Will Specialize In High-Performance Aircraft, VLJs
Well-known aviation
maintenance expert Mike Busch hopes his "Savvy Aviator" acumen will
translate into an equally-savvy business model. This week, Busch
announced the formation of Savvy Aircraft Maintenance Management,
Inc. (SAMM), a new company providing professionally managed
maintenance for owner-flown aircraft ranging from high-performance
single-engine airplanes to cabin-class twins and very light
jets.
During the past four years, Busch has put more than 1,000
aircraft owners through his renowned "Savvy Owner Seminar" that
teaches them how to get better aircraft maintenance and spend much
less money doing it. Many owners who have taken this training
report reduced maintenance bills, and improved dispatch
reliability.
Despite those positive results, Busch admits his approach does
require significant time, effort and involvement by the aircraft
owner... resources most people don't have in abundance.
"It became clear to me that many owners are simply too busy
running their business or raising their family to manage their own
maintenance properly, and would benefit from hiring a professional
to manage it for them," Busch said. "Professional maintenance
management has long been the norm for corporate jets, but has never
been available for owner-flown aircraft until now."
SAMM's professional management is designed to improve an
aircraft owner's overall ownership experience by making the
aircraft safer and more reliable, doing away with most
maintenance-related hassles, and saving the owner substantially
more money (through reduced parts and labor charges) than the
management fee SAMM charges.
For a fixed annual subscription fee ranging from $500 to $1000
for most piston singles and twins, SAMM assigns an account manager
to oversee the maintenance of the client's aircraft and act as the
owner's maintenance advocate to ensure that the aircraft receives
the best possible maintenance at the lowest possible cost. SAMM's
account manager does not perform maintenance, but rather works with
the owner to select the best maintenance facilities and technicians
for each job, then provides specific direction to, interface with,
and oversight of the selected maintenance providers.
Busch was recently honored by the FAA as National Aviation
Maintenance Technician of the Year for 2008.