‘No change here’ Talon Air CEO on taking full ownership

Until three years ago, James Chitty, CEO and partner at Talon Air, didn’t have a job title on his business card. The move to add a title came out of necessity, according to Chitty.

“The truth is if I have to take out the garbage tonight, I will,” he says. “We’re a big company with a big operation, but my message to our team is always, hey, you can be in accounting and paying a fuel receipt, but how does that affect not only the airplane owners, but the rest of the team? 

“We have to be cohesive. We must see it from a big picture.”

Chitty’s hands-on leadership philosophy has been a feature of Farmingdale, New York-based aircraft charter, management and MRO provider Talon Air since he acquired the business in 2018. 

Having never had any intention to sell the business, when Covid hit in 2020, the “world changed” and consolidation in business aviation increased significantly. In early 2021, Vista — in desperate need of as much air lift as possible — came knocking with an offer to purchase a stake in the company and by March of that year a deal had been inked which saw Vista acquire charter broker Apollo Jets and its minority share in Talon Air. 

Fast-forward five or so years and Talon Air is independent once again after Chitty, Talon Air chief operating officer Nicholas Piazza and an aviation investment group, which initially helped Chitty purchase Talon in 2018, agreed a deal to buy out Vista’s stake in the company. 

Chitty is keen to stress the continuity following the buyout. For example, all key personnel will remain. “Candidly, nothing has changed day-to-day. We’re two weeks in and operations are the same. Plus, our growth plans and strategic priorities for 2026 are consistent with how we’ve always run the business. We’re focused on automation, growing the fleet and expanding capabilities,” he says.

No change here

Continuity has been simpler to sustain because unlike other Vista acquisitions made around the same the time, Talon was the only standalone company where Vista didn’t have full ownership.

“Because of that, we never fully acclimated into their systems—by design,” says Chitty. “Their focus is on their core business, as it should be, and our focus has always been on the management customer. That’s our core client. 

“It was just time to focus on our business independently without outside influence.”

Operating independently gives Talon Air the ability to be more nimble and react to the market quicker, says Chitty. “It opens opportunities to expand the fleet, expand maintenance and look at other locations for growth. It also allows full alignment of senior leadership without needing board approval,” he notes.

There are also no plans to rebrand. “Talon is a strong name, especially in the North East and South East. It’s been a formidable business for over 20 years,” he says.

‘Marrying’ customers 

In the fourth quarter of 2025, Talon Air added 12 aircraft to its managed fleet bringing the total to 40 aircraft. Despite this increase, Chitty does not want to grow for the sake of growth. 

“We don’t grow just to grow. We want the right fit,” he explains. “I say we marry our customers. Managing an aircraft is a long-term relationship. Short-term owners aren’t usually a fit.”

Chitty says Talon Air is transparent about expectations whether its costs, charter revenue, usage or basing. “A lot of people came into aviation during Covid thinking they’d make money owning airplanes. That’s usually not the case and we’re very upfront about that,” he notes.

Asked whether Talon Air prioritises specific aircraft types or owner profiles, Chitty says: “Yes and no.” The company doesn’t like to add one aircraft unless it plans to build scale in that category. That said, there is always a first of any type. “But it has to fit into a broader strategy,” he adds. 

Where Talon is investing 

Talon has two big pushes for 2026 on the investment front, automation and tooling. 

Chitty confirmed the company has invested in tooling for its maintenance facility, including hydraulic mules, jacks and various avionic components. It has also signed on with MySky to automate backend systems and client reporting. “Integration takes time, but it will streamline operations long term,” he says. 

Internally, Talon Air has built systems that act as its central information hub, tracking data like maintenance status, aircraft location and owner status. “We’re also exploring automation with maintenance providers for inventory tracking and planning,” says Chitty.

It is 2026, so discussions about investment and automation in aviation are arguably not complete without a mention of artificial intelligence (AI). 

Over the past year, Chitty says he has become more invested in AI than he “ever expected”. “We considered proprietary AI, but platforms like MySky already do 85–90% of what we need. The strategy is to build on proven systems and customise the final layer. Integration across platforms will improve and AI will help get us there sooner than people expect,” he explains.

Differentiating in a crowded market

Aircraft management has often been tagged as a thankless existence, with margins as tight as slots at international airports. So how does a company like Talon stand out in a crowded, competitive market? 

“Service,” says Chitty. “We have the buying power of big operators, but a boutique approach to service.” For example, owners have his cell number, so if there is an issue they can reach out to a decision-maker immediately. 

“Just this morning I took a 5am call about permits,” he explains. “That reassurance, reducing stress for owners and charter customers, is the value we provide.”

Looking ahead, Chitty sees success of the next three to five years in terms of “sustainable growth”. Translated practically, this means growing the team, maintaining a family atmosphere and providing more value-added services to clients. 

“Many clients grow with us – from charter to ownership, from light jets to heavies,” concludes Chitty. “Our infrastructure supports over 50 aircraft already. As we find the right owners and management clients, we’ll continue on that path.”