Aircraft Management and operations

THE NEWS PAGE

New Managed Airplanes Wanted

Whitewind's employees are experts in the operation and management of Bombardier products. At this time we have an immediate opening in our managed aircraft fleet. To get more information on The Whitewind Company, please call 1-800-301-8741

New Managed Aircraft Wanted

Commissions Paid For Referrals!
Whitewind is offering handsome referral fees for leads resulting in a new managed aircraft. Please call The Whitewind Company for more details. 1-800-301-8741

CUSTOMIZED MANAGEMENT SERVICES

TO SUIT YOUR UNIQUE REQUIREMENTS

Where do they make their profits?
When does it make sense to put your aircraft on a Charter certificate?
Should you have a dedicated mechanic, use in-house maintenance or the factory authorized repair centers?
Do I need a dedicated crew and how do I know if they are qualified?
What is the company's safety record? Ask if they have had any accidents or incidents or violations. What safety programs do they have in place? Ask other operators in the industry about the operators reputation.

Where do they make their profits?
Answer: At the Whitewind Co, we charge one monthly aircraft management fee that is all-inclusive. Included are: quality assurance, flight standards, maintenance coordination, customer service, flight coordination, flight following and accounting services. Beware of additional charges. Some companies have additional fees or markups on maintenance, parts, fuel, training, hangar, insurance, etc. Ask to see actual receipts or compare prices. Some management companies have been known to charge for maintenance as though it were completed by a factory service center when in fact it was done in-house at a fraction of the cost. There are industry standards for items such as upgrades, scheduled maintenance, training, etc. At the Whitewind Co. All costs are negotiated, screened for accuracy, paid by us on your behalf and passed directly on to the owner with no markups. We have no hidden fees or profit centers. At the Whitewind Company we believe that an up front approach is a better way of doing business. We welcome your audits.

When does it make sense to put your aircraft on a Charter certificate?
Answer: It would be unlikely that you could recoup all expenses associated with operating your aircraft through charter. However, air charter can be a good solution to offset your fixed expenses. In some cases placing your aircraft on a charter certificate may avoid the necessity to pay sales tax on your initial acquisition. Additionally, you may be eligible for annual fuel tax rebate. Most companies charge a one time start-up 135-conformity charge to qualify your aircraft on their Part 135 Charter Certificate. These fees can range from $7,000 to $20,000. Some companies charge this conformity fee regardless of whether or not you place your aircraft on their Charter Certificate. In addition some companies charge and annual 135 Certificate Administration fee. All aircraft management companies charge a commission to market and administer charter flights. These commissions range from 5% to 20%. If you choose to market your aircraft for aircraft charter with the Whitewind Company you will remain in full control of your aircraft at all times. All confirmed trips will be approved by the owner. Our goal is to maximize your potential for charter through aggressive marketing and through our existing network of clients and our long-standing relationships with large charter companies, aircraft manufacturers, etc. Our one time conformity fee for a large corporate jet would average $7,000-$10,000 and that's it. We do not charge and annual administration fee for our aircraft management. Our charter commission ranges from 5% to 10% depending on whether or not there are any other brokers involved.

Should you have a dedicated mechanic, use in-house maintenance or the factory authorized repair centers?
Answer: Most companies use a combination of all of the above. If your aircraft is going to be based away from home base, you will need a dedicated mechanic to schedule, oversee and track maintenance done at a factory authorized Service Center. Generally one mechanic will not be able handle the comprehensive inspections requiring resources such as special tooling plus the manpower required to minimize down time. The Whitewind Company is a firm believer of in-house maintenance. There is no better way to maintain a high level of conformity than by becoming intimately familiar with your managed aircraft through regular inspections. All of our maintenance technicians are factory trained on the aircraft they service. Our staff technicians can handle most scheduled maintenance with savings of as much as 40% compared to that of the Factory Service Center.

Do I need a dedicated crew and how do I know if they are qualified?
Answer: Some operators use contract crewmembers. These can change from trip to trip. Also, other operators use copilots that have little or no experience in the aircraft they are asked to fly. At the Whitewind Company we believe it is important for the aircraft owner to feel comfortable and compatible with their crew. For that reason we select top candidates through an interview process that includes a simulator evaluation, background checks, drug an alcohol testing. Once top candidates are selected they are then interviewed by the client for personality, professionalism and compatibility. At the Whitewind Company all pilots are FAA certified Air Carrier Captains in the aircraft they fly and as such receive regular training and evaluation every 6 months. Pilots also receive additional enrichment courses including; in-flight medical care, CPR, International procedures, emergency and survival training just to name a few. All of Whitewind’s aircraft are equipped with flight phones and defibrillators.

What is the company's safety record? Ask if they have had any accidents or incidents or violations. What safety programs do they have in place? Ask other operators in the industry about the operators reputation.
Answer: At the Whitewind Co. all pilots and copilots are captain qualified on the aircraft they fly and as such receive recurrent training and evaluation every six months at Flight Safety International using full motion state of the art flight Simulators. We are also audited and approved by ARG/US and have received a Gold Safety Rating.