Category:News
Tags : #aviation #maintenance
‘There definitely seems to be an optimism’
Atlantic Jet Partners (AJP), originally established as a light-to-midsize jet sales and acquisitions company, has evolved into a multifaceted aviation company. Guided by CEO Tom Conlan’s vision of creating a “one-stop-shop” for aviation needs, the company has diversified its operations significantly over recent years, encompassing multiple specialized divisions and services.
“Basically what (Conlan) wants to do is from purchase to sale, whatever is needed to do with an aircraft, whether it’s maintenance parts, upgrades, interior refurbishments, engine extension insurance, whatever it might be, we’d like to be able to take care of that in-house for our customers,” AJP chief information officer Stephen Kaufman .
AJP owns and operates numerous subsidiaries, including Sky Aviation Holdings. Initially focused on jet sales, Sky Aviation Holdings made its mark in the light-to-midsize jet market by acquiring and refurbishing legacy jets. These refurbishments include new paint, interiors, engines, and avionics upgrades.
The company’s expansion began with the recruitment of Jim Clifford, an aircraft engineer, to head its TBO division. This program extends the operational life of JT15D engines by 2,000 hours at a fraction of the cost of a traditional overhaul.
Clifford also oversees SkyVue Avionics, an avionics division specializing in cockpit upgrades for legacy aircraft. SkyVue’s product line includes upgrades such as the SkyVue 1000 for Primus 1000-powered Citations, the SkyVue 400 for Beechjets, and the SkyVue 60 for Learjets. These upgrades enhance aircraft functionality with features like dual FMS and WAAS/LPB compliance.
To support maintenance operations, the company established Sky Aircraft Maintenance, a Part 145 maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility located in Lexington, North Carolina. The facility, managed by Steve Trent, includes two hangars totaling more than 22,000 sq ft with an additional 50,000-sq-ft hangar currently under construction.
In fractional ownership, the company launched Sky Flight Air, offering shares in aircraft such as King Airs, Beechjet 400As, Learjet 60s, and Hawker 1000s. The program is positioned as a cost-effective alternative to traditional fractional ownership and jet card providers.
Sky Aviation Insurance, another division, has experienced rapid growth due to targeted marketing and SEO initiatives. The division processes between 30 to 60 aviation-related insurance requests monthly.
The company recently expanded its engineering and manufacturing capabilities with the acquisition of Aerospace Design & Compliance (ADC) in New Castle, Delaware. ADC specializes in engineering work for supplemental type certificate (STC) approvals and recently achieved STC approval for the SkyVue 1000. This approval includes compliance with the FAA’s 2023 cybersecurity standards, enabling secure Bluetooth and Wi-Fi communications.
Complementing ADC, Sky Aviation Holdings acquired a 10,000-sq-ft facility in Melbourne, Florida, named ADC2. This facility will focus on parts manufacturing under FAA Part 21 regulations. The Melbourne site enables the company to design, certify, and manufacture FAA-approved parts in-house, fostering collaboration between certification and manufacturing processes while attracting top aerospace engineers.
Further broadening its maintenance capabilities, the company acquired Aerodyne Turbine Repair & Maintenance in Stuart, Florida. This facility provides a range of services, including hot section inspections, heavy maintenance, preventive maintenance, line maintenance, fuel nozzle repair, and oil analysis.
Additionally, the company purchased Great Lakes Turbines in Toledo, Ohio. This FAA Part 145 component repair station offers services such as welding, fabrication, non-destructive testing, CNC machining, and turbine engine component repair. The Toledo facility enhances the company’s ability to meet rigorous machining and process requirements, attracting aerospace and land-based power clients while streamlining inter-company operations.
Backing up all of this growth activity has been a strong business aviation market. “I think optimism for the economy is, from what we’re seeing, better than ever,” Kaufman said. “There was a lull period during the last four years, there was hesitance, but I think with after the election, the new government coming in, there definitely seems to be an optimism.”
