JetAviva, the Austin, Texas-based light jet sales and training specialist, has reached an agreement to buy Kansas Aircraft Corp., a Kansas City-area piston aircraft and turboprop sales broker, creating one of the country’s most formidable light aircraft resale firms.
KAC, a former Cessna authorized dealer, was purchased three years ago by Tim and Dianne White, husband and wife and longtime business aviation industry executives, setting the stage for the merger with JetAviva, which itself was formed by childhood friends and pilots Cyrus Sigari and Ben Marcus, who had a vision of transforming the light jet ownership experience.
With the promotional tagline, “Life is short. Fly a jet,” Sigari and Marcus set out not only to focus on sales of used light jets to owner-pilots, but also to go the extra mile by providing aircraft delivery services, training, customer “experience” programs and lifestyle events.
After Cessna dissolved its dealer network last year, JetAviva and KAC began discussing bringing JetAviva’s unique approach to aircraft acquisition to piston and turboprop sales through a partnership.
“We really share the same core values with JetAviva, which is integrity and providing an end-to-end solution for our clients,” Dianne White told Flying.
Kansas Aircraft will retain its name and offices at the New Century AirCenter in New Century, Kansas. With the acquisition, Dianne White becomes vice president of customer experience for JetAviva and Tim White a managing partner in the firm. Both Tim and Dianne have enjoyed long aviation careers, including holding senior executive positions at Cessna. Both are experienced pilots as well.
The two companies combined completed 120 aircraft sales transactions last year. JetAviva recently received a $20 million equity investment, which it will use as part of an aggressive growth strategy that begins with the move into the lower end of the GA market but which also includes plans for sales of larger jets.
“Our eye is on growth right now, that’s for sure,” Dianne White said.
