Breaking Barriers for Small Air Carriers' Growth

I am a strategic planner and results-driven leader with a proven ability to optimize processes, build efficient business units, and drive organizational success. With expertise in project and time management, I excel at developing tools, procedures, and long-term strategies that enhance productivity and efficiency across industries. A facilitator of change, I have played a key role in full-spectrum maintenance (mx) operations, including authoring preventative mx programs, engineering documents and job cards, optimizing maintenance visits, provisioning materials and tooling, and overseeing heavy mx. My unique perspective bridges the gap between repair facilities and operators, ensuring seamless collaboration and operational success.

With a strong track record of exceeding company goals, I bring expertise in strategic planning, production and material planning, software implementation (Trax, Ramco), and business unit development. I have extensive experience in maintenance leadership, contract negotiations, and engineering processes, leveraging analytical, organizational, and negotiation skills to drive efficiency, innovation, and sustainable growth.

Challenges in Ground Handling and Equipment Access

Competition between air carriers is strong and fierce. However, air carriers also exist in what we all have come to know as a small industry. There may only be 3 degrees of separation in the people you know. In this competitive field, there are finite gates and time slots available in which all air carriers operate. When it comes to this finite space, there are two big hurdles for small air carriers to overcome once they achieve access to airports: 1) Lack of ground handling competition and 2) lack of adequate ground support equipment (GSE). Most large air carriers have the wherewithal to handle their own ground handling and GSE that allows them to control their own destiny. Small air carriers must rely on outsourced support.

“Limited ground handling competition and inadequate support equipment create major obstacles for small air carriers. Airports must foster competition and invest in reliable ground support to attract more carriers, enhance efficiency, and ultimately offer better service to passengers and cargo”

In most non-hub airports, there is only one company allowed on the field to provide ground handling services. This creates an age-old problem known as sole-sourcing mentality. Without competition, customer service and support wane over time in sole-source facilities. The sense of urgency disappears, and they get to it when they get to it creeping into the operation and having a detrimental effect on air carrier schedules, efficiencies and performance.

GSE is another pain point for smaller air carriers. The capital investment required for multiple locations can be an overwhelming expense for smaller air carriers. GSE equipment should be a staple in the arsenal of non-hub airports that wish for growth and stability. Along with the investment in GSE equipment, these airports also must ensure they have a proper preventive maintenance program in place to keep their GSE equipment running and functioning reliably. Ground air, towing equipment, ground power and lavatory servicing equipment are key items for them to acquire and maintain. Without them, smaller air carriers are limited in the operations they may be able to maintain at that facility. We all know aircraft APUs fail thus, the need for ground air and/or ground power.

Allowing competition on the field is one way for airports to grow and increase the number of air carriers operating into and out of their facilities. Investing in adequate ground support equipment is another way. Without these two key components in airfield operations, smaller airports limit the number of air carriers able to operate. Fewer air carriers also lead to less competition for passengers and cargo to move at more reasonable rates. Competition is good for all parties on and off the airport.