Atlanta, Georgia-headquartered fractional HondaJet operator Volato has completed the integration of Gulf Coast Aviation (GCA), and has launched its aircraft management division Volato Aircraft Management Services (Volato AMS).

GCA is located at Atlantic Aviation, an FBO at William P Hobby International airport in Houston, Texas. Volato has said its goal is to have operational bases across the continental US so that its HondaJet fractional owners do not pay repositioning fees. Houston is the second busiest market for private aviation in the US and adds to existing bases in Atlanta, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland; St Augustine and Fort Lauderdale in Florida; and Carlsbad, California. Owners in Volato’s fractional programme and its charter customers now also have access to a larger charter fleet.

The management programme will allow private aircraft owners to partner with Volato to manage their aircraft through a bespoke agreement covering all aspects of ownership including crew, payroll, maintenance, hangars and reservations. Volato can also charter owners’ aircraft through GCA’s Part 135 charter operations to generate revenue and offset costs. Volato will launch Volato AMS with a focus on HondaJets and select large cabin aircraft including modern Gulfstreams and King Airs; the prior focus of the GCA managed fleet operations.

Through Volato’s experience and that of GCA, which will now operate under the Volato brand, aircraft owners can benefit from the team's more than 25 years of aircraft management experience. 

“Completing the GCA integration and launching our Aircraft Management Services division is an important milestone for Volato as we continue to execute our business plan to the benefit of our fractional owners and customers,” says evp of business development Tom Chapman. “We are immensely proud that all GCA employees were retained through the transition.” 

Volato is uniquely positioned to be the industry-leader in HondaJet aircraft management by having one of the largest and most modern fleets of HondaJets in the world, as well as robust pilot training, safety and maintenance programmes. Volato has IS-BAO Stage II and ARGUS Platinum safety ratings, and an accident-free history. It will manage HondaJets from any location in the US.

Benefits of being a member in the Volato AMS programme include access to a concierge team to manage personal travel, access to a range of aircraft for different missions including the HondaJet fleet, financial savings enabled through economies of scale, and streamlined reporting.

“In the four months since closing on the acquisition we have increased our fleet by 40 per cent. Our new owners have been attracted by the Volato model and our team’s deep expertise and commitment to safety. We look forward to continuing to grow our fleet under the Volato brand,” says Volato AMS president and former president of GCA Clinton Holmes.