Partners in Aviation mark 10-year anniversary

Chicago-based Partners in Aviation (PIA) is celebrating its 10-year anniversary competing a decade of steady growth, innovation and nationwide adoption of its structured co-ownership model.

Over the past decade, PIA Managed Co-Ownership™ has evolved beyond light jets, now serving aircraft owners in every category (and virtually every model) nationwide.

“Ten years ago, we set out to make aircraft ownership more efficient for light-users, those flying roughly 100 hours a year”, said Mark Molloy, president of PIA.

“The fractional and jet-card models are well designed for those flying up to 50 hours per year. Beyond that, the economics become hard to justify. Sole-ownership does not pencil out until users are flying at least 150 to 200 hours annually. Our focus is on operators in the middle, flying 50 to 150 hours per year.”

The company was founded in 2016 to bridge the gap between membership programmes and sole-ownership.

The programme matches vetted and qualified co-owner candidates who align both geographically and in aircraft (make/model) interest. Each match is a combination of two owners, one aircraft and a manager appropriate for that match.

PIA’s clients include current owners interested in selling half of their aircraft and non-owners interested in acquiring half of an aircraft that fits their mission. PIA also provides the legal framework the co-owners operate under, a structure that meets the demands of discerning clients and their counsel.

“We are not a plug-and-play membership programme”, added Molloy. “Our process requires the time needed for you to choose the appropriate partner, aircraft and manager, but the value-proposition makes sense. This is what we do. This is all we do, and if co-ownership fits your needs, we can assist.”