived, so it comes at a price.

Here is the actual amendment language Williams sent me. Yes, they sent it as an image.

Mike C.

It does but it’s still an option that suits some and has a significant savings to paying 150 hours per engine fixed. How much interest do you get on 100k?

I can’t imagine owning a jet and only doing 150 hours per year...

Andrew

Maybe $3-10K/year depending on how your investments do.


That's ~60,000 miles/year.

I average about 125 hours/year in my MU2 ranging from just under 100 to 170 one year. I expect my jet usage would be similar, maybe up a touch, but I can't assure myself I'll hit 150 regularly. 150 hours in the jet is about 200 hours in the MU2. If the plan minimum was 100 hours, then I'd take that, but it isn't.

Every year I do about 40,000 miles in the MU2 and about 4,000 miles in my car.

Mike C.

I think I'd fly even more in a light jet than a turbo prop. Sometimes the weather is an issue for me. But at the end of the day if you can afford it what difference does it make how much you fly (provided it's either enough to stay proficient or you have a pilot) if you can afford it.

I contacted Williams about the “pre pay 300 hour plan”. I got a reply back this week and was told management no longer offers this program. I am curious if anyone gets a different response.

I’ve sent an inquiry through the portal, but I did confirm that is what we were told last time.

How did a 525 like this one go past 3500 hrs and not on engine program? https://www.controller.com/listings/air ... tation-jet

I fly what feels like a lot. About 225 hours, 90% or more for work. I travel about 70% of weeks in the year. If I had a jet I might fly 250 hrs as there are some east coast trips I don’t do bc the slog into the wind is exhausting after a long work day and if I need to work the next morning I am stuck airlining it.

I don’t know how you fly more than 250hrs AND be a full time ceo or equivalent. Granted, my workload appears to be higher than many, it is by no means extreme. Flying 300+ hrs would be spending a ton of time in the air. Obviously I am talking about owner flown. I could always hire someone and sit in the back and sleep. That doesn’t sound fun to me. I get a lot of decompression time in the air and love being somewhere where I cannot be “found”.

A jet would be cool but they don’t save that much time over 300kt tpops. Wish they did, it would be easier to justify spending more money :-)

Pick two: flying, wife, career.