(Manchester, NH) Alpha Flying, Inc, Manchester, New Hampshire, celebrated the tenth anniversary of its popular PlaneSense aircraft fractional ownership program on September 9, 2005. Alpha Flying , which uses Pilatus PC-12s in its program, accepted its first PC-12, sn120, on September 9, 1995, as a demonstrator for its fledgling PlaneSense program.

Since then, the fleet has grown to 18 PC-12s, with an average age of 2.8 years. With two additional aircraft arriving in late September 2005, the 20-strong fleet will have an average age of just 2.5 years. Alpha Flying also has additional PC-12s on order, scheduled to join its all-PC-12 fleet in the coming months.

According to George Antoniadis, founder and CEO of Alpha Flying, PlaneSense now has the largest PC-12 fleet in the world. PlaneSense also has more experience flying PC-12s than any other fleet manager, having accumulated more than 50,000 accident-free hours. "Last August alone we completed over 1,550 flights for our owners," he adds.

Antoniadis credits a combination of dedication to customer service, concentrated niche marketing and his choice of the PC-12 as primary factors in making PlaneSense the leading regional aircraft fractional ownership program. As Antoniadis explains, "When we started, fractional ownership of aircraft was by no means a new idea, but it became evident to us that growing companies, who either didn't need or couldn't afford shares of jet aircraft, really had no place to turn. We decided to remedy the situation by offering shares in fuel-efficient Pilatus PC-12 turboprops to address the shorter-distance, regional needs of growing businesses."

Pat Reed, Vice President of Sales & Marketing points out that the PlaneSense program now has a wide range of owners: individuals, entrepreneurs, small-to-midsize companies and larger corporations. Says Reed, "All of these owners enjoy the flexibility and effectiveness of the PC-12 and its compelling economics, along with its large cabin and exceptional range. In fact, the PC-12 has an operating cost less than half that of a typical jet with a similar size cabin. Our aircraft, cruising at 270 knots, can consistently deliver trip times comparable to jets on 'legs' up to 700 nautical miles. And on longer legs we can fly nonstop, whereas many aircraft would have to make a fuel stop enroute."

 

Summing up, Antoniadis notes, "In its eleventh year, PlaneSense continues on track with a safe, efficient and young fleet, coupled with our emphasis on responsive customer service. Our customer book is growing steadily and the "churn ratio" (the ratio of the number of customers leaving compared to the number of customers entering the program) is virtually nil at 0.07--the industry's lowest--which I think speaks volumes about the quality of PlaneSense service."

Antoniadis emphasizes that, "Although we are great fans of the PC-12, I have to give all the credit for our success to the outstanding team we've assembled at PlaneSense as well as the support and loyaty of our valued clients. We confidently look forward to the next ten years."

PlaneSense website: www.planesense.aero