NAFA member, Alasdair Whyte, with Corporate Jet Investor, talks to Aircraft Cost Calculator's Chris Doerr.
Chris Doerr has left Aircraft Cost Calculator (ACC) the company he founded in 2011. He has sold the business to Sandhills Publishing, the media company that owns Controller and Executive Controller. Sandhills Publishing will now run the business.
“I started ACC in August 2011 primarily because I wanted to create a user-friendly application that could generate a complete ownership analysis from what I like to call the 41,000 foot view,” says Doerr. “Simply put, I wanted to solve a problem that people knew they wanted solved – but they didn’t know what the solution looked like.”
His solution was a web application that allows users to compare the costs for different jets, helicopters and piston aircraft. As well calculating operating costs, ACC also allows users to determine whether it is better to own or lease aircraft and also input their own variables.
“I had the vision for ACC, but it was the team of people that participated in the bootstrapping of the business from day one that deserve the credit,” says Doerr. “I know that I am never the smartest person in the room, but I do have the ability to find the smart people and let them do their jobs.”
Doerr sold a majority stake to Sandhills Publishing in March 2016. Sandhills Publishing bought the rest in December 2018. He says he left after difference of opinion as to the overall direction and day-to-day operations of ACC.
“I want to thank all of the Sandhills sales representative both here in the USA and throughout the world,” says Doerr. “They did a fantastic job in promoting ACC and making the aviation industry aware of the application. Sandhills took ACC’s revenues to another level.”
Doerr says he is taking some time out to look at other ideas. He will also continue to advise buyers and sellers on transactions – something he has been involved in since 2003.
“I love working on transactions for my select group of clients and will always do this,” says Doerr, “and I have no intention of leaving this industry. But I am also looking forward to having time to think about some other ideas which could also change the industry.”
This article was originally published by Corporate Jet Investor on December 18, 2018.
