Many pilots, after receiving their private pilot license in a single engine airplane, consider the “next” step. For most, the next step may be an instrument rating. But what if you wanted to buy a Piper Seneca as your personal airplane? Well, then your next step may be to get your multi-engine rating. You can, of course, then get instrument rated in the Piper Seneca.
What do you need to know about purchasing a twin engine aircraft for sale? Well, for starters, you will want to decide if you want to do your multi-engine training in your airplane or in the flight school rental. There are pros and cons to each.
The pros to getting your multi-engine rating in a flight school airplane are the following:
1. Wear and tear is not on your aircraft. Multiple take-off and landings when you’re learning (so let’s just say they aren’t your best landings), multiple engine shut downs and restarts, and heavy changes in power settings are very hard on an airplanes airframe and engine.
2. You will have your multi-engine rating when you get your airplane, which will help with the insuring your airplane.
The cons to getting your multi-engine rating in a flight school airplane are the following:
1. You may get used to a different airplane other than what you are purchasing.
2. You are going to have to at least go up with an instructor to transition you to your aircraft unless the flight school has the exact same model.
3. If you are a low time pilot, insurance may require you to do a certain amount of hours in your aircraft with an instructor anyway, in which time you may be able to get your multi-engine rating.
Multi-engine ratings usually do not take a lot of time. Most pilots that are current can get it done in the 10 hour range.
Your next steps in searching the used aircraft market for twin engine airplanes would be deciding which kind of twin suits your needs. Are you looking for more useful load than what a single engine airplane can provide, or are you planning on doing many flights over water where the second engine comes in for safety?
There are several different options out there that you should be aware of, ranging from a light twin such as a Piper Seneca, to the larger Beechcraft Baron, up to a larger workhorse such as the Piper Navajo Chieftan. Once you have decided your needs and your budget, you may want to give the insurance company a call and make sure you can get insured in the airplane you are looking at. A new pilot with low multi time is going to have a hard time getting insured in a Piper Navajo. So talk to the insurer and see what kind of time they are looking for and what schooling options may be available to help.
After you have decided on what type of aircraft you want, you can search the aircraft for sale market for the best deal out there. Keep in mind that prices that look too good to be true usually are, and the assistance of an experienced broker can help you in more ways that you can imagine.
Related posts: