New Boston Jet Charter Operator Fills Gap in Recovering Market

BOSTON, MA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/21/15 -- Waltzing Matilda Aviation LLC (WMA), a private jet operator in the Boston area for the past seven years, has been granted an Air Carrier Certificate by the FAA under Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations, allowing it to offer charter flights to the general public.

Some two years ago, WMA principals, Paula Vanderhorst and John Thomas, noticed a gap in the local Boston market for corporate jets. There was the light end of the market that served short flights well (e.g. flights to the local islands) and there was the top end of the market serving longer transcontinental flights, but very little offered in between.

The market need for this "in between" jet charter service is fueled by the continued decline in direct air services from Boston to many smaller cities, as well as the significant reduction in frequency to larger cities which used to be well served out of Logan. Supporting this view were the various enquiries WMA received regarding the possibility of chartering its seven passenger private jet, which the company had to decline due to its Part 91 status (an FAA specification which only allows a company to transport people when its owners were on board).

To achieve this level of certification, WMA set about the formidable task of recruiting the right people and investing capital and resources to meet the stringent regulatory requirements the FAA imposes on operators of charter aviation services. After twenty months, substantial financial investment, hundreds of hours requiring a demanding back and forth between a wide range of government agencies, and weeks of proving flights, WMA was issued with its Air Carrier Certificate by Mr. Ron Curtis, the Manager of the local FAA office, at a ceremony on April 3rd. This certification to operate charter flights under Part 135 was the first one issued from the local Boston FAA office in its management's memory (the last known certificate to be issued was over 10 years ago).

The company's name is a nod to its owner's Australian connections. John Thomas, a principal, is Australian and started his first aviation company in Sydney in 1977. He currently lives in Needham, MA, and has worked as an airline consultant in the US for over 15 years and has significant experience in the industry. He is a pilot himself and is keen to fill a market need he has seen as problematic.

The Massachusetts DOT Economic Impact Study has found that local airports in the Boston region have been major contributors to economic growth. WMA hopes to generate additional economic activity in the Boston market by expanding local demand for jet charter services. In time, it is planned that WMA will offer a range of services from passenger transportation to aircraft management services.

Press inquiries should be directed to:
John Thomas
617-763-3434
www.wmaviation.org

Source: Waltzing Matilda Aviation LLC

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