July-August_2021 - 11

FBOS
Council Bluffs, said one of the biggest
changes she witnessed during the
pandemic was that people from all walks
of life wanted to learn to fly for different
reasons. " Some had always wanted to fly
but didn't have the time. Others saw it
as the future for their corporate travel, "
she said. " The younger generation
realizes that there is and will continue
to be a shortage of commercial pilots
throughout the decade, so why not jump
in now? "
Carver Aero, which currently
operates FBOs in Davenport, Muscatine
and Council Bluffs, Iowa, is expanding
in the Midwest, said Lieser. " We're
looking at acquiring additional FBOs
in Nebraska, Illinois and Wisconsin
this year, " he said. " As a result, we're
simultaneously looking at rebranding
the company. "
The pandemic gave FBO operators
said Nicholas Daddis,
little choice,
founder and president of FBO Advisors,
which has offices in Arizona, Colorado
and Illinois. " The FBO operators had
to become more efficient and more lean
out of necessity while still managing to
provide continued great service. "
Daddis believes these operators are
poised to reap the economic benefits
of those efficiencies that they were
forced into. " Another major shift that
we'll see at FBOs is maximizing hangar
rental. It's a major recurring income
center alongside the traditional fuel
sales, " he said. Well located FBO's are
experiencing record fuel sales, compared
to the same period last year, which were
affected by the pandemic. Some of our
clients are reporting four times the fuel
sales during this current quarter. " I
don't believe there's ever been a better
time to be in general aviation, " he said,
" We're back.
Lieser said Carver Aero will be
adding additional hangars in Council
Bluffs and future FBO locations as
well. " It's certainly a part of our strategic
growth plan, " he said.
Carver Aero is also making a
dramatic shift in how FBOs are viewed
in their communities. " We want to be
more active, " said Lieser. " We want
to host events at the FBO. " He said
events could include air shows, the
hosting of exhibits featuring local
artists or incorporating a restaurant
where families can enjoy a burger while
watching planes take off and land. " We
want families to enjoy aviation and
for young people to experience the
wonderment of flight, " he said.
From Accounting to
Aviation
Cameron Frazier, 24, is one of those
young people who made a 180-degree
change in his life. Frazier worked as an
auditor for a public accounting firm
in Des Moines upon graduating from
college. " I really didn't like it, " he said.
" When we visited clients, I was often
given a desk in a windowless, basement
office, and I'd sit there for 12 hours. "
When Frazier began studying for his
Certified Public Accountant exam, he
had an epiphany. " I wasn't passionate
about it, and if you really dislike
something, it's not easy to study several
hours a day for an exam. "
Frazier said he turned to his younger
self to see what interested him besides
numbers. " I remember as a kid, my dad
took me to an air show and I saw the
Blue Angels, and I thought that would
be an awesome career. "
He researched becoming a Blue
Angel and opted to take the civilian
route instead. " I quit my job and started
pilot training. I practically lived at the
airport and put my full attention to it. "
Frazier got his pilot's license in 30 days
and then proceeded with various ratings
through multi-engine flight instructor.
" I'm a flight instructor but do help on
the charter department when they need
someone in the right seat, " he said. Frazier
is working toward 1,500 hours to earn
his Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) license.
The bigge st changes he's
experienced? " I really enjoy what I
do now. I have a passion for it, and it
provides a better work-life balance.
" A 12-hour day in aviation goes
by really fast, whereas 12 hours in
accounting does not, " he adds.
Charter customer Aronson says,
" It's the best big-purchase decision our
agency has made. Being able to leave
town, go five hours away and get back
the same day is invaluable to me. I don't
come from a family of high material
wealth, but chartering a plane has
reopened my eyes to see this is the way
to travel. It's like a time machine and
certainly safer than driving on all those
two-lane roads I used to drive. "
From a business perspective, it's
all about the presentation. " When we
landed in Winona, our client met me at
the airport. He was overwhelmed and
impressed with the plane, " said Aronson.
" I got off the plane in my suit, the client
was able to check the plane out, and he
appreciated the whole experience. " 
JULY/AUGUST 2021 \ AVIATIONPROS.COM / 11
http://www.AVIATIONPROS.COM
July-August_2021

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