Executive Aviation Services sees itself as ‘a time machine’

Scientists may never crack the code of time travel, but Springdale-based Executive Aviation Services is coming pretty close.

The Northwest Arkansas charter operator has been in business for 25 years and has methodically grown its footprint through organic client growth, the addition of airplanes, and strategic acquisitions. It’s a flight plan for continued success.

“As corny as this sounds, I mean, we truly are a time machine,” said Mark Myers, director of operations and one of the private pilots who takes clients to their destinations. “If I can get you to where you need to go to get to your meeting and you come back and you can get this done in a seven to 10 hour period and you’re more productive versus being gone two or three days on the airlines, that is time that you are able to produce income for yourself or who you work for and your time is one of those qualities. You can’t store it, you can’t save it, it’s just gone.”

Myers and Faune Conner, Executive Aviation Services chief financial officer, have seen the airplane fleet grow over the years from a single plane in 2000. There was a quantum leap in business several years ago when they added a Hawker 800XP and Super King Air to their lineup.

“The biggest difference we saw with the Hawker is it’s opened us up to international travel. So we’re doing a lot of trips to Mexico, Costa Rica, the Virgin Islands, the Caymans – people that want to go on their own time and schedule,” Conner said.

The duo said they are planning on adding a CJ – a CitationJet – to their fleet, which will further create opportunities for high-end domestic and international client travel.

But it’s not all business and leisure travelers. Executive Aviation has carved out a niche in the medical field.

“We do a lot of private travel trips for vacation. We do a lot of business work. But, we do a lot of medical stuff that we do for hospitals and transplants, the VA [Veterans Administration], not air ambulance, but just moving patients and surgical teams,” Myers said.

The company has diversified its operations well beyond passenger flights. It owns Summit Aviation, the fixed base operator [FBO] for the Springdale Municipal Airport, one of the busiest airports in the state. It acquired the FBO from Johnelle Hunt nearly 15 years ago. About seven years ago, the company bought the airport’s maintenance operations, Springdale Aircraft Maintennance Services, from Sam Cordray’s estate after he passed away.

If you’re looking to buy or sell an airplane, Executive Aviation can help with the transaction. And, a new type of brokerage service is emerging for the company where it connects clients with those seeking private flights.

“Mark’s son, Colton Meyers, actually does most of the brokerage. He’s very good at it. He has a network set up and he’s always booking us or having to turn down a trip,” Conner said.

With the diversity of operations, the addition of more aircraft, and the growth in Northwest Arkansas, the runway for Executive Aviation Services looks ready for further take-off.

“An important part of what we have built is the integration of the three aviation businesses that support each other,” said Conner. “Having a charter air service backed by an FBO for fueling and a repair facility for on-site maintenance have been invaluable to us in keeping our fleet running and avoiding major down times.”

“We started out in 2000 and have been going ever since then. I don’t know if you’d call us a success, but at least we’ve held on this long,” said Myers. “We’ve just been taking advantage of the opportunities that have been presented to us and the growth of Northwest Arkansas.”