News Release

Priester Aviation grows managed aircraft fleet

Priester Aviation, the Wheeling, Illinois headquartered aircraft management and private charter provider, has established itself over its long history with the expertise, dedication and resources to make aircraft ownership easier. Now, more aircraft owners are turning to the family-owned company that offers personal connections and large-scale advantages for aircraft management services.

In Q4 of 2022 and Q1 of 2023, Priester added five business jets to its growing fleet of managed aircraft, the company has announced. The aircraft are based throughout the USA, reflective of Priester's ability to answer client needs anywhere. Since its acquisition of Mayo Aviation in late 2022, Priester is offering a full range of services to clients nationally, with larger bases of operation in its Chicagoland home and the Rocky Mountain region.

Priester will support the new aircraft for Part 91 owner use, facilitating administration, financial services, crewing and dispatch, and maintenance coordination for seamless flight operations. Some of the aircraft will also be entered into Priester's highly-rated Part 135 charter services, which allows owners to lower operating expenses and generate revenue during times when the aircraft would otherwise sit idle.

The new aircraft, ranging from light to ultra-range jets, comprise:

- Nextant 400XT, based at Chicago Executive Airport (KPWK)

- Cessna Citation XLS, based at Chicago Executive Airport (KPWK)

- Embraer Phenom 300, based at Chicago Executive Airport (KPWK)

- Embraer Praetor 500, based at Chicago Executive Airport (KPWK)

- Bombardier Challenger 300, based at Dallas Love Field (KDAL)

“Aircraft owners are discovering the advantages of Priester Aviation and how we're able to help them achieve their aviation goals,” Priester Aviation president Rich Ropp said. “They receive the full support and capabilities of the biggest national operations, but they also receive the individual attention of a personal flight department. When there's a question about the aircraft, they can talk to one person directly without getting lost in a massive, impersonal company.”

Priester Aviation, one of the biggest independent operators in private aviation, now manages nearly 80 aircraft between two companies. Andy Priester recently took the helm as its third generation of Priester-family leadership since its founding in 1945.