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BUSINESS CASE
Flying is a passion. Flight training is a business.
Whether you run a small FBO or a large University program, cost is a major driver. Flight training aircraft are business tools. They need to meet the mission, be safe, and generate the maximum possible margin for your business.
Anything less and you don’t compete.
What is the right aircraft for your business?
That depends on the type of pilot being trained, what level they are being trained to, and what the utilization will be. No single aircraft model meets all training needs. Diamond’s dedication to flight training has shaped our product line of modern fuel efficient aircraft, each with a specific training application in mind. From ab-initio through IFR, commercial or multi-engine training, Diamond has an aircraft to match your mission.
The choices you make today will define your future success.
 Back to Aircraft
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Captial Cost
Lease, finance or purchase, the true cost of any aircraft is defined as much by its resale value as its purchase price.
Resale Value and Track Record
Diamond’s rugged composite airframes reduce the visible wear and tear (hangar rash), are designed for easy refurbishment, have no life limit and have been proven in over 2 million flight hours and over a decade of operation in the U.S.. The modern, fuel efficient design will appeal for many years to come.
Fuel CostFuel costs have become the single largest hourly expense for many high utilization operators, exceeding even capital and insurance costs. Where will this trend go? No one knows, but up is a safe bet! That’s why Diamond is bullish on aerodynamic efficiency and even alternative fuel powerplants. The unmatched efficiency of a Diamond means that you’ll be competitive regardless of where fuel prices go.
Example:
Consider that a DA40 will cruise between 20 and 25kts faster than a new traditional metal aircraft powered by the identical powerplant. Diamond’s low stall speed and docile handling characteristics at low speeds mean that this performance advantage can be safely traded for fuel savings by operating at lower power settings. Adopting such fuel saving strategies will not only reduce direct fuel costs, it will also reduce the wear and tear on the engine and other components.
The Benefits of Efficiency:
It’s simple: less drag = less thrust = less power = less fuel
Consider this:
A 2gph saving over 100 hours per month can easily translate into a third or more of a typical monthly payment - and that’s at today’s fuel costs! Fuel is the single largest hourly expense for many high utilization operators, exceeding even capital and insurance costs.
Parts Cost
Parts can be a significant part of overall operating costs. Have you checked the airframe parts cost of the aircraft you are considering? We build our parts to last and price them low.
Labor Cost
Good A&P’s cost good money and they are worth it. Diamond places special emphasis on reducing wasted time and labor costs with modular design and easily accessed inspection items.
AOG
When it’s flying, the aircraft generates revenue, when it’s AOG, it costs money. Demonstrated reliability gives you confidence that unscheduled downtime is minimized, not only for the cost of repair, but for the lost opportunity cost.
Fuel Availability
Will Avgas be available in 5 years? In 10? We don’t know either but we hedged our bets by developing multifuel compatible fuel systems for all our aircraft and investing in alternative fuel technology including automotive and jet fuel – just in case.
A.D. HistoryA.D.’s waste money, time, cause AOG and result from safety issues. Compare the aircraft you are considering at www.faa.gov.
Insurance
Diamond’s safety record and economical repairability have resulted in low premiums for Diamond operators.
Mission - get the right tool for the job
If a high percentage of your training only needs two seats, why pay for four? If you train pilots that won’t see a glass cockpit for many years, do you need to train with glass equipped aircraft? Diamond’s complete fleet and range of options lets you efficiently tailor the aircraft to the mission. PPL, CPL, ATP, CFI, CFII, SEL, MEL.
Fleet commonality
Ask any successful commercial operator and they will tell you that fleet commonality simply makes business sense. Diamond offers all the advantages of fleet commonality including minimized instructor standardization, rapid student transition, reduced parts inventories and maintenance training.
Glass cockpits
As the lead OEM for the Garmin G1000, we are often asked about investing in glass: Should you invest in glass – that depends on what you are preparing your students for. Which is the best glass cockpit – the one that offers the maximum upgradeability and isn’t obsoleted by changing hardware. Diamond is uniquely positioned to answer your questions without bias as we are the only OEM offering aircraft with a choice of Garmin, Avidyne or conventional cockpit.
Utilization
Diamond designs its aircraft with high utilization in mind. For example, our DA42 Twin Star offers known ice certification, keeping your students safe and allowing you to launch when reported thin ice layers would otherwise keep you grounded. How many days were your twins grounded last winter?
Do the aircraft you are considering have a proven flight training record?
If not, can you justify taking that risk? Diamond's accumulated flight training experience is reflected in every aircraft in our fleet today.
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