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Interview with Michael Weber, CEO of Pro Jet GmbH
Flying high in executive classFor top business managers and
entrepreneurs, the privacy, productivity and time efficiency gains
from having a private executive jet on standby more than offset the
costs of both acquisition and maintenance. In fact, there has never
been a better time to consider the purchase of a private jet as it
is currently a buyer’s market. However, some aspects of jet
ownership are best outsourced. Pro Jet GmbH based in Achim near
Bremen, Germany is a specialist in aircraft management ensuring
that private jet owners can enjoy the instant availability of their
asset at all times.
Pro Jet was set up in November
2012 by four flying enthusiasts
who each brought at least 20 years
of experience in both business
aviation and commercial airlines
to the new venture. One of the
four is CEO Michael Weber who,
in addition to running Pro Jet, is
also an associate lecturer in quality
management, safety and security
management in commercial avia-
tion at the Technical University of
Braunschweig. Mr. Weber started
his lifelong love affair with flying as
an aeroplane mechanic with the
German Air Force before training
as a commercial pilot with a na-
tional carrier. After ten years flying
commercial jets he swapped his
wings for a managerial position
ten years ago. “My passion is fly-
ing and I still like to escape to the
skies whenever I can,” Mr. Weber
says. “The world is a completely
different place when seen from
above the clouds.”
Pro Jet started out as a German
AOC (air operator certificate)
provider with a Bermuda-issued
non-commercial certificate. This
was followed by IS BAO certifica-
tion (the international standard
for business aviation operations).
Today, Pro Jet has a technical
subsidiary at the airport in Frie-
drichshafen as well as offices at
Moscow airport. “One of the main
markets for business aviation today
is Russia, however because of
international sanctions it is difficult
for most western companies to ac-
cess,” says Mr. Weber. “Our pres-
ence in Russia gives us a major
advantage.” The current economic
uncertainty that goes hand-in-
hand with fluctuations in fuel
prices and an unpredictable new
American president are having an
effect on the international aviation
market. “It is a buyer’s market at
the moment for anyone looking to
buy a private jet as prices are low,
relatively speaking,” says Mr. We-
ber. “We also have the opportunity
to import American aircraft cheap-
ly into Europe. We currently have
a Dassault Falcon 50 mid-sized,
long-range corporate jet that would
normally cost between eight and Pro Jet is ready to take off to
new regions in the commercial sector
See the world from an entirely new perspective
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businessEUROPEANwww.european-business.com
Pro Jet GmbHIm Finigen 6 28832 Achim Germany
+49 4202 992330
[email protected] www.projet-europe.aero
nine million EUR in Europe, but
we can source for just two million
EUR in the US.” Having obtained
an aircraft on behalf of a client,
Pro Jet takes care of its registration
and airworthiness certifications.
Through its comprehensive aircraft
management service it ensures
that repairs and maintenance are
carried out according to schedule.
“We can also organize aircraft
chartering to third parties in order
to reduce overheads for owners
still further,” adds Mr. Weber.
Pro Jet provides AOG maintenance
support in and outside the EU with
CAMO approval and validations
from Bermuda and the Isle of Man.
“Through our IS BAO certification
we can support a range of Bom-
bardier, Gulfstream, Boeing, Air-
bus and Dornier aircraft, including
the Learjet,” says Mr. Weber. “We
are already well established after
just four years in the market and
are targeting continued growth.
We are also interested in the com-
mercial sector, particularly regions
that are currently underserved. We
are cooperating closely with Bozen
Airport in South Tyrol to promote
tourism in the region.” ❙
More than just an executive toy – a corporate jet guarantees
privacy in flight and helps increase productivity and time
efficiency for top-flight managers
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