Description
Position Summary
The General Manager (GM) is responsible for full business leadership of the Part 135 certificate, Part 145 Certificate and FBO including P&L performance, aircraft owner relationships, operational execution, and fleet growth. This role oversees cross-functional alignment between operations, maintenance, FBO and owner services to ensure profitability and a premium client experience.
Key Responsibilities
• Full P&L ownership across several revenue streams
• Lead aircraft-level profitability and enforce performance accountability
• Serve as executive point of contact for aircraft owners and manage retention
• Oversee Director of Operations, Chief Pilot, Director of Maintenance and FBO Manager
• Drive fleet growth through aircraft acquisitions and onboarding
• Align each company for efficient execution
• Establish and enforce KPI dashboards across all departments
• Ensure FAA compliance culture and audit readiness
• Resolve operational conflicts and eliminate departmental silos
Owner Services Management
• Conduct monthly, quarterly and annual business reviews with aircraft owners
• Present financial performance, utilization, and maintenance planning
• Manage owner expectations regarding charter usage and availability
• Handle escalations and retention strategies
Operational Leadership
• Ensure aircraft availability targets are consistently achieved
• Reduce maintenance downtime and improve scheduling efficiency
• Oversee aircraft dispatch reliability and trip execution quality
• Maintain high crew utilization and staffing efficiency
Key Performance Indicators
• Revenue per aircraft
• Contribution margin per aircraft
• Aircraft utilization (hours/month)
• Aircraft availability (% flyable days)
• Owner retention rate
• Fleet growth
Compensation
• Base Salary: Negotiable based on experience
• Bonus: Based on EBITDA, fleet performance, and owner retention (additional incentives tied to aircraft-level profitability)
Education and Experience Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in Aviation Management, Airport Management, or Business Administration preferred
• 10+ years in private aviation, Part 135 experience preferred
• Proven leadership in multi-aircraft operations
• Strong financial acumen and P&L management experience
• Experience managing aircraft owners and high-net-worth clients
• Deep understanding of FAA Part 135 operations
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive accountability
• High executive presence and professionalism
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to exercise independent judgment in a fast-paced environment