aircraft management company

NAFA member, Tom Mitchell, Executive Vice President of Essex Aviation Group, Inc. highlights what to consider when selecting your aircraft management company.

When acquiring your first aircraft, one of your first decisions will be how the aircraft will be managed and operated. Some owners opt to run their own flight department, but many seek out a third-party aviation management company. These companies have decades of experience managing aircraft of all types and sizes and their purpose is to make your ownership as seamless as possible.

When considering the various management company options available, you can be certain that they are all quite different as to what they can offer. Depending upon your specific needs and requirements, you will find many of the options may not be the best fit for your specific needs and requirements.

Types of Aviation Management Companies

In the private aircraft management industry, there are three (3) primary types of aircraft management companies:

Within each category are differences in the scope of resources offered, and several factors should be considered and evaluated to determine which type of organization is best for your needs. Always assess each management company’s safety culture, research their incident and accident history and learn about and understand their operational experience and reputation.

Aircraft Management Services

Although every aircraft management company offers different management services, there are certain basic services you should expect to receive such as crew recruitment, accounting, flight coordination, and a well-organized charter department. We recommend that clients who are evaluating a management company consider the following:

Things to look for: Make sure you understand the aircraft management company’s key operations, maintenance, crew management and administrative functions. All of these factors will directly impact your relationship with the company and your use of the aircraft.

Also, keep in mind the geographic location where you intend to base your aircraft. Some aircraft management companies may base all the aircraft they manage at one central location requiring that your aircraft be positioned to your desired departure airport for your trips or for maintenance. Other management companies are able to support your aircraft based at any airport you choose that supports your aircraft’s operational requirements.

Your Requirements for an Aircraft Management Company

A good first step is to outline and prioritize your goals as a private aircraft owner, in order to define what would make an ideal relationship. Be sure to allow sufficient time to review and receive proposals from a range of aircraft management companies and compare their differences. If you begin the selection process with an honest self-assessment, the relationship you build with your aviation management company will be that much better.

Things to look for: Chartering your aircraft to third parties can be a way to generate revenue when you aren’t using your aircraft. If you plan to charter, there are many things you’ll require from your aircraft management company. First and foremost, make sure your management company can operate your aircraft under their own Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 135 charter certificate.

Charter Capabilities

Allowing your aircraft to be utilized for third-party charter can generate revenue to reduce the owner’s overall operating costs and can also make your aircraft attractive to outside aviation management companies. You should, however, not get false hopes about covering your overall operating costs. “There’s almost never a break-even point,” said Kyle Slover, COO of Volo Aviation “The better way to think of it is, ‘what does it do to my (the owner’s) occupied hourly rate?’ Discuss with your management provider what the financial metrics are that you are trying to reach.”

If internal or third-party Part 135 charter is one of your goals it is prudent to engage the assistance of an independent and knowledgeable industry consultant or advisor to facilitate the ownership structure.

Private aircraft management companies of varying sizes will provide certain advantages and limitations when it comes to chartering. Regardless of who you choose, you’ll want to be sure they’re equipped to handle all aspects of chartering and aviation management.

• Supporting varying flight destinations and times of travel
• Managing all ground services, details and security
• Negotiating discounts on your behalf

As you make your final selection, be sure to choose a private aircraft management company that can meet not only your current but also your future needs. Whichever company you choose, you can and should expect it to partner with you to meet your travel needs, your budget and any charter revenue requirements.

The original article was published in Business Aviation Magazine and on the Essex Aviation blog, June 29, 2018.

NAFA member, Thomas Mitchell, Executive Vice President of Essex Aviation, discusses options to consider when choosing an aircraft management company.

When acquiring your first or subsequent aircraft, one of your primary decisions will be how you want your aircraft to be operated. Have you considered the requirements for establishing your own flight department, and are you prepared to undertake them? If not, you have the choice to retain a professional management company to manage your aircraft for you.

How will you select this management company? Options to consider are:

• Nationally known companies that may be either a division of a large public corporation or privately held;
• Mid-sized companies, often formed to complement their FBO or aircraft sales business; and
• Smaller, usually regionally based, companies which have organized a few professional aviation individuals to support a limited number of aircraft on behalf of a small group of owners.

Within each category are differences in the breadth and width of resources offered, and several factors should be considered and evaluated to determine which type of organization best meets your needs.

Evaluating Your Choices

What programs and services do each offer? What are the key operational, maintenance, crew management, and administrative factors you should understand while making this decision? As you begin your search, you’ll want to find out:

• How long has the company been in business?
• Who owns and manages its day-to-day operations, and what is their background and experience in the industry?
• If chartering your aircraft is of interest, does it have the necessary government-issued certificate, giving legal authority to generate outside revenue via third-party charter? (See “Spotlighting Charter Cheaters,” Business Aviation Advisor July/August 2018)
• Has it satisfied safety audits by an independent third party such as Argus, Wyvern, or the Air Charter Safety Foundation?
• Will maintenance be outsourced, or does the management company have its own in-house capability, and will it provide detailed documentation of work performed?
• Are fleet operator discounts made available to you for insurance, fuel, training, and maintenance?
• What are the company’s crew hiring and training standards, and are these be acceptable to you?

In addition, the decision to use a national or regional management company may be informed by where you intend to hangar your aircraft. Especially for charter purposes, some companies will suggest basing your aircraft at an airport known for higher charter demand, and ferrying the aircraft to you for your own travel or for maintenance. Others will manage your aircraft based at any airport you choose that offers sufficient runway and basic support services.

What Do You Need Your Management Company to Do for You?

Be sure to allow sufficient time to review a range of aircraft management companies and compare their differences. A useful first step is to outline and prioritize your goals in order to define, at least in theory, what would make an ideal relationship.

Consider:

• Your travel profile. Can the management company you are considering accommodate the details of how you normally travel? Are they experienced with international flying? Can they respond to short notice demands, and do they have the capability to make contingency travel plans when needed? (See “Global Reach,” Business Aviation Advisor May/June 2018)
• Is having occasional access to additional aircraft important to you and can that need be accommodated by the prospective company?
• Is the management company experienced with your particular aircraft’s sophistication, size, and/or model?
• If you normally require immediate or 24/7 support, are they able to provide it?
• Does the offered structure pool pilots, or will pilots be dedicated to you and your aircraft?
• Will the management company accommodate a hands-on approach if that is what you want? For example, would you be able to have direct involvement with the hiring of and interactions with pilots, maintenance personnel, or administrative support?
• Do you plan to make your aircraft available for charter when you are not flying? If so, what are your revenue requirements?

The Differences Between Charter and Owner Use

While management companies provide services for both, the FAA doesn't regulate or really even recognize aircraft management companies – large or small, regional or national – unless your aircraft is operated under a Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 135 charter certificate. The FAA does recognize operational control of flights, which lies either with the management company when flying charter, or with the aircraft owner during non-charter flights.

Therefore, whether entrusting your aircraft to an internal or third-party Part 135 charter management company, significant due diligence is highly recommended, and it is prudent to engage the assistance of an independent and knowledgeable industry resource or advisor.

And, if chartering your aircraft to third parties to generate revenue is a primary objective, the region in which your aircraft is based and the type of aircraft you own may be uniquely attractive to both large and small management companies. Those factors should be discussion items when comparing charter projections of management companies.

Advantages and Limitations

While a larger charter provider may have a greater capability to market your aircraft for maximum utilization, it may have policies that, while effective and necessary to manage a large Part 135 fleet, may feel burdensome if you are an owner with few requirements.

A large, reputable national aircraft management company often will be better equipped to effectively support the details associated with unusual flight destinations, during all times of the day or night, as well as ground handling and even security details.

A larger company may have the purchasing power to negotiate substantial discounts, typically passing them along to you. However, the annual management fees charged by a larger company may be somewhat higher than those of a smaller regional company.

The ability to identify your specific values and needs will have a significant impact on your selection process. As you narrow your choices, it is highly recommended that each prospective management company respond to a questionnaire which defines your specific operational and financial requirements, and also provides a detailed pro forma budget for your aircraft. This “Request for Proposal” exercise often highlights strengths as well as possible deficiencies in a prospective management company, and can prove to be an effective tool in your evaluation and final selection process.

And as you make your final selection, be sure to choose a company that can meet not only your current, but also your future, needs. For example, when you sell this aircraft and purchase another, will this company have the flexibility and capability to adapt to a newer or different make and model, or must you begin the management company selection process anew?

Whichever company you choose, you can and should expect it to partner with you to meet your travel needs, your budget, and any required charter revenue.

This article was originally published in Business Aviation Advisor on July 11, 2018.