Richard Zaher is investing in his alma mater for the benefit of future students of aviation studies

Above and beyond: Paramount Business Jets sets up aviation and aerospace scholarship to mark ten years in business

Headquartered in Leesburg, Virginia, Paramount Business Jets (PBJ) has marked ten years of assisting clients across the United States and the globe with their charter aircraft needs by establishing a scholarship opportunity for college students considering careers in aviation and aerospace.

“Even after ten years PBJ continues to grow by leaps and bounds,” says founder and CEO Richard Zaher, a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) and the 2012 recipient of the university's Alumni Eagle of Excellence Award.

He continues: “In the past year alone, PBJ has made significant technological advancements, expanded its charter sales teams in key international markets, and launched a dedicated private jet sales department. We have reached a milestone and we are excited about the future but, more importantly, we have based our company culture on honesty and integrity. We are committed individually and as an organisation to always treating everyone fairly, to setting an example, to promoting a positive aviation environment with a strong focus on safety, and to growing the greater aviation community.”

To this end Zaher has worked with representatives at his alma mater to establish the Paramount Business Jets Scholarship, dedicated to helping the next generation of aviation profes-sionals by shouldering the costs of college tuition.

“Richard's dedication in creating the scholarship for students of the university he graduated from displays his true understanding of strategic and meaningful philanthropy,” says Lyndse Costabile, ERAU's director of corporate relations and development. “Embry-Riddle is grateful to Richard and the entire PBJ family for not just standing on the tarmac and watching our students take flight, but for grabbing hold of the yoke and helping Eagles soar!”

In addition to developing a proprietary quoting system, an airport proximity tool and a time and distance calculator in-house, PBJ has built and developed a central customer relationship management (CRM) system that connects team members locally and worldwide with every charter they organise, allowing them to manage every detail of every trip on a global scale.

“It is an honour to give back to where it all started for many of us, and I am proud to be part of the Embry-Riddle family,” adds Zaher. “We are a group of people who are passionate about aviation and strive to go above and beyond.”