Jet Aviation says airframers are backing a programme to help new owners of private jets establish their own in-house flight departments.
The consultancy scheme, branded JetStart, is aimed at buyers who want to run their own aircraft rather than place it under a management contract and is designed to cut through the red-tape surrounding starting an in-house aviation operation.
Some wealthy individuals who acquire a new or secondhand business jet think operating it is just a case of employing a professional pilot, says Bob Seidel, senior vice-president of Jet Aviation Flight Services, the Swiss company's North American management and charter arm, which handles 73 aircraft on behalf of owners.
"You wouldn't file your income tax statement without the help of an accountant, but people think: 'I just need a pilot. How hard can it be?," he says.
Activities that the scheme can cover include insurance, sourcing crew and pilot training, setting up vendor accounts and budgeting. "We have identified 135 tasks that a new owner has to carry out," says Chris Wheeler, who heads the JetStart division. "A lot of them don't know where to start."
Although Seidel will not reveal targets for the new business, he says manufacturers have welcomed the scheme as being of value to their customers. "Most offer some sort of entry-into-service help, but it's only really a week-long handover. It doesn't cover how to set up a flight department and areas such as how to document maintenance," he says.
He says some customers who take up the programme may be convinced to switch to a full management contract. "It's a great opportunity to introduce the Jet Aviation brand to new owners," he adds.
Source: Flight International
