VanAllen Insights

VanAllen turns 30! It was a different time on March 1st, 1993; gas prices averaged $1.07 per gallon and Whitney Houston and Duran Duran topped the charts. Seinfeld was on most televisions and our CEO, Jeff Agur was in his senior year at Georgia Tech. But the real magic was happening in the den at the Agur house, where Jeff’s mother, Elaine was nervously pacing and his father, Pete was embarking on a new adventure. He had vision, commitment, and one client – The VanAllen Group was founded and ready to take off.

Without people, airplanes don’t fly. Owning, maintaining, and managing business aircraft is complex, and most focus on the physical assets, technology, and financing. But the “human capital” – the people who fly, maintain, and service the aircraft – are just as important. Listen as Jeff Agur and Don Henderson discuss how bizav’s success depends on how well the people aboard the aircraft and on the ground are chosen, how they are trained, and how effectively they communicate with each other, in Human Capital Gains.

This year in lieu of mailing greetings, we’ve partnered with two incredible organizations that are inspiring the next generation of aviation enthusiasts – Challenge Air For Kids & Friends and The Ron Alexander Youth Aviation Program (RAYAP).

Leadership is key to running a successful Aviation Team and Don Henderson can speak to this from his personal experience as a pilot and from years of experience working with Aviation Teams to strenthen their organizations. In this video, Don speaks specifically about some of the challenges Aviation Leaders face and how individuals can overcome these obstacles. Professional Development is a fantastic way for Directors of Aviation to grow in their skills and Don highlights some of the pros as well as where to find the best resources.

Peter Zeeb and Colby McDowell discuss aricraft Maintenance Service Plans in our latest video. Peter addresses the advantages of having a plan in place – especially for resale, risk mitigation, predictability and financing. Selecting the best options for your plan requires research to determine what is the best fit for your operation.

Listen as Jeff Agur, VanAllen CEO and Lori McGee, partner, Jetstream Aviation Law speak with NBAA about important aircraft transaction considerations. With business aircraft inventory at all-time lows, some buyers may feel pressured to cut corners in transactions. Don’t take shortcuts with your pre-purchase inspection, say two experts – that part of the transaction is critical in ensuring no unpleasant surprises await.

Jeff Agur and Don Henderson spoke with Gil Wolin of Business Aviation Advisor Magazine about minimizing the financial risks of your aviation department. Jeff and Don talk about the equations that work best to create value, increase revenues and reduce financial risks.

What is Business Aviation? What does it mean to “fly private” and who’s doing it? VanAllen CEO Jeff Agur helps break down the basics with Managing Directors Colby McDowell and Don Henderson in less than ten minutes! Find out if on-demand travel is the right fit for you or your organization by learning about different types of ownership, aircraft and reasons people chose to fly private. Current trends in the industry and special considerations regarding how on-demand travel can fit your needs are discussed.

VanAllen Managing Director, Don Henderson offers his insights on Staffing your Aviation Department in our latest video. He discusses ways successful aviation departments staff for their needs and addresses certain challenges and risks when it comes to building the best team for your organization.

VanAllen has partnered with Aviation for Humanity to sponsor programs for Dare to Dream – a Botswana-based non-profit organization that provides youth education to empower the next generation of aviators and aviation enthusiasts. This fall, VanAllen covered expenses for thirty girls from Mahupu Unified Secondary School to leave their village and explore an airport. The day was filled with aircraft tours, meeting with pilots and engineers and getting hands-on experience with 3D modelling – including assembling a model of an Airbus A380.

In our final video of the VanAllen Insights three-part Safety series, Jeff Agur, Don Henderson and Peter Zeeb talk about the major role that Maintenance plays in managing risk. Peter describes the benefits of bringing technicians and maintenance to the table at the onset of safety culture.

In the second part of this three part series, Jeff Agur, Don Henderson and Peter Zeeb discuss Safety Standards. Is your department using an external standard to set the operational bar? Our VanAllen Managing Directors swim through the alphabet soup of acronyms and what they mean to the Aviation Team and the parent organization. Peter addresses how standards can help protect maintenance departments – but also recognizes that not all standards are appropriate for all teams.

VanAllen is a proud supporter of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s (ERAU) Project Liftoff program and delighted to see the first scholarship recipient, Jerry Bracey II begin his college education as an incoming freshman at the David B. O’Maley College of Business.

In part one of a three part series, VanAllen Managing Directors Jeff Agur, Don Henderson and Peter Zeeb define safety in business aviation. Don dives into strategies to develop categories of your operation’s risk appetite and how to operate the most effectively. Find out more about how your aviation team and executive team can work together to define strategic goals around risk management.

Don Henderson offers his insights about Aviation Leadership in this video. He will talk about what to look for in an aviation leader, outsourcing leadership and whether or not the aviation team leader should be a pilot. Don’s experience as an aviator, plus decades of consulting with Aviation Departments makes this expertise invaluable.

In this VanAllen Insights video, we discuss some of the considerations of aircraft management. The question of In-House vs. Managed aviation departments is a complex one. Both scenarios present pros and cons. Jeff and Colby will touch upon the service expectations, financial implications, owner experience and more…

VanAllen Managing Director, Don Henderson talks about the importance of investing energy into the people who make up your aviation department. Topics include individual assessments, values, culture, leadership, compensation and other important issues affecting the people who make up the aviation department…

During this VanAllen Insights video, Jeff Agur and Colby McDowell discuss the importance of a well-timed Aviation Fleet Plan. Jeff and Colby address the basics of Aviation Fleet Planning, who should be involved, when to conduct an Aviation Fleet Plan and common pitfalls during the process. For more information, visit vanallen.com…

In this VanAllen Insights video, Jeff Agur and Colby McDowell discuss Buying Aircraft. Together they break down the details of what a prospective buyer should know when it comes to ownership, the market and making important decisions. Contact us to discuss your needs vanallen.com…

In Part of 2 of Aircraft Maintenance, Peter Zeeb and Colby McDowell talk about the importance of accurate record keeping and documentation…

Join Peter Zeeb and Colby McDowell as they discuss Aircraft Maintenance in this two part series. The two talk about maintenance strategies, OEM vs. third-party considerations, categories of maintenance and how to utilize aircraft downtime…

The absence or erosion of trust has been the root cause in 69% of nearly 100 projects I have been involved with over the last two years. But how do you know if you have a trust issue within your team…

Lately it feels as if the giant snow globe of society was picked up, shaken hard, then set on the table upside-down. If you speak to any ten individuals, you will hear significant differences in political, religious, social, and economic values. Analyzing these conversations may have you wondering…

2020 has shifted so many things into strange territory. Something as simple as an introduction now requires multiple layers of thought. Do I shake hands? Bump elbows? Just awkwardly stand six feet away while attempting intermittent eye contact? Nobody really knows proper pandemic etiquette…

If there is one thing we have learned this year, it’s that the adage “Necessity is the mother of invention” is still relevant. Travel is necessary. Doing it safely is necessary.

Among all the uncertainty created within the last 7 months, it is no surprise that we have received a variety of inquiries about cost management strategies. Regardless of the state of the economy, the answer remains the same: focus on the largest levers that yield the greatest impact within your organization and fine-tune the smaller items…

In reviewing an article in the Harvard Business Review: The Six Mistakes Executives Make in Risk Management (Taleb, Goldstein, and Spitznagel, October 2009), I was struck by the relevancy in our little corner in business aviation. The article was a reflection on the strategies that contributed to the financial collapse in 2009 but I was struck by the relevancy of the article to business aviation…

Today’s travel environment is evolving rapidly. Rarely do we have a chance to observe a paradigm shift of such dramatic magnitude. The volume of commercial travel has reduced due to an abundance of caution. We have all embraced technology more and more to fill the need to “connect.” Yet, there will still be a need for you and your organization to travel…

With the priority on safety and security in these challenging times, it is possible that other elements can be overlooked…

At some point in the near future, your key personnel will begin to travel again. Perhaps they already are. As you ramp up your operational support, consider some strategies to mitigate exposure to your travelers and your aviation team…