Maintenance Timelines Of A Business Jet

Regularly scheduled aircraft maintenance is an essential component to maintaining the airworthiness of any aircraft. Unlike a car where maintenance is optional, every jet has a specific maintenance timeline— when inspections must be completed— that are outlined by a combination of governing groups. These groups include the Maintenance Review Board, aircraft manufacturer, and FAA; and […]

Clay Lacy Raises $24,000 for Homeless Students in Orange County

(Fullerton, California—September 7, 2017) Clay Lacy Aviation helped raise $24,000 for homeless students in Orange County at the second annual FLOCK Dinner Gala on August 19. Clay Lacy donated flights aboard the company’s fleet of business jets during a live auction at the event. FLOCK (Fullerton’s Love of Orange County Kids) is a nonprofit organization […]

The Pilot Shortage Is A Reality In Business Aviation

The debate over a “pilot shortage” has gained traction in recent years due to the crippling effect a pilot shortage would have on the world today. For a professional pilot, the job outlook has had its ups and downs, but in the current economy, the balance has shifted. Now— and in the near future— there […]

Perspectives Of A Clay Lacy Pilot

One aspect that is apparent when flying with Clay Lacy Aviation is the inherent caliber and talent of the company’s pilots. These men and women are some of the best in the industry, display a history of excellence and continually represent a level of dedication and work ethic that is notably respectable. Pilots— more than […]

Top Destinations To Fly In A Private Jet— Labor Day 2017

You can fly a private jet almost anywhere. From the most remote and exclusive luxury destinations to always popular in Miami, New York or Cabo San Lucas, passengers on private jets have limitless options. With Labor Day fast approaching, where do private jet travelers choose to celebrate the remaining slivers of summer? Explore the top five […]

3 Questions To Ask When Chartering A Private Jet          

There are many choices in private jet operators, but how does one know if they will secure the best safety, service, and value when chartering a private jet? Daniel Harris, Regional Sales Manager for Clay Lacy Aviation, shares three insightful tips on what to ask when booking a private jet charter. Q: “What happens if […]

Gogo Biz 4G Changes The Way You Do Business On A Private Jet 

Clay Lacy Aviation was an early adopter of GoGo wifi systems; connectivity that revolutionized private jet travelers’ ability to do business inflight. Once again, Gogo Biz is transforming private aviation with the recent arrival of Gogo 4G, and Clay Lacy is at the leading edge of this new technology. Here are a few reasons why Gogo’s […]

Interview With A Corporate Flight Attendant

For a corporate flight attendant, the private aviation industry is competitive. With just over 12,000 business jets registered in the United States, and an even smaller number of aircraft requiring fight attendants, jobs are highly sought after. Only the best aviation professionals make their mark and build a lucrative career. At Clay Lacy Aviation, the […]

What To Consider When Buying A Business Jet

The benefits and appeal of owning a business jet are inarguably far reaching. More time spent with family. ‘Mobile office’ capabilities resulting in better focus and productivity. Additional exclusivity, privacy, and comfort. Business jet ownership is the epitome of convenience with a delicate dash of simplicity and luxury. From the initial curiosity of buying—to stepping […]

How To Choose A Professional Aircraft Management Company For Your Business Jet

December 14, 2022 “The best aircraft management is not the most expensive nor the least. Rather, it’s the one who deals fairly, advocates in the client’s best interest and does what is right when action is required.” —Joe Barber, SVP Commercial Operations, Clay Lacy Aviation     Beyond a reputable name and a professional aircraft […]

A Gulfstream Exclusive: Mach 0.90 Cruise

Saving time is the essence of business jet travel, and that won’t change anytime soon. Two aircraft in particular, the Gulfstream flagship G650ER and G650, can save operators more time than any other aircraft in service today. That magic number, computed by our engineers, is 52 hours, a significant amount of time for most. Two […]

The Onboard Experience: The Way Private Jet Travel Should Be

As jet-cards, jet sharing and other private aviation programs work to lower the cost of flying by private jet, one element that is often overlooked is the onboard experience. “The quality of one’s flight isn’t something that can be assessed beforehand. Therefore, many clients take the onboard service for granted. The assumption is made that, if […]

How Pilots Decrease Fuel Costs For Aircraft Owners

In business aviation, jet fuel is the highest variable cost of jet ownership. Professional pilots must calculate the optimized flying speed and altitude, based on a variety of factors, to determine what is both the safest and most efficient fuel burn. Technology exists— for many commercial jetliner pilots— to quickly calculate the amount of fuel […]

What To Know About Aviation Safety When Chartering A Private Jet 

One in three adults experience anxiety or have a genuine fear of air travel, but flying does not need to incite concern. If a charter guest or aircraft owner knows what standards of safety and records of excellence have been met, maintained and surpassed, clients can fly with peace of mind. Not all private aircraft […]

Crewing A Private Jet: Hiring The Best Safety Professionals For A Business Aircraft

Much is involved in crewing a private jet, but the choice of who flies a charter guest or owner at Clay Lacy Aviation circles back to three simple foundational points— attributes very clearly stated by Chief Pilot, Preston Williamson. “I look for competence, character and attitude,” the retired United States Air Force Colonel says in […]

FANS 1/A: What the FAA’s 2020 mandates mean for business aviation

As the airspace system becomes increasingly crowded, Air Traffic Control agencies have established new avionics mandates to improve safety and efficiency of private jet travel. FANS 1/A technology—an acronym for Future Air Navigation Systems must be installed in business jets before a January 1, 2020 deadline or owners and operators risk the grounding of aircraft […]

5 Legendary Life Philosophies Of A Clay Lacy Cabin Server

Clay Lacy Aviation is a company founded upon a legacy of legendary achievement. When Clay Lacy, the man, first started his business in 1968, he was not only claiming the title of “the first private jet operator on the west coast,” but developing unchartered paths within both general and commercial aviation. His focused love for flying— […]

Clay Lacy Scholarship Fund Helps Orange Coast College Aviation Science Students

(Santa Ana, California—May 9, 2017) Clay Lacy Aviation, the world’s most experienced operator of private jets, has established a scholarship fund to help students attending the Orange Coast College Aviation Science program earn their private, instrument and commercial pilot license. Flight training takes place at the Orange County John Wayne Airport where the college maintains […]

Clay Lacy Adds ADS-B Out Solution for Gulfstream GIV, GIV-SP and GV to FANS 1/A+ STC

Feature-rich STC offers lower cost, less downtime and greater flexibility than competing solutions (Los Angeles—March 28, 2017) Clay Lacy Aviation has added ADS-B Out to its FANS 1/A+ STC for Gulfstream GIV, GIV-SP and GV business jets. This STC complies with the January 1, 2020 mandates for ADS-B Out and FANS 1/A+. For less than […]

This Is the Best Time in Years to Buy a Business Jet

What’s behind the buyer’s market and how you can benefit If you missed recession-era opportunities to buy a business jet for a much lower cost, the pendulum has swung back your way. According to the UBS Business Jet Survey, prices for new and pre-owned aircraft have returned to 2009 lows, and will likely stay there […]

2016

Clay Lacy merges with Key Air, a 30-year old aircraft charter and management firm headquartered in Oxford, Connecticut, establishing a new Clay Lacy maintenance support and flight operations center in the greater New York area.

2015

First Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) issued by the FAA for Future Air Navigation System (FANS 1/A+) upgrade for the Gulfstream GIV and GIVSP.

Clay Lacy Adds Learjet 45XR Charter Jet at Oregon’s Portland International Airport

(Los Angeles—February 9, 2017) Clay Lacy Aviation, the world’s most experienced operator of private jets, announced that an eight-passenger Learjet 45XR is now available for charter at Portland International Airport (KPDX) in Portland, Oregon. This Learjet 45XR joins the growing number of Clay Lacy charter jets based in the Pacific Northwest, including a Hawker 800XP […]

Clay Lacy Awards Scholarships to 22 Students in LAUSD Aircraft Mechanic Program

(Los Angeles—February 6, 2017) Clay Lacy Aviation, the world’s most experienced operator of private jets, has awarded scholarships totaling $10,200 to 22 students in the Aircraft Mechanic Program, operated at Van Nuys Airport by the L.A. Unified School District’s North Valley Occupational Center. The FAA-approved curriculum prepares students for the licensing examination in General Airframe […]

CSQ Magazine Profiles Clay Lacy & Brian Kirkdoffer’s 27 Years in Business Aviation

Clay Lacy Aviation’s Key to Sky-High Success Article by: Kirk Hawking | CSQ Winter 2017 Issue | Read Full Article Brian Kirkdoffer has traveled all around the world several times. He has met business titans, world leaders, and A-list celebrities. The Seattle-area native never would have lived a life many can barely comprehend in their wildest […]

731 Falcon 20B

The Dassault Falcon 20 has always been a great airplane. It has been well received by customers and is also a good looking airplane with just the right proportions. The Falcon 20 was a superb candidate for re-engining and AlliedSignal’s TFE731-5BR retrofit program has certainly been a success. AlliedSignal brought a customer 731 Falcon 20B […]

Bell 609 Civil Tiltrotor

BELL’S 609 CIVIL TILTROTOR PROMISES NEW VTOL POSSIBILITIES By Clay Lacy – in September 1998 Professional Pilot Magazine’s “Flightcheck” ATP/CFII/Helo/Sea. Gulfstream II/III/IV, Learjet series, Raytheon Hawker, Boeing 747 and 25 misc. type ratings. BELL Helicopter Textron took the Bell Boeing tiltrotor program in house earlier this year with two products in the pipeline—the Bell 609 […]

Bombardier Global 5000

By Clay Lacy in 2004 Professional Pilot Magazine “Flight Check” ATP/CFII/Helo/Sea. Gulfstream II/III/IV, Learjet and Citation Series HS125, Boeing 747, DC3, and 25 misc type ratings BOMBARDIER GLOBAL 5000: $33.5 MIL, 8 SEATS, M.89, 4800 NM, FL510 Honeywell Primus 2000XP avionics suite, TCAS 2000, EGPWS, GPS, Rolls-Royce BR710A2-20 turbofans with 14750 lbs of thrust. Introduced in […]

Bombardier Learjet 40

By Clay Lacy in 2005 Professional Pilot Magazine “Flight Check” ATP/CFII/Helo/Sea. Gulfstream II/III/IV, Learjet and Citation Series HS125, Boeing 747, DC3, and 25 misc type ratings BOMBARDIER LEARJET 40: $7.8MIL, 6-7 SEATS, M.81, 1824 NM, FL510 Honeywell Primus 1000 avionics suite, 4-display EFIS, EICAS, RVSM ready, EGPWS, Honeywell TFE31-20-AR turbofans with 3500 lbs of thrust […]

Citation Excel

By Clay Lacy In Professional Pilot’s December 1998 “Flight Check” ATP/CFII/Helo/Sea. Gulfstream II/III/IV, Learjet series, HS125, Boeing 747 and 25 misc. type ratings. The Citation Excel was designed as follow-on aircraft to the popular Citation V Ultra. It’s probably been the most successful new bizjet offering ever with more than 200 firm orders at this […]

Eurocopter EC120B Colibri

By Clay Lacy – in August 1998 Professional Pilot Magazine’s “Flightcheck” ATP/CFII/Helo/Sea. Gulfstream II/III/IV, Learjet series, Hawker, Boeing 747 and 25 misc. type ratings. EUROCOPTER REDEFINES THE ENTRY-LEVEL MARKET WITH ITS NEW SINGLE-ENGINE HELICOPTER. EUROCOPTER has re-entered the light single-engine helicopter market with the all new five-place EC120B Colibri. A joint venture with China and […]

Aircraft of the 21st century — it’s time for really big changes

By Clay Lacy ATP/Helo/CFII – In 2001 Pro Pilot Magazine Editorial Opinion “Outer Marker Inbound” Boeing 747, Gulfstream II/III/IV, Hawkers, Learjets, Citations and 25 misc type ratings. Over the nearly 100 yrs since the Wright Brothers flew at Kitty Hawk we’ve seen wonderful advances in aviation technology. These improvements, however, have not been consistent. We’ve […]

Aviation Partners Winglets Debut on Hawker 800

By Clay Lacy in November 2001 Professional Pilot Magazine ATP/Helo/CFII Boeing 747, Gulfstream II/III/IV, Hawkers, Learjets, Citations and 25 misc type ratings Blended winglets for the Hawker 800, anticipated to be certified within 12 months, are the same design concept and application of technology as the winglets you see on the Gulfstream II, the BBJ […]

Clay receives prestigious NBAA award

Lacy is a world-renowned pilot with over 50,000 hours of flying time whose lifetime in aviation has included experience as an Air Force pilot and airline pilot, fame as a national air racer, and international success as a director and videographer specializing in air-to-air sequences for Hollywood blockbuster movies and television commercials. In October 1964, […]

Aviation Safety

By Clay Lacy in December 2004 Professional Pilot Magazine’s “Training” Contributing Writer Aircraft are designed so that no matter what happens there’s always a way out. The weak link, and the cause of most accidents, is the human element. Safety Standdown is aimed at inspiring operators to focus more on safety and to give themselves […]

Situational Awareness – An editorial opinion

By Clay Lacy in January 2001 Professional Pilot Magazine’s “Situational Awareness” ATP/CFII/Helo/Sea. Boeing 747, Gulfstream II/III/IV, Hawkers, Learjets, Citations and 25 misc type ratings During a Pro Pilot flight test aboard a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, Pilot-Author Clay Lacy (L) and Cessna Mgr ATD Fleet Ops Gregory Parlish input flight information to an Avidyne FlightMax […]

Buying Business Aircraft

By Clay Lacy – In June 2002 Pro Pilot Magazine’s “Purchasing Guide” ATP/Helo/CFII Boeing 747, Gulfstream II/III/IV, Hawkers, Learjets, Citations and 25 misc type ratings Flying is easy compared with acquiring an aircraft. Know the marketplace before you start shopping. It’s a buyers market out there for business jets. I don’t believe prices are going […]

Clay Lacy on Allen Paulson

TRIBUTE Chrysler Chairman Lee Iacocca (L) listens as Allen Paulson lists the qualities of the Gulfstream IV. The year is 1986, the setting a GIV furnishings mockup at the NBAA convention. Selling aboard any of his Gulfstream aircraft—even a mockup—is something Paulson loved. Allen Paulson was born on April 22, 1922 and died on July […]

In Aviation, One Size Does Not Fit All

By Clay Lacy in Professional Pilot Magazine’s August 2004 “Position and Hold” ATP/CFII/Helo?Sea. Gulfstream II/III/IV, Learjet and Citation series, HS125, Boeing 747, DC3 and 25 misc type ratings. When I climb out of my Gulfstream IISP or Learjet 24, after an intercontinental trip or a quick dash back from ICT (Mid-Continent, Wichita KS), I often […]