P&WC Grows Industry Presence as CJI Event Sponsor

Q: What inspired these events? What gap in the private aviation industry were you aiming to address?

Alasdair: We focus on dealmakers—the people involved in getting aircraft sales closed. There was a definite gap in events focused on dealmakers before CJI. We always wanted to run our own company and thought the model would work well for business aviation and helicopters. Now, 15 years later, we have events all over the world.

Q: What motivated P&WC to sponsor CJI events, and why is engaging with the private aviation community important?

Sebastien: These events bring together the entire business aviation ecosystem—from major fleet operators and OEMs to legal experts and tax specialists—to connect, exchange ideas and discuss solutions, services and innovations. Attendees gain valuable business aviation market intelligence and insights. The events give us another platform to engage with the industry and have meaningful conversations about our diverse portfolio of aftermarket products and services, especially our ESP™ pay-per-hour maintenance program. Since the reach of CJI events is global, they also help us with relationship-building around the world.

Q: What does it mean for CJI to have P&WC as a sponsor?

Alasdair: It means a lot. P&WC powers so many business aircraft and helicopters, and its maintenance programs are also incredibly important for many in our community. This includes financiers who want to know that the aircraft they own is being maintained, operators who like to avoid surprises for their customers and brokers who love the fact that engine programs make it easier to close transactions.

Q: As a regular panelist at CJI events, what are you most excited to discuss with attendees?

Sebastien: At the end of April, I attended CJI Latin America in Brazil. My key message there was how important that region is for us. Brazil is our second-largest market in terms of engines. Operators in the region sometimes feel there is a distance in terms of geography and language, but the truth is, we have a strong presence to support the community there. More generally, it’s always important for me to clearly communicate how the ESP™ program delivers value to our customers.

Q: What are some of the most important trends currently shaping the private aviation industry?

Sebastien: One major trend over the past few years is growth. Demand and flying hours are up. In the business aviation and helicopter segments, the retirement rate is much lower than expected. Airplanes are staying in service longer than before, which is putting pressure on the industry in terms of costs and the availability of parts and shops. We’re at maximum capacity, yet new airplanes are being added all the time. In response to this, new FBO and airport infrastructure is being developed.

Alasdair: One theme that repeatedly comes up is the need to make aircraft sales simpler and faster. We’re always exploring ways to streamline the process, while recognizing that each transaction is unique.  It’s better to take time rather than make costly mistakes. Buying an aircraft is more like buying a company than buying a house. We are also seeing a lot of interest in alternatives to ownership.

A lot of people are asking about AI. Engine and aircraft manufacturers have been leading here for many years and now we’re seeing some aircraft brokers and operators make significant investments in the technology.

Q: How do CJI events help strengthen collaboration across the aviation ecosystem?

Alasdair: Aircraft transactions are a team sport. It takes a group of specialists to get a deal closed. The conference sessions allow people to hear from all sides of the industry. Aircraft management companies get to hear why banks are demanding certain terms in agreements, for example, or lawyers can explain what they need from MROs during pre-purchase inspections.

Sebastien: CJI has a reputation built on their strong brand and presence. They serve as a hub for industry influencers, decision-makers, brokers, financiers and OEMs. These events are where the aviation community actually connects and exchanges ideas; the conversations sparked during these panels and roundtables often set the tone for the market and drive strategic decisions across the ecosystem.

While our customers don’t attend these events, various industry specialists who interact directly with them do. By communicating directly with these specialists, we ensure they have a deeper understanding of our aftermarket offerings, enabling them to provide more informed and strategic advice.

Q: What P&WC initiatives, programs or services do you believe will resonate most with attendees this year?

Sebastien: Pay-per-hour maintenance programs like ESP™ and FMP™ are always part of the conversation. One of the reasons we attend these events is to promote discussion of these programs and help connect the right people to the right products. But we have a large portfolio with many other offerings, from zero time since overhaul engine exchanges to carbon offsetting.

Connectivity is also a hot topic. Our digital solutions have evolved from basic engine trend monitoring into more proactive services available for products like the PW800 series and PT6 E-Series™. These capture and monitor a host of parameters, making it possible to identify potential issues before they happen, which helps avoid aircraft on ground situations and saves money for customers.

Q: Can you share any examples of how networking at events like these have led to meaningful ideas and innovations that benefit customers?

Sebastien: These events always bring ideas to us. An example is our ESP™ Platinum program, which provides additional services and coverage that were partly inspired by operator feedback and the challenges they are facing.

Discover how P&WC is using digital tools to make it easier for customers to access ESP™ Platinum in a previous Airtime article, Online Enrollment Form Makes Signing Up for ESP™ Hassle-Free.