If one were to describe the benefit of professional aircraft management with one word, it would be VALUE. Professional management provides value in every aspect of aircraft ownership. This value is predominantly seen in two areas, time and money. Partner with the right management company, and the aircraft owner will experience added free time and more money in their pocket.

There are many challenges facing today’s owner in the form of declining market values, tax implications, keeping up with maintenance inspections, choosing maintenance shops, fuel prices, insurance premiums, crew training costs, and proper representation to name a few.

As you consider your need to hire a management company, please consider the following expertise that qualified managers bring to the aircraft ownership experience:

Discounts
Management companies have networks of vendors and can usually provide discounts on parts, insurance, crew training, fuel, hangar, etc…let the managers do the negotiating on your behalf. They have the leverage to get discounts you would not be able to on your own. This saves money for the owner.

Dispatch
Whether you fly your own airplane or have someone else fly it for you, management companies will provide full dispatch support. In other words, they preflight, coordinate fueling, pulling out of the hangar, and have the aircraft ready so all you have to do is show up, get in the aircraft and head on your way. This equates to time savings for the owner.

Pilot Training
Management companies will coordinate all pilot training as necessary, even if it is for an owner that flies their own airplane. Let them do the work of finding the right training for the best price.

Maintenance Tracking
An aircraft is only as valuable as its’ logbooks. Keeping current with all inspections, AD’s, and SB’s will ensure the highest possible resale value of the aircraft. A management company will track all current and forecasted maintenance items that are in the foreseeable future based on the aircraft utilization. You will always be aware of what is coming due and what the cost will be.

Comprehensive Monthly Reporting
The management company will provide reporting on all current and forecast utilization, expenses, and provide comparisons with the yearly budget. This can be provided to your accountant and again, is one less thing for the owner to do thus providing time for the owner to focus on other things.

Regulatory
Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) dictate the legal ways to use and maintain aircraft. Trying to read and decipher the interpretation of all these regulations can be very cumbersome and confusing. An experienced management company understands the myriad of regulations and will ensure your aircraft is never in violation and always operated in compliance with the FAR’s.

Safety
With properly rated and trained pilots, standard operating procedures (SOP), and safety management systems (SMS) in place, the right management company will ensure your aircraft is being operated under the highest of safety standards. Of course not all management companies are created equal. When choosing a company to partner with, get a good feel for their safety culture. Ask about their accident/incident history. Ask to see their safety program and standard operating procedures. Really get a feel for how they conduct themselves and do business before handing over the keys to your airplane.

Security
Let your mind be at ease knowing the aircraft is properly secured at all times. The management company will monitor the aircraft daily and ensure it is constantly secure. The management company authorizes and manages who accesses and tows the aircraft. All aircraft movement is under the strict supervision of the management company. You can be in meetings half a country away and not worry about the security of your investment.

Revenue
Yes, revenue! This is another area where not all management companies are created equal. Choose a company with their own Certified Air Carrier Certificate (not someone else’s), and there may be an opportunity to earn revenue on your aircraft, when it would otherwise be sitting idle. This is a good way to reduce ownership costs and a creative way of putting money back in your pocket.

Comprehensive Tailored Management Plan
This is another way of saying that management plans can be made specific to your type of operation and need. There isn’t a template that works for all aircraft owners.  The right management company will be flexible and adjust the management style that fits your travel needs. Give them your mission profile, and they will custom build a plan for you to include any revenue opportunities  for your aircraft.

Cleaning
Important to resale value is the aesthetics of the aircraft. Leave the aircraft cleaning and detailing up to the management company. They will have a good understanding of the proper cleaning solutions to use on the various surface types of newer and older aircraft. Keeping the aircraft clean on a consistent basis prevents exhaust fumes from becoming part of the paint, or ink marks and coffee spills becoming a permanent part of the interior. It is also a good way for the management company to familiarize themselves with every last square inch of the airplane. Besides, it’s nice for the owner to always show up and board a clean airplane. By properly keeping up with the cleaning of the exterior and interior, the life of the exterior paint and interior carpet can be extended, effectively saving the owner money.

These are but a few of the many aspects of managing airplanes. Each of  these add and show VALUE in partnering with the right management company in the form of dollar savings, time savings, and convenience. Professional aircraft management overall will add VALUE to your aircraft. I will again stress that it is a partnership and takes the right combination to make it a win-win for both parties. Management is not limited to large corporate aircraft. The same value applies to your Cirrus, Diamond, Cessna, or Piper single-engine aircraft.

Special Services has operated, managed, and maintained many aircraft types for the last 52 years. Let our experience go to work for you. It’s what we do.