Deciding on the right aircraft for your mission can be
difficult. With countless factors to consider the choice isn't
one that can be taken lightly. The pressure that accompanies
that decision only multiplies when you need several aircraft
to help take your business to new heights. It's a situation
similar to what Jeff Jackson, CEO of Jackson Jet, found
himself in. He needed answers to the tough questions along
with a name and a product he could trust with his operation.
Jackson needed Textron Aviation and the Beechcraft® Denali® aircraft.
"One of the things we needed was a reliable turboprop."Jeff Jackson, CEO, Jackson Jet
In his day to day, Jackson supports his team in any way he
can, knowing they are counting on him. The same expectation of
support and reliability is what helped steer him toward
Textron Aviation.
The Beechcraft® Denali® turboprop gave Jackson a unique chance
to bring a brand-new aircraft to the region in which his
charter business operates. Jackson knew that to offer travel
to his customers on their terms, he needed to disrupt the
current pace. With several aircraft already in the fleet, he
says being the first to bring the Denali® turboprop
to the area would do just that.
"There are some competitors locally here that found a niche
that worked in the west and we are ready to break that up a
little bit," Jackson shared about his motivation. "Turboprops
are very popular in the northwest, they fit the mission. We
have a lot of small airports, and they are a great option for
them."
"To passengers, having those nice, big screens up front, it
just looks better."
By adding the Denali® aircraft to its fleet, Jackson
Jet would also give its pilots an advantage in operating the
easy-to-use Garmin® G3000 avionics system. Noting feedback from
his team, Jackson says the chance of operating the system in a
new aircraft couldn't be passed up.
"Pilots like the nicest systems and the G3000 is a very
pilot-friendly, owner-operator-friendly platform," Jackson
mentioned. "Customers care about speed and comfort, but first
and foremost, safety." With a new system comes new training to
make sure pilots are operating as safely as possible, another
area of support that stood out to Jackson. "Safety of an
airplane is paramount. Textron Aviation is doing a lot for us
in terms of training, so we will have every pilot go through
that training as a first step."
The newest feature to accompany the G3000 avionics suite is
the Garmin Emergency Autoland system, allowing the Denali®
turboprop to land at the nearest airport if the pilot is
incapacitated and unable to navigate to the intended
destination. Jackson notes the new feature coupled with the
standard G3000 capabilities fits his customer's needs better
than what competitors can offer, helping his business stand
out even more.
"As an aircraft charter customer, seeing those screens when
you first get in gives you an immediate feeling of safety and
peace," Jackson exclaimed. "Those kinds of things, as an owner
operator will be huge. Having the whole Garmin package is
going to be a big differentiator for our customers and managed
aircraft clients."
While the Beechcraft® Denali® turboprop may be their first
turboprop from Textron Aviation, with two Cessna® Citation® jets
already in the fleet, Jackson understands the relationship
doesn't end with delivery.
"The handshake is just as good as the contract, if not
better."
Noting previous interactions with Textron Aviation, working
with the company again was an easy choice. He says the
personal relationships built and access to support throughout
the life of the aircraft are unmatched by competitors.
"There is midwestern hospitality, and that feeling along with
the respect they show to the customer, is important." Jackson
shared. "With Textron Aviation there is going to be a lot more
flexibility. There is a much more open source for availability
and maintenance versus what we are dealing with now with other
companies."
All things considered, Jackson's choice of the Denali® turboprop was based on an opportunity to bring the
newest product to an area for business. In his eyes,
understanding the aircraft and what it brings to the table,
coupled with the service and relationships only Textron
Aviation can provide, will make this investment worthwhile.
Based on his experience and what he has learned, Jackson
encourages others who may be in the market for an aircraft to
look in the same direction.
"They're going to be more comfortable in the Denali, I think,
for the reason of the avionics, and the additional access to
maintenance," he stated. "There are just a lot more options
with Textron Aviation. They offer a lot more flexibility for
maintenance of an aircraft. It is an American brand, you can
work with a lot more people and it has a long history in
aviation."