Denver, Colorado-based Part 135 operator Mountain Aviation has added the 26th Citation X to its fleet, making it the largest Citation X operator in the world. The new aircraft is leased from the company's strategic partners and will be available for charter. “Today marks a significant milestone in the 27-year history of Mountain Aviation,” says director of operations Michael Vargo. “I couldn't be prouder of the team we've built that's turned this dream into reality.”

As of Q4 2020, Mountain reports that it is ranked third among all private jet floating fleet operators and second in the super-midsize category in terms of flights, hours and total miles flown. The current growth plan for the super-mid fleet has Mountain operating 35 Citation Xs by Q2 2021. The recent additions to the fleet bring the total number of aircraft operated by the company to over 60, from King Airs through to the Gulfstream IV-SP.

“To see this growth with zero outside investment is a testament to our team mentality and focused execution. We have taken a different approach in the industry, which is driving the growth,” reveals CEO Gregg Fahrenbruch.

Mountain has prioritised its development of fleet optimisation, mission execution and flight safety. To support growth, the company's maintenance team has taken an innovative approach to fleet maintenance and shortened the duration of typical maintenance events through specialised training, tooling and investment in technical personnel. This increase in maintenance efficiency directly contributes to increased uptime per aircraft along with higher dispatch reliability. The company has worked closely with Textron Aviation to ensure long term technical and parts support for the new additions and future fleet additions.

“We're excited to continue our aggressive pursuit of growth and expand our reach in 2021. We're just getting started,” adds Fahrenbruch.