Peter wrote:
This is a minor point but the UK VAT reg threshold is over £80k and an individual mechanic is not going to get near that unless he supplies a fair amount of parts too
It happens. The guy who does my permit is essentially a one man band, and he’s well over the VAT threshold.
Silvaire wrote:
The culture of light aircraft ownership in the US depends on it, FAA regulations anticipate it, and if it were not the case the US would have a little GA as Europe.
Don’t agree to that. It’s a myth that aircraft ownership in the US is less expensive than in Europe. Fuel prices is a big difference (nothing to do with aviation – just fuel in general is less expensive in the US. The difference between regular fuel and avgas in the US is even higher than in Europe), but beyond that, ownership costs are the same if not more expensive in the US.
Friend of mine operates a pretty similar Malibu in the states: Yes, maintenance is a bit less expensive (also due to taxes) and hangar space is a lot less expensive (but here as there heavily depending on the airport you are located). But that is overcompensated by a lot higher insurance premiums – he is paying almost double the premium although his liability insurance is limited to 1mio while mine covers up to 5.
Therefore the higher degrees of freedom come with a much higher liability risk that has its price.
Peter wrote:
This is a minor point but the UK VAT reg threshold is over £80k and an individual mechanic is not going to get near that unless he supplies a fair amount of parts too
Well, the UK has the highest threshold of the whole former EU28. France has approx the same threshold, but only for manufacturing/resale/lodging activities; all other service activities have thresholds of approx 35 000 or 45 000 EUR. Other countries vary from as low as 2 850 EUR (Sweden), 6 700 EUR (Denmark), 10 000 EUR (Greece, Portugal, Finland) to 50 000 EUR (Slovenia, Slovakia). See https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/sites/taxation/files/resources/documents/taxation/vat/traders/vat_community/vat_in_ec_annexi.pdf
There, Spain and Netherlands ared listed as “None” which suggests you have to register for VAT starting the first (or third?) cent, and Ireland as “NA”… Not sure what that means.
Malibuflyer wrote:
Yes, maintenance is a bit less expensive (also due to taxes) and hangar space is a lot less expensive (but here as there heavily depending on the airport you are located).
My hangar at EHRD (second largest airport in NL, serving airline traffic) is 400 euros per month, which seems like a pretty good deal to me. A similar field where I’m from in the US (Atlanta) would have a 10-year waiting list for hangar space, and would be much more than that.
The US scene benefits from many factors, compared to Europe:
To fly GA in Europe, with a decent mission capability, you need to be seriously dedicated bordering on obscessive, throwing lots of money and time at it.
Those who have created a nice happy flying life are those who sorted their ground situation properly first, and having the right maintenance setup (which includes the right aircraft reg) is a key part of that.
Our CCI has just agreed to proposals from our owners club to allow the building of more individual hangars on the airfield. Yes, you have to build your own hangar but for the lease of the land to build it on works out at €400 per annum for a single hangar and €800 pa for a double.
Rental of a space in an existing communal hangar works out at around €140 per month here and about €150 -€160 per month at La Rochelle LFBH.
No problems with working your own aircraft in the hangars, most do, although at LFFK there are 2 very good, not expensive, maintenance facilities including painting and auto pilot repairs and the same goes for La Rochelle. You can usually work alongside the professional mechanics if you so choose and in most, take advantage of their tools and expertise.
I think this is the same at many airfields throughout France.
gallois wrote:
I think this is the same at many airfields throughout France.
I have never heard anyone in Sweden complain about “airfield politics” either.
You seem very lucky Gallois. It is not the same everywhere.
Between Part ML and Part 91 in Europe, the remaining key factors are :
