CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Flexjet LLC, the most forward-thinking private jet provider in the world, today announced that Clay Wilcox, a 28-year aviation industry expert, will join Flexjet as vice president of sales and will lead the company’s new Gulfstream G650 exclusive shared ownership model. Flexjet is the only fractional provider of the Gulfstream G650, the ultimate business aircraft.
This days-based shared ownership model features the Gulfstream G650 and is aimed at high-utilization large cabin customers. This innovative program features pricing through a days-based model instead of a traditional fractional hours-based one. The program will start with two home bases – New York City and London – which are the financial capitals of the world and two of the most popular business and personal travel destinations.
“When the traditional fractional program was created 35 years ago, customers purchased hours for segments that were approximately two-hour trips. In our new program, we have changed the primary currency of hours to a days-based model that is much more consistent with traditional whole aircraft ownership,” said Flexjet Chief Executive Officer Michael Silvestro. “In today’s business world, international travel is in demand, which led to this creative approach. Clay is the perfect leader as he understands both the needs of the whole aircraft owner as well as the fractional owner.”
Silvestro and Wilcox began their aviation careers together and have watched the industry evolve, giving Wilcox the perspective needed to introduce this innovative offering. Most recently, Wilcox was with NetJets for 11 years as a regional vice president of sales and a senior sales executive with its whole aircraft division, QS Partners.
The Gulfstream G650 is part of Red Label by Flexjet, which features flight crews dedicated to a single, specific aircraft, the youngest fleet in the industry and custom LXi cabin interiors. The access program for this jet includes all of these industry-leading features. In addition, Owners will appreciate Flexjet’s world-leading owner experience support staff, impeccable safety ratings from the FAA and ARG-US International, unparalleled personalized service and attention to all the details important to the Flexjet Owner.
“This is the most revolutionary model of accessing an aircraft that I have been a part of,” Wilcox said. “On a purchase of this magnitude, this is an intelligent, progressive financial decision. It does not surprise me that Flexjet is the company that came up with this concept. Flexjet’s ability to adapt to market demands was a key factor in my decision to join this team and further grow the market share that Flexjet has taken from its competitors.”
Wilcox is among an increasing number of former NetJets executives deciding to join Flexjet in its reinvention of the private aviation industry. He has a personal passion for aviation and holds a commercial pilot license with a Multi-Engine Instrument Airplane rating and over 4,000 hours total time. Fluent in French and conversant in Spanish, Wilcox is also a commercial diver, certified for surface-supplied diving, and worked for the Cousteau Society for nearly eight years. Wilcox is based in the New York City area.
About Flexjet
Flexjet first entered the fractional jet ownership market in 1995. Flexjet offers fractional jet ownership and leasing. Flexjet’s fractional aircraft program is the first in the world to be recognized as achieving the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s Industry Audit Standard, is the first and only company to be honored with 20 FAA Diamond Awards for Excellence, upholds an ARG/US Platinum Safety Rating and is IS-BAO compliant at Level 2. Flexjet’s fractional program fields an exclusive array of business aircraft—some of the youngest in the fractional jet industry, with an average age of approximately six years. In 2015, Flexjet introduced Red Label by Flexjet, which features the youngest fleet in the industry, flight crews dedicated to a single aircraft and the LXi Cabin Collection of interiors. To date there are more than 25 different interior designs across its fleet, which includes the Challenger 350, the Embraer Legacy 450, Global Express, the Gulfstream G450, G500 and G650, and the Aerion AS2 supersonic business jets. In addition, the overall jet collection includes the Embraer Phenom 300 and Bombardier Challenger 300. Flexjet is a member of the Directional Aviation family of companies. For more details on innovative programs and flexible offerings, visit www.flexjet.com or follow us on Twitter @Flexjet and on Instagram @FlexjetLLC.
