Aerospace/Aviation/king air question

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Expert: - 2/13/2009


Question
We are in the process of maybe purchasing a King Air E 90.  I am a pilot with my int,comm, and starting on my multi engine rating.  I am trying to explain to my investors on why a King Air is more economical verses a Lear. One of the questions asked is that: the King & Lear both use jet fuel. But they don't understand why the King Air has propellers and still operates with jet turbine.  Could you please explain this to me.

Answer
Well, there are different types of turbine engines for aircraft. The King Air has what is called turboprop engines. This is essentially a turbine engine with a propeller mounted on the shaft and used to produce the forward thrust of the airplane. The Lear jet has turbofan engines, which is a turbine engine that drives a fan. This fan is internal to the engine and provides most of the thrust to propel the airplane.
Depending on what kind of operations you are interested in using the airplane, the King Air is probably a more flexible airplane. It obviously does not go as fast, but it can probably carry a lot more passengers and cargo, and has a lot bigger cabin (typically). It also can fly more efficiently at a broader range of altitudes and can usually also fly into shorter runways. But, like I said, it's not as fast as a Lear and does not usually fly as high. However, many King Airs would probably be cheaper to operate over a Lear jet. Also, a pilot does not need a type rating to fly the King Air and would need a type rating to fly the Lear, unless you are considering a King Air 300 or 350.

I hope this helps!
Laura

Aerospace/Aviation

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Laura Laster

Expertise

I can help with questions about aviation disasters, aircraft operations especially general aviation and King Air information, aviation safety, and education questions on how to get into an aviation career. I can also answer general aviation questions as I am a commercial multi-engine pilot. I cannot answer questions about flight training or MBA schools in countries other than the USA or provide advice for non-US citizens interested in flight training. I cannot answer questions advising you what school to choose. I have no experience with aeronautical engineering so I cannot answer questions relating to engineering or schooling for aeronautical engineers. PLEASE don't ask me questions about any kind of engineering because it is outside my area of expertise, and I will NOT answer your question. I also cannot help you to choose a master's program for study as I do not have a master's degree in aviation. I cannot help with MBA advice.

Experience

I have been studying aviation disasters through doing my own research and a lot of reading since I was 13 or 14 years old. I am very interested in aviation safety and also am a commercial, multi-engine pilot. I am a dispatch manager at a private university working in their flight training department. I also have worked as an operations mamager at a small charter airline and was involved in getting the airline certificated under Part 121 rules. I was formerly a flight operations division manager for a company operating a large fleet of King Air aircraft (60) and so I have some business aviation experience as well as having flight instructed for one year after college. My operations manager job frequently involved coordinating international trips for aerial survey clients and hiring qualified pilots to fly aerial survey missions.

Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical Science with Flight Management Concentration: LeTourneau University (2004) :: Dispatch Certificate: Sheffield School of Aeronautics (2010) :: Commercial Pilot: Single and Multi Engine Land, Instrument Rating :: Flight Instructor: Single, Multi and Instrument :: Ground Instructor: Basic and Advanced

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