Posted on Wed, Jan. 11, 2006
Changing hands

Eaglejet Aviation takes over Executive Aircraft's operations

BY MOLLY MCMILLIN

The Wichita Eagle

The co-owners of Eaglejet Aviation have purchased Executive Aircraft's fixed-base operations at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport. The owners, Jamie Pegg and Andy Rusch, said Tuesday they will continue to offer fuel sales, deicing and aircraft parking and storage. The business is operating under the Eaglejet name.

"We bought their assets and moved into their facility," Pegg said. The business changed hands Jan. 1.

The two also will continue Eaglejet's business providing emergency maintenance on business jets. They began the company in Newton in 2000 and have been moving it to Wichita over the past 18 months. The company employs 20 people.

"I'm real excited," Pegg said of the purchase. It's a "lot of work, but real fun."

Executive Aircraft's former president Bob Taylor said the sale was prompted by a desire to concentrate on Executive AirShare, a fractional ownership business.

Executive AirShare customers can buy as little as one-sixteenth of a corporate aircraft -- a Beechjet 400A, King Air 350 or King Air C90B. They also pay a monthly fee and an hourly rate that covers the cost of a pilot, insurance, fuel and maintenance.

"We've had some nice growth," Taylor said.

Sometime this year, Taylor plans to build a 12,000- to 15,000-square-foot hangar at Col. James Jabara Airport, and eventually move the fractional ownership business there. The details are being worked out, he said.

Executive AirShare operates in Wichita, Kansas City, Mo., and Tulsa. It also keeps a plane based in Abilene, Taylor said.

Executive AirShare also performs maintenance on airline and freight operators using Mid-Continent Airport. That part of the business will remain at the airport, Taylor said.