October 30, 2024
The latest phase of FlyExclusive’s vertical integration will cut costs as it brings pilot training in-house.
FlyExclusive has secured a $30 million investment from the State of North Carolina for a pilot training center and headquarters facility at Global TransPark.
This 2,500-acre facility is the site of its Kinston Regional Jetport base.
The new facility will be a five-story complex containing up to five full-motion flight simulators.
According to FlyExclusive Founder and CEO Jim Segrave, it is the final piece of the Top 5 operator’s vertical integration strategy.
The simulators will allow the company to train and certify its pilots and reduce a lengthy backlog from using third-party facilities.
They will occupy 10,000 square feet across three stories and five bays.
The facility will include 14,000 square feet of classrooms and training spaces, a rooftop terrace, and a 22,000-square-foot air operations center.
Segrave said FlyExclusive’s facilities expansion is in the middle of the country’s busiest private aviation corridor, making operations efficient.
Nearby military bases also provide fertile recruiting ground.
“We believe this latest investment will bring hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars to the state and community we love. We’re proud to call Kinston and North Carolina home, and I’m grateful for our partners in government who share our vision for the future and invest in our success.”
The company expects that once the simulators are functional, they will be able to reduce the amount of time new pilot hires must wait for outside training, giving the company an advantage as it competes for talent in one of the tightest labor markets in the United States,” he said in the announcement.
Separately, the company announced it had added the 100th jet to its fleet.
Earlier this month, the company received the first three of 44 new private jets from Textron Aviation.
The orders and options include 30 CJ3+ light jets, eight XLS Gen2 midsize aircraft, and six Longitude super-midsize airplanes.
Additionally, it continues expanding its fleet via its partnership program, which entails long-term triple net leases.
Under the program, FlyExclusive repaints and refurbishes the airplanes to its standard at its in-house MRO facilities.
About 85% of the fleet has installed new interiors and exterior paint.
The flight provider’s Phase II expansion included the construction of four hangars.
It included an electrostatic paint shop that could handle eight aircraft per month.
With internal work and external clients, Segrave said the facility is sold out into 2024.
Once completed, the next phase of its development brings 80% of its maintenance in-house.
The in-house capability will reduce both waiting time and costs.
Earlier this year, the Federal Aviation Administration certified FlyExclusive to perform MRO services, Part 145, on third-party aircraft.
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