UP & AWAY

Written by Bridget Williams / Photos by Tony Bailey

Todd Strause still gets a twinkle in his eye when he recalls his first time flying private. The bonus of being a "right seat" passenger, which allowed him to watch the pilot in action, was enough to prompt him to enroll in flight school as soon as he returned home. "I was hooked," said Strause. Today, his aviation holdings include a few jet aircraft; PrivateFlite Aviation, a charter flight management company; and Aircraft Specialists, a maintenance, storage, and fueling facility with a dedicated FBO at the Clark County Regional Airport. More than a decade later, this multi-faceted entrepreneur readily admits to still being fascinated by aircraft and the privilege of private flight. "I could sit in our lobby and watch jets take off and land all day." Strause's customer service-centric approach aims to impart a similar level of giddiness to each of his clients, whether it's their first or 100th flight.

According to Strause, having charter, maintenance, and FBO (fixed-base operation) services under one umbrella is rare in the aviation industry and a particular boon for clients interested in putting their aircraft into the charter pool. Just 10 minutes north of Louisville, PrivateFlite's home base is a newly opened 22,600 square-foot facility boasting a bevy of bells and whistles such as a complete kitchen with complimentary snacks and beverages, a comfortable lounge area with floor-to-ceiling windows looking over the 7,000-foot runway, a large conference room, a pilot's lounge, and modern sparkling bathrooms. "It's all about doing the little things just a little better than everyone else," said Strause.

Thinking post-pandemic, the FBO's 18,200 square-foot hangar with 28-foot doors, ample windows, and high-tech LED lighting will be an ideal site for hosting events. With only roughly half of the 15 acres they lease at the airport currently developed, plans are already underway to build another new hangar to accommodate their burgeoning business.

More design element than amenity, a handsome lighted display case just inside the entry stops most visitors in their tracks. Stocked with some of the best bottles from Strause's burgeoning bourbon collection, his zeal as a rare spirit collector is nearly on par with his passion for aviation. Strause said he only began acquiring Kentucky's native spirit about five years ago, and since then has relished in the sport of attaining hard-to-get bottles.

PrivateFlite operates on a 24/7/365 basis, due in part to contracts with large corporations for flights. With time being of the essence, PrivateFlite can be wheels up within two hours of receiving a call, and this level of responsiveness is available to all of their clients.

Already a successful business owner in automotive marketing when he took on this endeavor, Strause admitted to being initially overwhelmed by his foray into the aviation industry. Laying out his company's core values helped hone his vision. "Because this is my passion, everything is done the right way," he explained. "Our goal is to be the best in the region at what we do by providing the ultimate client experience." This elevated experience includes minding the minutiae, such as ensuring clients' favorite beverages and snacks are available on the flight, handling baggage, washing clients' car while they're away, and providing high-end tailored concierge services.

Trust and transparency are two touchstones that Strause and Kelly Lurz, general manager of PrivateFlite Aviation and Aircraft Specialists, continually stress during a conversation. Early on as a new aircraft owner, Strause admits to "not knowing what he didn't know," a potentially expensive predicament he wants to help other owners navigate. "We have taken on a consultant approach for aircraft owners and want to be a reliable resource and partner with them," he said.

For charter clients, Lurz says that their upfront pricing models are very competitive with Jet card companies. "The biggest difference is that we create personal relationships with our clients, and they are not treated as just a number," explained Lurz. PrivateFlite's growing regional footprint and national network of operators means they are available to clients all over the country, and they can provide competitively-priced flights for any destination.

Strause refers to flying private as a "time machine." "Our clients are busy, and flying private offers them tremendous time savings to maximize their business and personal time," he explained. "Being home every night after a three-city tour in one day has a high value for our clients."