Morning Zlr007,
Welcome to the forum.
I difficult question to answer, because every WCM aircraft is different but here are some of the costs. I am assuming you are talking about a trike (WCM) and not a CCM?
Admin Costs:
Aeroclub Membership (annual) R300
Misasa Membership (annual) R330
Radio Licence (annual) R80 ??
Annual Inspection R 500-R1000 (Very much dependant on the AP doing the work
)
RAASA Authority to Fly (Annual) R250.00
Hangerage:
This is very area dependant and varies depending on the actual building type and whether you share with other aircraft. At Microland we all pay roughly R480 a month.
Running costs:
Well, this is where it gets rather complicated. You see every trike type will have a different running cost depending on set up, engine type and also
age of the aircraft. Fuel burn depends on the engine, as well as what type of flying you are doing. For example, an Hour training session (up downs with full throttle climbs etc etc) on a 582 Rotax like mine you will burn about 15-17 litres an hour, about R180/hr. However, straight and level cruise, we burn about 12L/hr. (About R138 or so).
Then there's the regular maintenance. Like anything mechanical, things break, crack, perish and filters/jets ,seals ,gaskets and mountings go from time to time. Services are really non events compared to certified aircraft and usually dont cost more than R1000 every 25 hrs on average.
What is far more important (in my opinion) than working out what the "running cost" is, is
providing for it. Everything on your plane has a lifespan. Prop, wing, airframe, engine and extra's. The biggest problem I see with some pilots, is that they do not make provision (financially) to cover the costs of unforseen maintenance. Just because the book says your wingsail will last about 1000-1500hrs (for example), does not mean that it will!
Its exactly the same for virtually every other component too. I know many pilots who are grounded right now because they did not prepare financially for an engine overhaul/wingsail replacement etc etc.
I co own ZUDBP, an Aquilla 582. (Pretty much the Toyota Corrolla of the microlight world!) Aquilla's and windlasses are by far the most common trike type flown in SA with various engine options. Stef and I each pay into an account monthly, an amount based on R150 per hour flown. In effect, we "rent" our own aerie.
The R150/hr was worked out based on replacement of virtually everything at 1000 flying hrs. (we currently have 400 on the clock). The amount we set aside, slowly accumulates every month so that there will be provision for the BIG expenses later on such as engine OH and wing replacements etc. Remember, this is a provision, not an expense (yet) and the money set aside remains yours to do with as you please.
Others may disagree, but that's what we have done in our situation.
One final thought, a trike remains one of the cheapest aerie's to buy and maintain....JUST DONT BEND IT
