Warbird Information Exchange

Hello,

I wanted to know what kind of businesses are out there for aviation? For general aviation in particular. Is it worth starting a small aviation buisness in these days? Even if it was hanger rentals? I have zipp experiance and zipp collage. Just a passion for aviation and airports. My local airport is run by the county and I try to go over and talk to the people there. They are getting to know be but I have run some ideas of mine to them about seeing the airport grow and no one really seems to have an interest or take me seriously. I plan to make a stop tomorrow morning to the closest EAA chapter in Elmira NY to introduce myself and maybe get in to helping with something. But as far as my interest in our local airport. What can a person do to see the airport grow?

Thanks,
Nathan

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Nathan, I hate to say it, but I think the GA business is largely a sunset industry. Meaning it may last a while, but the long term trend isn't good and I don't see any obvious reason it'll recover given demographics and fuel prices. That said, I think there are opportunities for good repair shops and avionics shops. There are so many "iffy" ones out there which don't meet promise dates and don't treat customers how they should that a professionally run shop still has an opportunity to make some money, even in a declining market.

For years, I've said I'd like to own/run the FBO at a rural airport as my retirement job. Give lessons in a Champ or Cub, rent a Cessna or two, turn a few wrenches, and sell a little avgas. I don't think you can make money at it, but I'd still like to do it. I think that's how much of aviation is these days - not a lot of money to be made on the low end, but people have a passion for it which makes up for the lack of $$.

Of course, if you can cater to the G-IV crowd, that's a different market and there is money to be made. The downside is that you're probably looking at a big investment to create a business that works for the $40 million dollar jet customer.

Nathan,

The problem is not that aviation is dying, per-say, just yet, but that most related industries take a lot of capitol to start up. For instance, you mentioned hangar rentals. - well, that means you have to have hangars, or buy them from someone else. That is IF you can buy a hangar. You might have to secure a 20-year lease from the nearby city that owns it, and that can be a pain, and very expensive to break into.
I was going to say that being a CFI doesn't take a large capitol investment, but it really does, too... like $50K+ in my case to get to the point where I started teaching.
If you want to do it, you need to find something that has a small capitol investment, and a decent margin - probably by doing something others don't want to do. That may be cleaning aircraft bellies, vacuuming out the business jets' interior, or doing grunt work for some commercial operator. You have to be careful not to get "used" because of your passion and enthusiasm. Also, be aware that there is a limited market. There are probably only so many owners nearby who have the spare change themselves to hire you to wash their airplane...
You might be better off doing what I've told some other guys. Find another business that you can do really, really well, with a good growth potential, and then come back and get your license when you have the spare change in your wallet already.
One last thing - some successful companies were started because someone realized that there was a problem somewhere, and came up with a winning solution. You never know if there's a problem if you are not involved. When you do hang out around the airport, talk to folks, and don't ask this bluntly, but listen to their complaints about things, or desires for this or that to be different.

Ryan

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

As the saying goes..................."want to make a small fortune in aviation?....................start with a big one" Been there done that.

thanks all for the comments. Kyle, pm sent. I'm still motivated to get something going. I already talked to my local airport manager and she is very supportive of me wanting to build a business on the airport. I've already finished a small business corse.

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n/t

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FWIW our local airport is not county owned. my mistake!

Another FWIW:

My Business idea is to start a business that provides several services. Our local airport is growing a bit and I'd like to build on that note. We have natural gas drilling in the area. Number 1 area in the state.

I am very interested in the idea of a business that caters Hangar Rentals, Interior/Exterior cleaning, and Avionics repair/etc. Would it be a better idea to cater A&P services as well? Or would just a shop for avionics be sufficiant?

I have a college career meeting on Tuesday at Penn Tech. An hour & 1/2 drive away and they have a good aviation school, including A&P training. I will also be looking into business management/administration type corses too. Not sure yet but thats why I have a meeting.

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