Weathering the Storm and Positioning for 2010: How DB Aviation Is Approaching the Marketplace and Continuing to Expand

Some of their secrets to success: excellence, integrity, an unrelenting focus on safety, doing what they say they’ll do, honesty, hard work, consistent attention to detail, a willingness to provide services clients want … and a diversified business model.

DB Aviation is used to weathering storms. The day President David Brittsan started work with the company, every plane in the entire United States was grounded before he was able to have his first cup of coffee. It was the morning of 9/11 2001, a day we all recently re-honored.

“I got my wings that day,” David Brittsan said. “If I ever wanted to learn how to manage change and challenges quickly that was it.” The skies were shut down by 9:30am due to the terrorism acts of 9/11 in New York. Charter companies like DB Aviation were not allowed to start up again until Saturday, September 15^th.  After that incident and until the middle of 2002, there was a spike in the private aviation business due to the fear that commercial airlines could still be targets of terrorism. Then the charter and aircraft management business started to fall off dramatically.

Starting in mid-September 2008, everyone in the country began reeling again from the now infamous “money meltdown”.

Then beginning on November 19, 2008, the charter industry took another big hit after the Big Three Automakers went to Washington, D.C. to ask for Federal Bailout money. The criticism of the Big 3 CEOs’ use of their private jets was so caustic and far-reaching that the entire private aviation business took a sudden nose dive. DB Aviation saw a dramatic 52% decrease in its own charter hours between November and December 2008 (as compared to the same time period in 2007). While the company can’t pinpoint exactly how many charter flight “cancellations” directly resulted from the heavily covered Big 3 automakers’ trip to Washington, D.C., it quickly became apparent that the combination of the melting economy and the Big 3 Automakers’ negative press both contributed to the drop off.

But starting in February 2009 DB Aviation’s charter business started to turn around and grow again – even in a down economy. And the company’s jet management business started to skyrocket simultaneously, more than doubling its previous average annual results in just six months time. Alan Greenspan once commented that the one variable in the US economic model that he had difficulty accurately predicting was the human factor – the way people would behave and what they would choose under each and every circumstance.

“So here we are moving into the fourth quarter of 2009, positioning for 2010, knowing that we have weathered one of the toughest economic periods in American history,” David Brittsan said. “I can only attribute it to an unrelenting focus on safety, solid client relationships that last (we treat our customers the way we would like to be treated), integrity, consistent attention to detail, and a willingness to provide the types of services clients want (which we do barring anything that might make the flight unsafe).” The formula seems to work and so does the company’s diversified business model.

When DB Aviation’s management set up their original business model 22 years ago they made sure to provide services that would be needed in both up and down markets. When charter was down, jet management was up. Then both divisions started growing upward together again. Fuel provisions have also contributed their success in some areas.

“We’ve known but have been proving again that relationship building is key to just about any business’ success,” President David Brittsan explained. “That and doing what you say you’ll do. It’s amazing how far honesty, hard work, and attention to detail will take you in the business world.” Mr. Brittsan has more than 30 years experience in financial and operations management. He guides the long term planning for DB Aviation’s Aircraft Management, Charter Operations, Maintenance, FBO, Real Estate Rentals and Acquisitions.

“One of the things we’ve heard is that a lot of other aviation companies don’t do what they say they’ll do. That some businesses can’t be counted on to perform at levels of excellence even though their marketing materials say that they provide excellent service.

“Excellence and integrity is a niche that can be filled in any business arena. These qualities aren’t always convenient, but they are always powerful because they provide a trustworthiness that most people want. They aren’t just words on a page to us. We practice them every minute of every day. So our customers stay and more come our way.

When the compass of a company really focuses in the direction of the customer, putting itself in their shoes, a wave of satisfaction ensues. Happy customers generally make for happy employees and happy employees help to create and attract more happy customers.”

The company is continuing to build its Northern California charter sales and taking on new jets in a variety of locations in and out of the state. We recommend you test them.

Mr. Brittsan said, “We can arrange value-added packages for your company and/or your clients that will likely surpass what you’ve experienced in the past or show you, if you are new to the private jet experience, that the efficiency, privacy, and no-stress advantages to charter far outweigh the limited cost.”  “We treat our customers the way we would like to be treated,” Mr. Brittsan explained. “We provide door-to-door transportation any time it’s needed; we offer incredible concierge and food services; and we go the extra mile with regard to any other arrangements our clients may need or want.”

As part of DB Aviation’s further expansion into the Northern California area and nationally, they recently hired a new chief pilot with more than 18 years of accomplishments in management, logistics, safety audits, and training instruction – Mr. Frank Vondrak.

Please call 800-638-4990 to take DB Aviation up on its offer. You can visit www.dbaviation.com for more information about the company.