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On business aircraft, there are three things that must be functional before you can begin your flight. The internet, the engines, and the pilots…and the last two are optional. Of course, this is a comedic exaggeration, really there are many more things that are necessities. The joke here being, however, that in-flight connectivity is truly becoming the most important element of business aviation. If it were possible for an aircraft owner to fly a plane without a pilot, they probably would do that rather than attempt to fly without the internet. It is particularly important for airplane owners today to be aware of where their connectivity is coming from, as the world of In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) is in a state of major flux.

Pro Star Aviation just accomplished its biggest milestone yet: 25 years in business. I recently sat down with Managing Partner Kevin Harriman and Director of Sales and Marketing Jeff Shaw, both of whom have been there since the start. We reflected on Pro Star’s first quarter century in aviation, as well as what is in store for the future of the company.

Last month, I spoke with general manager Sean Peterson to discuss our progress as the Northeast Embraer service center. I continued my conversation with Sean to discuss some of the accomplishments the service center has achieved, as well as where we stand with some key inspections and pre-purchase evaluations. Additionally, I wanted to know what steps the service center is taking to prepare for further growth in the months and years to come.

In July of 2021, Pro Star became an Embraer authorized service center. Since then, we have served as the main OEM approved maintenance facility in the Northeast U.S. As the two-year anniversary as an Embraer service center rapidly approaches, I sat down with general manager, Sean Peterson, to see where we stand as we mark this milestone.

It is undeniable that Elon Musk is a disruptive force in the business world. Throughout his career, Musk’s outside thinking and raw confidence has allowed him to break several industries wide open. He is, perhaps, best known for Tesla; incorporating vertical integration into his business model to change the automotive industry. His direct-to-customer model was so successful that he is utilizing it now with Starlink. Starlink is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation intended to serve residential, business, RV, maritime, and aviation marketplaces. Similar to Tesla, Musk has seen great success with his manufacturer-to-consumer business template. Despite this, however, there are certain concerns related to how this model may conflict with the rigid nature of the aviation industry. 

The start of the new calendar year marks an important change for Pro Star Aviation. Clark Gordon, former Director of Sales and Marketing, has retired. For twelve dedicated years, Clark helped to steer our ship and grow our business into what it is today. Clark is now stepping down, leaving behind a 40+ year journey within the aviation industry. Despite his impressive career, Clark was not always in Sales. In fact, he began like many members of our management team: on the line.