Aviation Transactions & Consulting
Fractional Aircraft Ownership\Private Jet Leasing\Aircraft Membership\Card Programs\Private Jet Charters\New Jet Acquisitions\Pre-Owned Jet Acquisitions\Aircraft Completion Management\Corporate Aircraft Financing
We provide high-net-worth individuals, corporations and family offices with the insight and expertise they need to confidently navigate the purchase or lease of a fractional share.
Is Fractional Aircraft Ownership the Right Decision for Your Travel Needs?
Whether you are preparing to fly private for the very first time or are a seasoned traveler, it’s important that you choose the private aviation service that most closely aligns with your unique travel requirements.
With numerous options available, figuring out which one is right for you can be a challenge — fortunately, that’s where Essex Aviation comes in.
Book a free aviation consultation today so we can review:
- Which service(s) you currently utilize
- Your typical travel patterns
- Anticipated changes to your travel requirements
- Available options in the market
- Personalized recommendations as to which service will deliver the greatest value
With a combined 100 years of aviation industry experience to our name, Essex Aviation Group has the necessary expertise and insights to help you identify the best option.
Free Aviation Consultation
Our Testimonials
Our Clients Say It Best
“Essex Aviation’s guidance and data analysis was crucial to our successful first CJ3 lease and later our CJ4 purchase. The expertise of Essex allowed us to understand more fully our flight metrics, history, costs and how to match our future aviation needs with available options in a way that would not have been possible on our own.”
Alexandra Glazier, President and CEO
New England Donor Services
“I engaged Essex Aviation to prepare an analysis of large cabin aircraft that best met my needs. Their process was comprehensive and thorough. After an exhaustive search of available aircraft, they represented me on the acquisition, negotiation and importation of a long range aircraft and then oversaw a comprehensive customization of the entire plane. Throughout the process, Essex was a knowledgeable, trustworthy and detail oriented partner.”
Daniel R.
“Lee and Tom are the dynamic duo you've been looking for. Their collective skills provide exacting coverage on every detail needed when considering an airplane purchase or refurbishment. I worked with them on a lengthy process, from identification of plane, purchase, full refurbishment, staff assignments thru delivery. I was never once disappointed. Perfect personalities for even the pickiest of clients!”
Heidi M.
“Essex Aviation facilitated an end-of-lease process for a large aircraft and assisted us with structuring a subsequent lease extension. The transactions had several challenging issues that required expert counseling and negotiation. The Essex team is friendly, prompt, easy to work with, and most importantly, simply the best at what they do. We couldn’t be happier with the outcome.”
Joe Stone, CFO
Sartini Enterprises, Inc.
“Throughout my career as a family office executive, Essex Aviation has been my go to aviation expert. Lee and Tom have guided me through the most complex aircraft acquisition while being able to meet difficult client deadlines. The Essex team has provided key analysis ranging from the mundane, such as the interpretation of the placement of a placard on an aircraft to negotiations relating to an engine care program. Lee and Tom are key partners in all aspects of family office aviation matters.”
John Castrucci, Family Office Executive & Founder
Global Family Office Advisors
“We had a very positive experience with Essex. We found them to be competent, professional and objective. They dedicated a significant amount of time to providing an extremely insightful evaluation of our aircraft division. The report detailed strengths and weaknesses in our operation, together with constructive recommendations . They interacted very well with the staff and were able to elicit accurate and honest information.”
Michael M.
Northeast based Family Office
“Lee, Tom and the team at Essex have worked with us over the years on a variety of fixed wing, rotor and other special projects, performing to superior standards throughout. We initially went through an industry downselect to compete them against their peers and they surfaced as the best fit for us. We continue to be very happy with the relationship.”
Mike D.
Northeast Based Family Office
“Knowledgeable. Informed. Competent. Thorough. Practical. Candid. Professional. Responsive. Efficient.”
Tony R., CFO
Northeast Based Family Office
What is Fractional Aircraft Ownership?
With fractional ownership, you purchase a share of a specific aircraft type, which provides you with an annual amount of allotted flight hours. Typically, fractional programs require a minimum share size of 50 hours of flight time per year to acquire a share.
Fractional shares can especially be cost effective if you plan to stay at your destination for a long period of time, since you only pay for your occupied flight time, not the positioning flights.
Key Considerations for Fractional Ownership
Any client considering fractional jet ownership should ask themselves a few questions before making a decision:
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How many hours per year do I fly?
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How frequently do my travel needs change?
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How long are my trips, usually?
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Do I predominately fly for personal or business reasons?
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How many people do I typically travel with?
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What is my budget?
The Cost of Fractional Ownership
There are three basic costs associated with fractional aircraft ownership:
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Acquisition Cost
The initial cost to purchase a share. This varies depending on the aircraft type and size of the share.
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Monthly Management Fees
These fees cover your ownership’s portion of the fixed costs, including maintenance, pilot’s salary, crew salaries, insurance, hangar fees and other administrative costs.
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Hourly Operating Fee
This fee covers your hourly operational costs for each hour flown.
Commonly Used Aircraft
Clients interested in fractional aircraft ownership have a wide variety of aircraft types to choose from. From turbo-props to light jets and heavy jets, Essex Aviation can help identify the most suitable aircraft to meet any client’s specific personal or business travel requirements.
Fractional Share Options
There are, at present, two options when purchasing a fractional share. Traditional share sizes are based on annual flight hours per contract, per year. Other programs offer share sizes based on annual days of utilization per contract year.
The hours-per-year model is based on shares totaling 800 occupied hours per year sold for each aircraft. The newer days-per-year model enables owners to fly as many hours as they need per day with the only limitation being standard crew duty times. Understanding the pros and cons of each model and how it fits into your travel needs is an essential part of any fractional program analysis.
The Path to Fractional Aircraft Ownership
There are several key considerations that factor into fractional jet ownership. We assist clients through the entire fractional share purchase or lease process, starting with an initial evaluation and review of the available options. We represent our clients with the selected fractional provider during the analysis, negotiations, final contracting with the selected fractional provider and delivery of the share.
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Perform Initial Evaluation
Clients considering fractional aircraft ownership often have different expectations and have varying needs. For those new to private aviation, or those simply looking to make a change, the initial evaluation of the various private aircraft programs is an important step made easier by working with Essex Aviation. Our team assists clients in comparing options based on their specific needs and desires, starting with a technical and financial analysis to ensure that the right aircraft and aviation utilization models are considered.
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Oversee the Proposal
Once the client has selected an aircraft type and assessments are complete, we assist them with understanding the differences between the various proposals from the identified providers to determine which will most effectively meet their defined needs and requirements.
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Oversee Negotiations and Contracting
Once the client has selected a provider, Essex will provide ongoing representation during the review, including the negotiation of terms, final contracting and closing on the share.
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Ongoing Financial Monitoring
While the billing process for fractional providers is well-defined, with fixed monthly management fees, along with invoices for variable costs based on hours flown during the prior month, we often provide routine statement monitoring and review on an as-requested basis.
Why Essex Aviation?
Unbiased
Essex Aviation is not a brokerage firm and does not list aircraft for sale. We made this choice in order to avoid any conflicts of interest by representing both a buyer and seller. We accept no commissions, referral fees or any other forms of compensation from any third parties. At Essex, we work solely for our clients, offering unbiased and uncompromised advice.
Unparalleled Experience
Lee Rohde and Tom Mitchell have been working in the aviation business for a combined 70+ years. Passionate about aviation since they were in their teens, Lee and Tom provide a unique combination of experience and a wealth of unparalleled knowledge while advocating for their clients’ interests.
Confidential
We are committed to protecting the privacy of our clients. Every agreement we enter into includes privacy and confidentiality clauses, which are strictly adhered to by every member of Essex Aviation.
Honest and Fair
Essex is a well-respected consumer advocate within the aviation industry, known for our character and honesty. It is our desire to form and maintain long-term relationships with our clients and remain accountable for the analysis and support of past and ongoing decisions.
Ready to Purchase Your Business Jet?