Priester Aviation

What Priester Aviation does

Priester Aviation, founded in 1945 by George Priester as a flight training school in Chicago, is now a third-generation family-owned private aviation services company headquartered at Chicago Executive Airport (PWK) in Wheeling, Illinois, operating under George J. Priester Aviation as its parent holding. The company manages a fleet of nearly 90 aircraft through three regional operating brands — Priester Aviation (Midwest), Mayo Aviation (Rocky Mountain West, acquired 2022), and Hill Private Aviation (Southeast, acquired 2023) — under FAA Part 135 air carrier certificates (#PRIA248H), with Mayo Aviation additionally operating an FAA Part 145 maintenance repair station. The corporate umbrella was unified under the George J. Priester Aviation brand in 2024 alongside the launch of Stubbs Aviation Advisors for aviation-tax consulting. Customers include high-net-worth individuals and families, aircraft owners, corporate clients and flight departments, flexible travelers (empty-leg), and healthcare organizations through the MediOps partnership.

Core products span on-demand private jet charter (starting at $4,000/hour with no membership fees), the invite-only 1945 Jet Card subscription starting at 25-hour packages with guaranteed availability and no blackout dates, and full-service aircraft management under Part 91/135 covering crewing, maintenance, scheduling, compliance, and owner financial reporting. Adjacent offerings include Aircraft Maintenance Services, Flight Department Solutions (modular concierge/maintenance/connectivity subscriptions integrated with Traxxall and GoGo), and Empty Leg Flights. The proprietary technology stack centers on a Safety Management System, an Emergency Response Plan with a dedicated Emergency Response Center conducting quarterly drills, an Operational Control Verification Form, and an Aviation Safety Action Program — supported by the next-generation AI-driven ERP module developed with AirTera for Q3 2025 release. The company holds ARGUS Platinum, Wyvern Wingman, IS-BAO Stage 3, and ACSF/IAS certifications, placing it in the stated top 1% of charter operators.

Revenue mechanics combine three streams: managed services (management fees or charter commissions on owned aircraft), transaction fees (per-trip on-demand charter), and subscription/recurring revenue (1945 Jet Card multi-year contracts), supplemented by professional services in maintenance and tax consulting. Go-to-market is sales-led via a national sales team, direct charter quoting on priesterav.com, referral networks, and a vetted charter broker partner network, with brand presence through earned media (Forbes, Robb Report, AIN, Crain's Chicago Business) and trade associations (NBAA, NATA).

Name

Priester Aviation

Legal name

Priester Aviation, LLC

Website

https://priesterav.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Priester Aviation is a family-owned private aviation services company managing nearly 90 aircraft and providing on-demand jet charter, the 1945 Jet Card, and full-service aircraft management across three U.S. regional brands under the George J. Priester Aviation umbrella.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Aviation Services (Aircraft Management and Jet Charter)

NAICS

Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation (481211)

SIC

Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522)

akta.pro primary industry

Aircraft Management & Part 135/135-equivalent Operators (THABAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Business Jet Charter (On-Demand) (THABAFAA), Private Aviation Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) (THABAFAI)

Keywords

• Aircraft management services
• Private jet charter
• Jet card programs
• Business aviation
• Corporate flight department

Headquarters

HQ city

Wheeling

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Aircraft Management Services: Full service 91 or 135 flight department management where Priester handles all aspects of aircraft operations including crewing, maintenance, scheduling, compliance, and financial reporting for aircraft owners. Owners can optionally generate charter revenue when aircraft is not in use.
2. On-Demand Private Jet Charter: Pay-as-you-go charter flights where customers request quotes for specific itineraries. Revenue generated through hourly flight rates and market-based pricing. No membership fees or deposits required - customers pay per trip.
3. 1945 Jet Card: Concierge-level charter service with immediate booking and guaranteed availability. Custom pricing based on mission profile with no blackout dates. Starting at a convenient 25-hour option. Point-to-point pricing with concierge-level service.
4. Aircraft Maintenance Services: Custom maintenance services including maintenance planning, 24/7 AOG support, records upkeep, planned maintenance event oversight, and servicing/postflight inspections for Part 91 business jet operators.
5. Charter Management (for existing aircraft owners): For aircraft owners who already manage their own aircraft, Priester provides charter opportunities under its FAA Part 135 worldwide charter certification to maximize return by generating revenue when aircraft is not utilized. Monetizes downtime and reduces ownership costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Priester Aviation delivers private aviation services including on-demand private jet charter, full-service aircraft management (Parts 91 and 135), the 1945 Jet Card membership program, charter management for aircraft owners, custom aircraft maintenance services, and modular Flight Department Solutions. The company manages nearly 90 aircraft across three regional brands (Priester Aviation, Mayo Aviation, Hill Private Aviation) and operates under top-tier safety accreditations (ARGUS Platinum, Wyvern Wingman, IS-BAO Stage 3, ACSF IAS).

Product overview

Priester Aviation operates as a multi-service private aviation company offering aircraft management and private jet charter as its core services. The company provides a portfolio of interconnected offerings: Private Jet Charter Services and the 1945 Jet Card for charter customers; Aircraft Management encompassing Full Management, Maintenance Services, and Flight Department Solutions for aircraft owners; plus the Empty Leg Flights program for discounted repositioning flights. Additional services include Safety Management System and Stubbs Aviation Advisors tax consulting. The company operates under the George J. Priester Aviation parent brand, which includes Priester Aviation (Midwest), Mayo Aviation (Rocky Mountain West), and Hill Private Aviation (Southeast) as regional bases, managing a fleet of nearly 90 aircraft.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aircraft Management (Full Management) Full-service flight department management for aircraft owners, covering crewing, maintenance coordination, scheduling, accounting, regulatory compliance, and charter revenue optimization for aircraft not in personal use. Available under FAA Part 91 or Part 135 operating structures.
• Private Jet Charter Services On-demand private jet charter providing access to turboprop, light, midsize, super midsize, heavy, and ultra long-range aircraft for individual and corporate travelers. Includes flexible booking, transparent per-trip pricing, and concierge-level service with no membership fees or deposits required.
• 1945 Jet Card Concierge-level private jet membership offering immediate booking, guaranteed availability, no blackout dates, no positioning fees, flexible cabin class, and point-to-point pricing. Custom pricing based on mission profile, starting at a 25-hour option, with multi-year contract terms. Membership is invite-only to ensure exclusivity and fleet availability.
• Aircraft Maintenance Services Custom aircraft maintenance services for Part 91 business jet operators including maintenance planning, 24/7 AOG support, records upkeep, planned maintenance event oversight, vendor coordination, and postflight/servicing inspections.
• Flight Department Solutions Modular support program offering customizable services including Flight Concierge (passenger/crew support, catering, transportation coordination), Maintenance Support (scheduling, vendor management), and Flight Service Partner (fuel procurement, training, connectivity subscriptions such as Traxxall and GoGo).
• Empty Leg Flights Discounted charter flights on aircraft repositioning without passengers, offered to travelers with flexible schedules for occasional private aviation at reduced rates.
• Stubbs Aviation Advisors Tax consulting and advisory service for aircraft owners and flight departments, providing federal, state, and local tax advice, aviation operating structure guidance, and regulatory compliance consulting. Founded by Nel Stubbs with four decades of industry experience.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 90 aircraft managed across three brands with growth from 7 to 85+ aircraft in recent years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MediOpscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026MediOps selected George J. Priester Aviation as its preferred charter partner for MediOps Aviation, a healthcare-focused charter solution for radiopharmaceutical distribution, organ transplant logistics, and time-sensitive medical missions. The collaboration pairs Priester's expansive fleet and safety accreditations with MediOps' proprietary coordination software and healthcare logistics expertise.
• AirTeracoreTechnology or Integration · 8 May 2025George J. Priester Aviation partnered with software company AirTera to co-develop a next-generation emergency response planning (ERP) module for the aviation charter industry, scheduled for release in Q3 2025. The module, based on Priester's internally developed ERP framework, will be fully integrated into AirTera's existing safety management system platform and will incorporate AI-driven automation and resilience planning tools.
• FlightSafety InternationalcoreOthersFlightSafety International provides flight crew training services. Priester crews attend full-motion simulator training from FlightSafety International and other providers to continue flight education.
• Aircare Solutions GroupminorOthersAircare Solutions Group provides in-flight medical care services as part of the allied leader network.
• Vertiport ChicagominorOthersChicago Heliport Partner providing heliport services.
• Burger Boat CompanyminorOthersAmerican Custom Yacht Builder alliance for lifestyle complement to private aviation services.
• Nantucket Wine and Food FestivalminorOthersLifestyle partnership complementing client lifestyle aspirations.
• Flight for Life ColoradocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMayo Aviation maintains a four-decade relationship with Flight for Life Colorado, the nation's first fixed wing air ambulance service and one of the most accomplished critical care transport programs in the country. Mayo Aviation is the exclusive fixed-wing provider for the life-saving organization.
• Mayo AviationcoreOthersMayo Aviation joined the Priester family in 2022. Founded in 1978, Mayo Aviation provides tailored national aircraft management services specializing in the Rocky Mountain West from Colorado.
• Hill Private AviationcoreOthersHill Private Aviation joined the Priester family in 2023. Founded in 1955 by Guy Hill Sr., the company provides aviation services in the Southeast from Fulton County Airport (KFTY) in Atlanta.
• Stubbs Aviation AdvisorscoreOthersStubbs Aviation Advisors was launched in February 2024 as part of the George J. Priester Aviation family of companies. Founded by Nel Stubbs, a foremost national expert on aviation taxes and corporate aviation business structures, it provides tax consulting and advisory services to aircraft owners and flight departments.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• VistaJet: A global private aviation company operating a uniform fleet of business jets on a subscription/charter basis. Comparable business model to Priester's jet card and on-demand charter, with significantly larger scale and global reach.
• PlaneSense: A fractional aircraft ownership program operated by PlaneSense, Inc. with a focus on turboprops and light jets. Directly comparable in customer profile (corporations, HNWI) and product overlap (jet card, fractional, management).
• Executive Jet Management: A Berkshire Hathaway-owned (NetJets sister company) aircraft management and charter company. Closest direct competitor in the US management-and-charter segment, serving a similar HNWI and corporate flight-department customer base.
• Solairus Aviation: One of the largest US aircraft management and private charter operators, managing a similar fleet profile of light through ultra-long-range business jets. Directly comparable business model (Part 135 charter, full management, maintenance) and customer base (HNW individuals, corporations, flight departments).
• Airshare: A US-based fractional ownership, jet card, and charter provider serving the Midwest and other regions. Directly comparable business model and customer base; smaller scale but a direct competitor in the same regional markets where Priester operates.
• TAG Aviation: A global business aviation company offering aircraft management, charter, FBO, and maintenance. Comparable multi-jurisdictional management and charter business with a similar premium positioning and customer profile.
• Jet Aviation: A global aircraft management, charter, MRO, and FBO operator owned by General Dynamics. Direct overlap with Priester on aircraft management, charter, and maintenance services across a similar premium customer base, with broader geographic and service-line coverage.

Emerging players

• Wheels Up: A membership-based private aviation company (NYSE: UP) that recently restructured and emerged from Chapter 11. Competes with Priester on the jet card and charter side with a tech-forward, membership-driven model; thinner safety accreditations and weaker brand heritage than Priester.

Broad incumbents

• Flexjet: A major US fractional jet ownership provider (backed by Directional Aviation) that also offers jet card and charter services. Competes with Priester for premium customers; broader product portfolio and stronger capital backing make it a key incumbent competitor.
• NetJets: The dominant US fractional ownership and charter operator, owned by Berkshire Hathaway. Competes with Priester on the charter and management side; broader portfolio (fractional, jet card, charter, management) and far greater fleet scale make it the principal incumbent benchmark.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/priesterav
• Facebookfacebook.com/priester-aviation-87832213617
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/priester-aviation

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Priester Aviation