Aircraft Sales Insights

A Service of Dallas Jet International

Where Brad Harris is Coming From, And Where Dallas Jet International is Going

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Brad Harris of Dallas Jet International specializes in ensuring an airplane for sale meets his client's needsWe will be publishing articles to this site that will have high value for you when you buy, sell, lease, or engage a company to manage your aircraft.

Of course, articles that you read on the internet are only as credible as the person behind them, so I’ll start by introducing myself. I’ll give you a thumbnail sketch of my background and the genesis of Dallas Jet International.  I’ll also discuss the major influencing factors for the way I do business.

Before Dallas Jet International, there was . . .

My name is Brad Harris, and I got into this business by way of several other businesses and fields.  I went through three and a half years of architectural school and discovered that wasn’t what I wanted to do, so I changed majors and graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a Bachelor of Science in Professional Aviation and Airway Science.

I followed that by earning a Master’s Degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology /Human Relations and Supervision.

After teaching Aircraft Electrical Systems for Louisiana Tech for 2 quarters, I started working with International Paper as a corporate pilot. The Chief Pilot, a gentleman by the name of Jim Cook became one of four mentors who were really instrumental in my life. After I told Jim about my plans to start another company leasing airplanes, he agreed to let me fly without assigning the usual administrative duties, since I wanted to devote time to my new venture.

I began leasing aircraft about the same time I was flying with International Paper.   Within three or four months, my leasing company was profitable, so I left my position there to operate Brad Harris Aviation, Inc.

I operated Brad Harris Aviation, Inc. for a little more than a year when  one of my customers asked me to help him buy an aircraft, which I did.   He later asked – “What do I do about a crew, and maintenance?”  That started the aircraft management business – we hired pilots and handled maintenance starting in 1993. Then another customer wanted to buy his own aircraft; we helped him, and at his request, we managed his crew and maintenance as well.

We eventually grew into three different organizations

  • Brad Harris Aviation, Inc.
  • Aviation Management Inc.
  • Sky Air Aviation, LLC.

A Wide Variety of Business Experience

As we continued to grow, we invested in real estate,  a restaurant as an owner, built a subdivision and some spec houses.  This range of experience helps me to really understand our clients, and the needs and pressures they experience in the many different types of businesses they operate.

Moving to Dallas, and the start of Dallas Jet International

I sold three airplanes to a gentleman in Dallas.   He asked me to move to Dallas to manage his aircraft. I moved from Fairhope, Alabama to Dallas in 2002 and combined those companies into Dallas Jet International.

At Dallas Jet International, we currently have six divisions

  • Aircraft Sales (we buy and sell aircraft)
  • Aircraft Brokerage (we represent buyers and sellers)
  • Aircraft Management
  • Aviation Insurance
  • Aircraft Leasing
  • Aircraft Consulting

The Sales Division purchases aircraft for dealer inventory. We purchase aircraft from manufacturers, brokers, companies and individuals.

The Brokerage division represents the buyer side, or the seller, or we may do both with one customer.  Some of our clients call and say “Brad, I’m interested in selling our airplane and buying another.”   We are able to represent that client for the sale and the following acquisition.

Insurance, Leasing and Consulting will be the topics of future articles.

Operational Brokers and Experienced, Type-Rated Pilots

What sets us apart from the industry is that we are operational aircraft brokers.

We obviously understand the market and the costs, but we also understand the flight characteristics and operational parameters because we are type rated (or we become type rated) in aircraft we manage.  When a customer calls us and says “We want to buy a certain airplane,” Shawn and I are able to look at the situation as a businessperson sees it, and also as a pilot sees it.  I may only get to fly it infrequently, but I learn to really understand how to manage that aircraft type.

When our maintenance guy calls and tells us “We have a problem with this aircraft,” I understand the systems of the airplane.  I have an understanding of what is necessary to control costs and to really diagnose what the airplane needs from a management and sales perspective.

There are a lot of “book brokers.” When you call them and ask “What are the operational differences between a Gulfstream IVSP versus a Gulfstream V?” they will read to you from a book or a computer program. I currently have 10 type ratings and I am type rated in the Gulfstream 550, 450, 350,the GV, the GIV, the GIII, and the GII.  Of course, we also have the book; but the hands-on experience is even more relevant from a sales perspective.

A Detailed Process

We take ownership of the transaction, and the fiduciary responsibility to protect or buyer’s or seller’s interests. We take this responsibility very seriously and have developed a detailed process to ensure a flawless transaction.

Our process includes contracts, maintenance, delivery, insurance, and all other technical processes.  Our company goal is to build relationships for a lifetime. We’re aircraft market specialists,  in the relationship business.   We oversee an extensive transaction process that could include asset acquisition, refit, management and/or sales.

The Future of Buying and Selling Aircraft

Ten years ago, buying or selling an aircraft was an entirely in-person, across the table, shake your hand experience.  Now, there is a lot of technology involved. Buyers do research on the Internet, and we’re using social media to stay connected for the convenience of our buyers and sellers.

We have to understand where the market is and how to adapt to make the process more convenient and efficient for our buyers and sellers, without taking away from the trusted in-person relationships and sales skills that will always be necessary.

We use the Internet, social media, and digital marketing so that our company will always be a trendsetter.

This blog is an example of how we reach out to provide information that is more convenient for you. Please join us here often, feel free to comment on what you read, or give us a call if you have a question, concern or would like assistance with an aircraft transaction.

 

Brad Harris

Brad Harris is founder and CEO of Dallas Jet International. Mr. Harris holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Professional Aviation and Airway Science and a Masters Degree in human resources from Louisiana Tech University. Mr. Harris entered the aviation industry in 1989 as a corporate pilot for a Fortune 500 corporation. In 1993, he started a successful aircraft leasing and renting company which expanded to a successful aircraft management company in 1995. In 1993, Mr. Harris began his aircraft sales career and, in a very rapid fashion, became one of the most highly respected aircraft brokers in the World. In 1998, Mr. Harris started an aircraft sales, consulting, and brokerage company that is known today as Dallas Jet International. Mr. Harris is a current airline transport pilot who is type-rated in ten (10) different jet aircraft including the Gulfstream 550, 450, 350, GV, GIV, GIII, GII, Hawker 125, Falcon 10, Citation 550/500, Beechjet 400, 400A, Lockheed Jetstar II, Diamond Jet and King Air 300/350. In the many different aircraft markets, Mr. Harris parlays extensive hands-on knowledge and experience into clear results for his clientele. In addition to Mr. Harris maintaining a career focus on aircraft sales, he also has extensive experience in aviation consulting and management. Included on his client list are several clients for whom Mr. Harris and his firm have set up flight departments, consisting of aircraft crewing, aircraft management, aircraft maintenance and aircraft operating budgets. He and the firm are currently managing a Gulfstream V, a Gulfstream IV, a Falcon 50, a Citation II, a Citation ISP, a Citation Mustang, a Hawker 400XP, and two King Air 350’s.What most people do not know about Mr. Harris is that he possesses significant entrepreneurial experience in real estate and commercial insurance. This business experience, combined with his unparalleled experience in all facets of corporate aviation, has been the foundation of success for Dallas Jet International and its clients.

Dallas Jet International Partners with ABCI to Promote Jet Consultancy

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ABCI Logo Dallas Jet International Logo

Press Release

Dallas Jet International Partners with ABCI to Promote Jet Consultancy

Experienced and thorough consultants for sales and acquisitions of aircraft.

January 6, 2010 – Aviation Business Consultants International (ABCI) today announced that they have been engaged as a marketing partner for Dallas Jet International (DJI.)

“Although there are many brokers in the aviation market, we’ve not found consultants who are more qualified. Dallas Jet International has unmatched relationships, accreditations and ratings in more aircraft, with more years of experience.“ said Paula Williams of ABCI.  “We are very choosy about our clients.  Everything that has been said about DJI has been positive, which is not the case with all acquisition and sales consultants. There are not many that exercise the kind of thoroughness and care that Brad Harris and Shawn Dinning put into every transaction. They insist on being personally present for inspections and showings, and they have a 100-point checklist for every transaction! I look forward to learning from them.” said Williams.

“We recognized the need to communicate with our customers in new ways. Most Global Fortune 100 companies are using Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube. More than half of NBAA members are using Facebook regularly.  Because we’ve always been an innovator in marketing aircraft, we are very interested in the powerful new tools that ABCI brings to the service we offer our clients.” said Brad Harris of DJI.  “We were initially looking to hire an internal resource to manage this type of marketing, but ABCI offered a unique set of skills, together with aviation experience and contacts that we could not find after seven months of interviewing.”

Dallas Jet International has launched a blog, Aircraft Sales Insights. (http://aircraftsalesinsights.com) as well as consumer assistance channels on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Articles are written by founder and CEO Brad Harris and Director of Sales and Acquisitions Shawn Dinning and will include topics of interest to aircraft owners, such as:

  • How to choose the right aircraft
  • How to find the best aircraft from on market and off-market options
  • Key points of the negotiation process
  • Demystifying Contracts, Letters of Intent and the Purchase Agreement
  • Points to consider – tax consequences of aircraft purchase decisions
  • What to look for in pre-buy inspections
  • Records to check (A.D.s, maintenance schedule, etc.)
  • Choosing the best Escrow Service
  • What you should know about bills of sale
  • What’s expected during Acceptance & Delivery
  • In what state (or country) should you register your aircraft?
Dallas Jet International’s blog offers straight answers on the often-obscure topic of aircraft sales and acquisition.

Dallas Jet International’s blog offers straight answers on the often-obscure topic of aircraft sales and acquisition.

About ABCI  LLC

Aviation Business Consultants International (ABCI) specializes in marketing for the aviation industry, including business and general aviation.  Paula Williams is a contributor to the Forbes business aviation blog Wheels Up and the author of Flight Plan to Sales Success – New Media Marketing in the Aviation Industry.

About Dallas Jet International Inc. (DJI)

Dallas Jet International focuses on buying and selling business aircraft in the international marketplace.  DJI holds a membership in the stringent National Aircraft Resale Association. Clients include GE Capital, U.S. Bank, Starwood Group and Moody National Companies. DJI’s principals have more than 100 years of experience in corporate aviation.

All other company and product names and logos are trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.

Please direct all press inquiries to:

Paula Williams

Marketing

ABCI

2248 Meridian Blvd Suite H

Minden NV 89423

702-987-1679

Paula.williams@AviationBusinessConsultants.com

www.AviationBusinessConsultants.com

Full-resolution images and interviews are available with the following:

Brad Harris, Founder and CEO

Mr. Harris holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Professional Aviation and Airway Science and a Masters Degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology and Human Resources from Louisiana Tech University. Mr. Harris entered the aviation industry in 1989 as a corporate pilot for a Fortune 500 corporation. In 1993, he started a successful aircraft leasing and renting company which expanded to a successful aircraft management company in 1995. In 1993, Mr. Harris began his aircraft sales career and, in a very rapid fashion, became one of the most highly respected aircraft brokers in the World. In 1998, Mr. Harris started an aircraft sales, consulting, and brokerage company known today as Dallas Jet International. Mr. Harris holds a current Airline Transport Pilot  (ATP) certificate  and is type-rated in ten (10) different jet aircraft including the Gulfstream 550, 450, 350, GV, GIV, GIII, GII, Hawker 125, Falcon 10, Citation 550/500, Beechjet 400, 400A, Lockheed Jetstar II, Diamond Jet and King Air 300/350.

Included on his client list are several clients for whom Mr. Harris and his firm have set up flight departments, consisting of aircraft crewing, aircraft management, aircraft maintenance and aircraft operating budgets. He and the firm are currently managing a Gulfstream V, a Gulfstream IV, a Falcon 50, a Citation II, a Citation ISP, a Citation Mustang, a Hawker 400XP, and two King Air 350’s. Mr. Harris has also acquired significant entrepreneurial experience in real estate and commercial insurance. This business experience, combined with his unparalleled experience in all facets of corporate aviation, has been the foundation of success for Dallas Jet International and its clients.

Shawn Dinning, Director of Sales & Acquisitions

Mr. Dinning acquired his formal education at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in the areas of Operations Research and Management Science and also holds a degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Mr. Dinning brings 12 years of aviation experience from a variety of aviation disciplines, including FAR 91, FAR 121, FAR 135, defense, and shared ownership sectors. A former full-time professional pilot, Mr. Dinning holds a current Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate, and is type-rated in the Challenger 600 and Citation 510 Mustang.  He has logged over 5000 flight hours, with 3000 of those hours in corporate turbine aircraft.

Mr. Dinning is a leader in the professional marketing and procurement of corporate turbine aircraft all around the globe. He also specializes in aircraft mission analysis as well as cash flow and operating cost analysis for private aircraft owners.

Dallas Jet International Inc. can be found online at:

Website:          www.DallasJet.com

Blog:                www.AircraftSalesInsights.com

Twitter            www.Twitter.com/DallasJet or @DallasJet

Facebook         www.facebook.com/pages/Dallas-Jet-International/135694743112495

LinkedIn         www.linkedin.com/company/1640851