A new landmark in aviation history was announced at NBAA today – and it heralded a new company with a plan to revolutionize the way aircraft owners and operators receive service.
Landmark Aviation is the new name for the Carlyle Group’s combined aviation businesses: Garrett Aviation, Piedmont Hawthorne and Associated Air Centers.
The new leadership team of Roger Wolfe as chief executive and Shawn Vick as president are at NBAA to share the vision that they believe will make them the number one partner to owners and operators.
Wolfe says: “We did research with more than 200 corporate and business aviation customers and there was a clear message that came through – give us fewer vendors and suppliers who can do more things for us.
“Landmark is the bringing together of all our business offerings to produce a comprehensive, fully integrated, aviation service provider.”
The new name and the new strategy have the overwhelming support of the staff of the different business streams. “As one Garrett employee said to me, ‘if this means that we are going to be innovators again then you have my support 100%’ and you know he meant it,” says Vick. “There is a great feeling of belief that the strategy is right,”
The new Landmark Aviation covers four key business sectors: maintenance repair and overhaul services; fixed-base operations (FBO) and airport services; aircraft sales, charter and management; and the completions and design service. Wolfe sees a kind of cradle-to-grave relationship with customers. “We want to be with a customer when they buy their first aircraft. Maintain it, provide the FBO service, carry out modifications and help them sell it. We plan to be with them at every step. When a customer flies in to one of our FBOs he knows he can access a rich menu of services – but only those he needs. We are not throwing in different offers as some kind of value added. What we are doing is simple and pragmatic.”
Wolfe is using NBAA to introduce the new Landmark concept of mobile support teams. The teams would tackle aircraft on ground incidents or be available for customers that would prefer repair or maintenance checks at their own hangar. “This came out of our research, where customers said they would welcome this level of service at their own facilities. It is cost effective for them.”
The teams will operate from 14 Landmark 14 centers. “Our aim is to be able to provide nationwide service,” says Wolfe. The centers are at major cities among the 33 FBOs owned and operated by Landmark.
Wolfe is confident that owner Carlyle is keen to keep investing. “Carlyle is one of the largest private equity firms in the world with $30.9 billion in capital committed to 32 private equity funds worldwide. The goal is to build the long-term value of Landmark Aviation through synergies, process improvement and investment,” Wolfe says.
Landmark is looking hard at operations in Europe. Read Murdo Morrison's blog from Orlando.
Source: Flight Daily News
