Page 4 - Elite AirMail Fall 2021

COMPANY NEWS
TEXAS-BASED KING AIR AVAILABLE FOR CHARTER SOON
Elite Air has added a King Air 350 to its charter certificate and will soon make the aircraft available for charter out of the Sugar Land Regional Airport (SGR) in Texas.
“King Airs are a surprisingly good option for a lot of our charter customers,” Elite Air President AJ Becker said. “The aircraft will be perfect for flights all over the Southeast.”
Becker said the King Air’s cabin is as quiet as any light jet’s, and the ride is as comfortable. Skeptical clients typically are converted after one ride, he said.
The Beechcraft King Air is one of the
most successful aircraft in the world, with
the 200 model having achieved more sales
than any other single line of business air-
plane—jet or turboprop—since its introduc-
tion. Elite Air’s new 350 seats eight comfort-
ably and features a best-in-class maximum takeoff weight, high performance landing gear, elevated fuel capacity and a large cabin with unsurpassed amenities in the turboprop category. The aircraft has been refurbished inside and out.
The SGR-based King Air 350 will be ready for charter when a qualified captain completes onboarding.
WILCOX JOINS DISPATCH, RYDMAN IS SAFETY OFFICER
Elite Air has made two recent personnel moves, adding Josh Wilcox to its growing sales and dispatch team and making long- time pilot Scott Rydman its safety officer.
Wilcox comes to Elite Air from Priester Aviation in Chicago, where he served as an owner services executive, client service representative, and flight services advisor. He began his aviation career in 2011 and worked his way from line service to cus- tomer relations, line management, and fi- nally to owner services. Wilcox has multiple industry certifications, as well as human resources experience. When not serving on Elite Air’s dispatch/sales team, he is a vol- unteer firefighter and emergency medical responder. An avid volunteer, Wilcox is also a former youth pastor.
Rydman started his career as a process
engineer. After 20 years in the vocation, he
moved into real estate development before joining the in- dustry he loves—aviation. An Elite Air Learjet 31 and 40
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Josh Wilcox
Scott Rydman
The jet-like prop plane can travel more than 2,000 miles, cruises at nearly 300 knots and can climb to 35,000 feet.
“Once you’re inside a King Air, you cannot tell that it’s not a jet,” Becker said.
pilot since 2017, Rydman comes to the safety officer role with enthusiasm. In the position, he’ll oversee Elite Air’s safety and work conditions reporting systems.