Flight Admin Takes Time, Skilled Personnel

Q: What is Jetpro’s value proposition to Mexican clients?

A: Jetpro was founded in 1999, building on my previous experience as a pilot and in the aerospace industry through jobs with service providers. We began by providing administration and crew services for a single airship and sublet some services from other companies to complement our own, gradually developing a client base. Today, we administer aerial taxis, offer counseling to companies interested in renting their aircraft and provide support for the sale and acquisition of airplanes. We help our clients find the aircraft that best suits their needs because they may under or overestimate each unit’s capabilities.

We work closely with DGAC and other international regulators. Our main strength is regulations management but we also provide crews, maintenance and ground-handling, encompassing every service that an airplane needs to fly.

Q: What are the most complex tasks for aircraft administrators?

A: One of the more complex areas of airplane operations is dealing with DGAC. This organization has been updating its processes to adhere to international regulations, which has increased its complexity and bureaucracy. Our administrators visit its offices daily to acquire permits and update operations and maintenance manuals. The DGAC is aware of the problem and is working to simplify its procedures, including the possibility of submitting documentation online. There is room for improvement. The whole operation would be more efficient if the number of different departments involved in every procedure were reduced.

We complete all the paperwork for our clients but we do ask them to comply with certain basic requirements to prove to DGAC that the aircraft is safe and that its owner is reliable.

Q: What trends are prevalent in the private aviation market?

A: Private aviation reflects the state of the economy. When there is a recession, private owners sell their aircraft and when the economy is booming, they acquire more. Local manufacturing also has reduced aircraft prices. Private aviation will continue growing and become accessible to a larger segment of the population. MRO providers and schools are expanding under the DGAC’s watchful gaze, improving the sector’s competitiveness.

Q: What does Jetpro consider when looking for new commercial partners?

A: While several of our clients recommend us, we have to be careful when contacting new clients because we only work with those who are committed to keeping all permits up to date. This rule protects our clients and our fleet's image.

Our services are similar to other companies’ offerings but we prefer to work through mutually beneficial alliances. There is little direct competition in the state as each company has clear and defined strengths that differentiate it. Therefore, we form alliances with these companies to offer a broader range of services. We have partnerships with Redwings among other aerial taxi companies.

Q: What services does Jetpro offer that differentiates the company from its competition?

A: We adapt our services to our clients’ needs. Some prefer to use their own crew, in which case we only provide ground handling, while others want the complete package. Many clients ask us to sublet their airplanes when they are not using them but others prefer them to be available at all times and only use our services to manage them on the ground.

Our fleet consists of eight airplanes and we manage another eight for third parties. This fleet is stored in different hangars from those of Avemex, Eolo and SAE. We are Safety Management System (SMS) and IS-BAO certified and were exempted from DGAC’s Technical and Administrative Verification for the past three years, a yearly revision by the organization applied to all aerial taxis.

Jetpro has 17 pilots, seven of whom are employed full-time. All our pilots practice at least once a year in a simulator, which is a DGAC and insurance companies’ requisite. We have created alliances with Aeropersonal and Redwings and work with SAE which supports our maintenance services.