Finance: Stepping up

Maybe you are flying a used 250-knot Piper Meridian (M class Piper line), or maybe you are flying an older TBM 700 and are looking for better integration of avionics and autopilot and enticed by Daher’s 330-knot, six-passenger TBM 910. You travel 80 knots faster in the TBM 910 and make a trip from Baltimore to Chicago in two hours instead of two hours and 15 minutes. The round-trip savings is a half hour—helpful if you want to reach multiple destinations in one day.

What about hauling a load? The older Piper Meridian model had a payload nearly 300 pounds less than the top-of-the-line TBM 910. Do you need to carry two extra people? More stuff? With faster speeds and greater payload, the Piper M600 may be another option.

Some of the common reasons we hear from members for wanting to jump into a newer, higher-performance turboprop involve the mission profile, complexity of the systems, and cost.

You travel 80 knots faster in the TBM 910 and make a trip from Baltimore to Chicago in two hours instead of two hours and 15 minutes.We frequently see people who are trying to understand not only the complexities of the higher-performance aircraft but also the cost. It isn’t all about the higher initial outlay. They realize that on a newer aircraft it is less likely things will break, requiring expensive maintenance and frustrating aircraft on ground (AOG) time. They also know that more sophisticated systems integration will make the pilot’s workload lighter. You end up with better performance, more capital outlay, but lower maintenance costs and less fatigue along the way.

The staff at AOPA Aviation Finance can help with these sorts of decisions and help you understand ownership costs to avoid surprises later.

Considering aircraft ownership? AOPA Aviation Finance will make your purchase experience as smooth as possible. For information about aircraft financing, please visit the website (www.aopafinance.com) or call 1-800-62-PLANE (75263). AOPA

Adam Meredith is president of AOPA Aviation Finance.