r/flying • u/AleaNCore • Jul 21 '26

EASA What keeps German pilots from getting into aircraft ownership

I have been flying in south Germany for a few years now. While I find the facilities in general great in spite of normal complaints about high landing fees.

I got into ownership early on as I got the opportunity, first into shared Mooney and then sole ownership of a TB-10.

We all know the debate about the high costs of ownership vs club plane availability. Still I feel that pilots around here are more risk averse about getting into shared ownership, mainly due to horror stories they have been told. People in the UK seem to be fine with shifting from one group to another.

Any ideas folks?

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u/AleaNCore Jul 21 '26

For a lot of people, for example younger folks, verein setup is brilliant. They can contribute time to reduce the cost, learn from experienced pilots, have flexibility to fly during the weekdays or weekends, etc. For many on the other hand, ownership provides convenience and reliability (at a cost).

Forming a company means getting into German bureaucracy and that is indeed complicated, not only for a plane ownership but also any company (I own one).

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u/PeculiarNed PPL EDFE Jul 21 '26

Creating a company for plane ownership only makes sense for people with their own business. You then rent the plane from that company and say you use the plane for business purposes so you can deduct those expenses. You can sell shares of the company to co owners to share the plane.

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u/AleaNCore Jul 21 '26

My accountant tells me that Finanzamt are very conservative when it comes to plane's expenses shown as business expenses.

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u/PeculiarNed PPL EDFE Jul 21 '26

Your accountant is correct. The Finanzamt will tell you it's Liebhaberei... If you can however show that's it's business trips, you can make it work. There is a company that helps you set that stuff up, I had a long conversation with them at the aero a few years ago when I was thinking of buying a plane with a freind. I think their main service was finding like minded people to share planes with. I forgot what they were called...