IN THIS GUIDE
What you own
At Alpha, you buy shares in the company that owns the aircraft. You share their use and running costs with other members, rather than buying direct title to part of one aircraft.
Company membership comes with shared decisions and financial responsibilities. We’ll explain the company arrangements when you visit. CASA’s guidance on joint owners and trusts explains the wider registration context for shared aircraft ownership.
Shared ownership, hire or sole ownership?
Shared company ownership
Buy company shares, pay a share of the fixed costs and book the aircraft alongside other members. You share maintenance costs and decisions rather than managing an aircraft alone.
Aircraft hire
Hiring avoids a share purchase and annual ownership levy. It can suit occasional flying. Aircraft, checkout requirements and overnight booking terms vary by operator.
Sole ownership
Owning an aircraft yourself gives you control of its schedule. You also pay the purchase price, hangarage, insurance and maintenance, and arrange the work it needs.
HOURLY RATES
Lower flying rates, shared ownership
AUD, including fuel and GST. Pale segments show the difference.
- Alpha Archer 25.4% lower quoted rate$302 / tacho hour Local four-seat median: $405 / quoted hour
- Alpha Saratoga 30.0% lower quoted rate$404 / tacho hour Local touring median (4–6 seats): $577.50 / quoted hour
$3,000 share purchase and $3,200 annual levy, separate from flying charges.
Look beyond the hourly rate.
Budget for the annual levy as well as the hours you expect to fly. A lower flying rate matters more if you fly regularly; fixed costs still apply in a quiet year.
- Capital: share price, transfer fees and the process for selling later.
- Fixed costs: annual levy, what it covers and whether other assessments may arise.
- Usage: aircraft-specific rates, tacho versus clock time and any minimums.
- Other costs: away fuel, landing or parking fees, insurance excess and checkouts.
Alpha’s costs at a glance
- Annual levy
- $3,200 / year, payable quarterly
- Archer
- $302 / tacho hour
- Saratoga
- $404 / tacho hour
Flying rates include fuel and GST. Share purchase is separate.
See all membership costs →Fuel away from base
Send your receipt for a credit of $3.35 per litre against your flying charges. You only cover any amount above that rate; if you find cheaper fuel, you keep the saving.
Landing and parking
Away-airport landing and parking fees are passed through at cost when the supplier invoice arrives. Bankstown movement fees follow the group’s own billing rules.
Before you join
- How does company membership work, and how can I get involved?
- How are maintenance decisions and additional funding handled?
- How do bookings, peak periods, cancellations and extended trips work?
- What are the insurance, currency and aircraft checkout requirements?
- What happens if the aircraft I want is unavailable?
- How does selling a share parcel work if my flying plans change?
Planning a longer trip? Talk through dates, bookings and away-fuel arrangements with the group so you can plan around other members and aircraft maintenance.
Come and meet the group.
You need a Private Pilot Licence (PPL). Send a membership enquiry, arrange a visit to meet the pilots and see the aircraft, then complete the company share purchase and aircraft-specific checkout.
Meet us at Bankstown to see the Archer and Saratoga. The Flight Captain will help arrange your checkout.
Join the group ↗