Last month, I spoke with general manager Sean Peterson to discuss our progress as the Northeast Embraer service center. I continued my conversation with Sean to discuss some of the accomplishments the service center has achieved, as well as where we stand with some key inspections and pre-purchase evaluations. Additionally, I wanted to know what steps the service center is taking to prepare for further growth in the months and years to come.

The start of the new calendar year marks an important change for Pro Star Aviation. Clark Gordon, former Director of Sales and Marketing, has retired. For twelve dedicated years, Clark helped to steer our ship and grow our business into what it is today. Clark is now stepping down, leaving behind a 40+ year journey within the aviation industry. Despite his impressive career, Clark was not always in Sales. In fact, he began like many members of our management team: on the line.

Last month, we concluded that the old adage for spending money on your aging aircraft no longer applies. When the demand for new aircraft dramatically outweighs the supply, it makes sense to modify your current aircraft beyond the once-golden standard of 25% of its value.

As we explored in Part One, the cultural consciousness of aviation was at an all-time high during the 1950s and 60s. However, this could not last forever.

As we explored in Part One, the cultural consciousness of aviation was at an all-time high during the 1950s and 60s. However, this could not last forever.

In July of 2021, Pro Star became an Embraer authorized service center. Since then, we have served as the main OEM approved maintenance facility in the Northeast U.S. As the two-year anniversary as an Embraer service center rapidly approaches, I sat down with general manager, Sean Peterson, to see where we stand as we mark this milestone.

It is undeniable that Elon Musk is a disruptive force in the business world. Throughout his career, Musk’s outside thinking and raw confidence has allowed him to break several industries wide open. He is, perhaps, best known for Tesla; incorporating vertical integration into his business model to change the automotive industry. His direct-to-customer model was so successful that he is utilizing it now with Starlink. Starlink is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation intended to serve residential, business, RV, maritime, and aviation marketplaces. Similar to Tesla, Musk has seen great success with his manufacturer-to-consumer business template. Despite this, however, there are certain concerns related to how this model may conflict with the rigid nature of the aviation industry. 

Previously, we established that if aircraft owners are to renovate their current airplane to modern standards, parts obsolescence is key to their investment. The most popular upgrade for business jets today- In-Flight Connectivity. Executives now expect to have the same (or as close to the same) access in the air as they have on the ground. Many Flight Departments consider their aircraft “Grounded” if the internet is inoperative. However, the market for aircraft connectivity is overloaded with potential options. There are a few core questions that owners should be asking themselves to help navigate this process.