George Antoniadis 42, founder of Alpha Flying Inc. in Manchester, New Hampshire
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Description: Fractionalaircraft ownership program, aircraft consultancy, maintenance andservice
Start-Up: Under $100,000 in1992
Sales: 2003 estimated salesof more than $25 million for Alpha Flying and its affiliated companies
Flying Colors: A managementconsultant with an interest in aviation, Antoniadis took a chanceon the friendly skies. Intrigued by the viable opportunities hesaw, Antoniadis started Alpha Flying, offering aircraft sales,management and consultation services, and flight instruction andcrew scheduling services.
Remain Partial: Whenfractional ownership became hot, Antoniadis launched PlaneSense in1996. Targeting small to midsize businesses, PlaneSense offers moreaffordable Pilatus PC-12 turbo prop aircrafts to transport businesstravelers as opposed to competitors' small and midsize jets.Starting at as little as $436,000 for a one-eighth share,PlaneSense had close to 9,000 flights in 2002 and estimates a 10percent increase for 2003.
Private vs. Public: Why areprivate planes better? "First, productivity," arguesAntoniadis. "It's a calendar multiplier. Customers cantravel on their schedule to their destination. They can workproductively while traveling. They don't have to spend time atairports-check-in time [with us] is three minutes." Since theyrequire shorter runways, the smaller PC-12s also allow travelers toland in close to 10,000 U.S. airports, compared to the 4,000 thatairlines and jets serve. "It definitely expands thehorizons," quips Antoniadis.
At Your Service: Currentlyfocusing on businesses in the eastern United States, PlaneSense hasrecently expanded to the Southeast and flies all over the country.Antoniadis clarifies, "We are constantly looking and do see ademand in other regions."
