Professional Pilot, October 2018

OPERATOR PROFILE VistaJet Current fl eet of 72 Bombardier bizjets fl ies customers worldwide By Brent Bundy Phoenix Police Offi cer Pilot AS350 AW119 Cessna 210 182 172 42 PROFESSIONAL PILOT October 2018 Founder and Chairman Thomas Flohr is transforming an industry with his pioneering approach to global private aviation The Bombardier Global 6000 with its 14 passenger capacity and 6000 nm range makes it VistaJets fl agship for reaching all corners of the globe They currently operate 29 of the bespoke aircraft W hen most people encounter an inconvenience or shortcoming they simply seek an alternative means to accomplish the activity at hand Thomas Flohr is not most people Fourteen years ago Flohr recognized what he perceived as a defi ciency in the private aviation industry Instead of looking for a better way he created one His way the Flohr way became known as VistaJet What began with a single aircraft and an idea has been systematically grown into a global aviation powerhouse with a fl eet of over 70 aircraft ready and able to offer worldwide transport to those who demand the very best in life History Born in Switzerland and raised in Germany Thomas Flohr began his career in the business world specifi cally in asset fi nancing but he always aspired to be in aviation He worked for the USA based technology fi rm Comdisco eventually becoming president of their European operations then worldwide president of Comdisco He would later purchase the Swiss and German divisions now Comprendium Investment SA when they entered into bankruptcy 2 years after Flohr had left the company It was during this time in Flohrs life that he was fi rst exposed to business aviation by means of charter although it was not a positive undertaking The unpredictable experiences along with the variety of aircraft and crews did not suit him Another option for Flohr was fractional ownership which did not appeal to his fi scal sense He exercised his 3rd option and bought his own aircraft a Learjet 60 Not wanting to involve himself with the daily requirements of airplane ownership Flohr handed over management responsibilities to Air Executive in Salzburg Austria where the directors requested he allow his plane to be used for charter fl ights This arrangement worked out well Too well in fact Flohr soon found himself without his own jet available and was forced to charter again The cycle began once more after he purchased another aircraft Before long the second aircraft was often unavailable due to its charter schedule Flohrs aircraft were popular At this point Flohr recognized the potential of his own conundrum He also knew that his aircraft were popular charters because of their similar design Being too busy to spend time on the design of the 2nd jet he purchased he had told the sales team to make it just like the fi rst one Flohr realized that this homogeneity was appealing to frequent fl iers and he could build off the idea so he placed an order for more aircraft Instead of obtaining his own charter certifi cate he met with Air Executive and bought the company along with their permit Flohr wanted a new name for his on demand fl ight operation so he brainstormed with friends while on vacation to come up with a new moniker The year was 2004 and VistaJet hit the ground running with a 2 aircraft fl eet VistaJet ops and personnel From the onset Flohr has been careful to select the right aircraft and the right people to align with the goals he has for VistaJet Leading that list of talent is Chief Operating Offi cer Nick van der Meer Born and raised in South Africa van der Meer was unsure of his future after high school when he turned his eye towards the USA and a possible career in aviation After receiving all his ratings in The States he returned to South Africa and then went on to Ireland and Scotland taking fl ying assignments as he went