PlaneSense

Big-picture snapshot

PlaneSense is the world's largest fractional operator of Pilatus aircraft, operating a fleet of 62-64 aircraft — 45-46 Pilatus PC-12 (all NG/NGX models) and 17-18 Pilatus PC-24 jets — from 41+ pilot-selectable reporting bases across the United States. It is headquartered in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, with a training facility in Tampa, Florida and a maintenance facility in Boulder City, Nevada. PlaneSense employs approximately 240-300 pilots and 600 total employees. PlaneSense is non-union. George Antoniadis has served as Founder, President & CEO since launching the company in 1995.

For interview purposes, the simplest way to frame PlaneSense is this: it is the niche fractional operator that built its entire business around the Pilatus PC-12 turboprop and PC-24 jet — two aircraft designed for short-runway, high-utility operations that can access 5,000+ airports (compared to roughly 1,000 for conventional jets). PlaneSense is the lowest-time-requirement fractional operator in the industry, hiring First Officers with as few as 750 total hours, making it a genuine career-launching platform for pilots building turbine time. The company operates to the U.S., Canada, Bermuda, Bahamas, Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico. PlaneSense celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2025, recently launched the world's first PC-12 NGX Level D full-flight simulator in Tampa (February 2025), and introduced CobaltPass jet cards in May 2025. The company has surpassed 440,000 total flight hours since inception.

Company history

• 1992: Alpha Flying Inc. founded (predecessor company)
• 1995 September 9: PlaneSense fractional ownership program officially launched by George Antoniadis
• 2018: First Pilatus PC-24 jet added to the fleet, expanding PlaneSense beyond turboprops
• 2023: Received the 2,000th Pilatus PC-12 ever produced — a milestone aircraft delivered directly to PlaneSense
• 2025 February: Launched the world's first Pilatus PC-12 NGX Level D full-flight simulator at the Tampa, Florida training facility
• 2025 April: Partnered with Jetfly (European Pilatus fractional operator)
• 2025 May: Launched CobaltPass jet card program
• 2025: 30th anniversary; surpassed 440,000 total flight hours; George Antoniadis received the Kenn Ricci Award; fleet reached 62-64 aircraft

Business model

PlaneSense operates a fractional ownership model built exclusively around Pilatus aircraft:

• Fractional ownership: Clients purchase shares (typically 1/16th) of a Pilatus PC-12 or PC-24. PlaneSense manages all operations, crew, maintenance, scheduling, and hangar space.
• CobaltPass: A jet card program launched in May 2025, providing access to PlaneSense's fleet without fractional ownership.
• Short-runway advantage: The PC-12 can operate from unpaved strips and short runways, accessing 5,000+ airports across North America — roughly five times the number accessible to conventional jets. The PC-24 also has short-field capability compared to other light jets.
• Geographic reach: Operations span the U.S., Canada, Bermuda, Bahamas, Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico.
• Single OEM relationship: PlaneSense's exclusive Pilatus fleet simplifies maintenance, training, and parts logistics — a strategic advantage over multi-type operators.
• Jetfly partnership: An April 2025 partnership with Jetfly, the European Pilatus fractional operator, potentially expanding PlaneSense's international reach.

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