Solairus Aviation

Big-picture snapshot

Solairus Aviation is one of the largest private aircraft management and on-demand charter companies in the United States, managing a fleet of 360+ aircraft across 100+ bases nationwide with 2,300+ aviation professionals. The company is headquartered in Petaluma, California (San Francisco Bay Area) and operates under both Part 91 and Part 135 certificates. Solairus is non-union and privately held. Dan Drohan is the Founder and CEO, with Rene Cervantes serving as COO and Sue McDonald as CFO. The company's callsign is "Twilight."

For interview purposes, the simplest way to frame Solairus is this: it is a premier aircraft management company where individual aircraft owners place their planes under the Solairus certificate, and Solairus provides the crew, maintenance oversight, operational support, and charter revenue opportunities. This is fundamentally different from fractional operators like NetJets or Flexjet — Solairus pilots are typically dedicated to a specific aircraft and owner, creating a more personalized flying experience. Pilots fly virtually every type in business aviation — Gulfstream, Bombardier, Dassault, Cessna Citation, and more — because the fleet composition is determined by the owners who join the platform. With nearly 50 aircraft added in 2025 alone, Solairus is actively growing and currently has approximately 90 open positions. Dan Drohan was recognized by Living Legends of Aviation in 2026 and received the Kenn Ricci Award in 2023 for his contributions to business aviation.

Company history

• 2009: Founded by Dan Drohan with fewer than 25 aircraft
• 2014 (~5 years): Grew to 70+ aircraft and 400+ employees
• 2023: Dan Drohan received the Kenn Ricci Award for excellence in business aviation
• 2025: Fleet surpassed 350 aircraft across 100+ bases; nearly 50 aircraft added in 2025; 2,300+ aviation professionals
• 2026: Fleet reached 360+ aircraft; Dan Drohan recognized by Living Legends of Aviation

Business model

Solairus operates a private aircraft management model — fundamentally different from fractional ownership or pure charter operations:

• Aircraft management: Individual aircraft owners place their planes under the Solairus operating certificate. Solairus provides pilots, maintenance oversight, operational control, dispatch, safety management, and regulatory compliance. The owner retains ownership of the aircraft.
• On-demand charter (Part 135): Owner aircraft can be made available for charter when the owner is not using them, generating revenue to offset ownership costs. Solairus handles all charter sales, scheduling, and operations under its Part 135 certificate.
• Part 91 operations: When owners fly on their own aircraft for personal or business use, Solairus manages the flight under Part 91, providing crew and operational support.
• NOT fractional: Solairus does not sell fractional shares. Each aircraft has a single owner (or ownership entity). Pilots are typically dedicated to a specific aircraft and owner.
• Account-based structure: Each aircraft/owner is an "account." Pilots are assigned to specific accounts, creating a dedicated crew-to-owner relationship. This means compensation, schedule, and flying patterns vary by account.

Loading profile...