Management checklist

Choosing who to manage your aircraft can be a difficult decision both because there is an overwhelming list of tasks a management company needs to account for and because not all management companies talk in the same terms or present items, such as cost, evenly. Be sure to ask lots of questions about your prospective management company and read any fine print.

Whether you choose to work with Air Partners or not, we would like your decision to be as smooth as possible.

Here is our definitive checklist of things to consider in selecting a manager. 

Operations

1. 1. Perform all flight operations and manage crew activities
   2. Classroom and simulator training for crew members
   3. Scheduling crew and aircraft for flights
   4. Provide flight crew travel support
   5. Arrange onboard catering and ground transportation, and other concierge services.

Flight Crew

1. 1. Recruit, hire, train, and retain
   2. Administer payroll
   3. Manage employee relationships

Maintenance

1. 1. Monitoring
   2. Repairs, including emergency repairs
   3. Scheduling/reporting
   4. Inhouse/outsource

Aircraft Upgrades

1. 1. Assessment/evaluation
   2. Inhouse/outsource
   3. Scheduling

Charter Use Management

1. 1. Marketing/reach
   2. Scheduling

Finance

1. 1. Costs, both fixed and operational, e.g. fuel, maintenance, crew training, insurance
   2. Management fees
   3. Invoice review and audit, both costs and revenue from charter
   4. Reporting and tracking

Size & Location

1. 1. Small/Large operation
   2. Level of personalization, service, response
   3. Amenities/Customer lounge
   4. Privacy/Facility usage, e.g. facility use by other air companies or for other uses like medivac or FBO operations
   5. Manage your aircraft type

Safety

1. 1. Safety record
   2. Third-party ratings
   3. SMS

Regulatory, ensuring compliance with domestic and international regulations, including:

1. 1. Transport Canada
   2. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA),
   3. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO),
   4. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and
   5. Canadian Transportation Agency

Find the right fit for your style and business needs. Have a good conversation with the managers you’re assessing to ensure they fully understand your goals and requirements. Given everything that’s involved, you want to be sure that you’re working with a company that matches your needs.