Aircraft brokerage company FXSolutions, the latest business to be launched by Directional Aviation's family of companies, has developed a proprietary aircraft comparison tool to help private aviation clients take the next step in their aircraft acquisition journey.

FXSolutions offers industry-competitive advantages not found elsewhere including a hands-on approach to identifying aircraft inventory niche markets and the decades of collective experience of its leadership team. In addition to the team's vast aviation knowledge, this interactive tool is particularly vital given today's inventory challenges driven by high demand.

Founded on the laurels of Ohio-based Sojourn Aviation, FXSolutions will build on Sojourn's success with Matthew Doyle, Ed McDonald and Clay Wilcox. Sojourn Aviation will be absorbed into the new brokerage service.

“It was never a simple process to find the best aircraft to meet your needs and negotiate the best price, and the market has changed in a way that makes using a professional brokerage team like ours the best way to navigate the process,” says managing partner Doyle.

Doyle has over 25 years of aircraft sales industry experience, recently as executive vice president of sales at Flexjet. He also held executive sales positions at Flight Options, Avantair and Cessna Aircraft Company. He is an experienced Part 91 and Part 135 turbine pilot as well as a flight and ground instructor. He is a member of the National Association of Sales Professionals, NBAA and AOPA.

Partner Ed McDonald has more than 30 years of general aviation experience, including global aircraft sales, most recently at Sojourn Aviation. He started his career as a commercial pilot, logging over 5,000 hours of flying time. Not only did he serve as Corporate Wings' executive vice president of flight operations, but he also was instrumental in launching Flight Options. He holds instrument and multi-engine ratings in addition to various flight instructor certificates.

Partner Clay Wilcox has more than 25 years of aviation sales experience. At Flexjet he pioneered the Gulfstream G650 days-based programme sales efforts. Prior to that, he spent 11 years at NetJets as a regional vice president of sales and was a senior sales executive at QS Partners in its whole aircraft division. He holds a commercial pilot license with a multi-engine instrument airplane rating with over 4,000 hours total time.

According to a recent Barclays industry update report, pre-owned aircraft inventory has fallen and pricing has grown in the last year. In fact, it estimated that since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, young used aircraft inventory has decreased 52 per cent. Overall, its research indicated that young pre-owned small cabin aircraft prices increased by 14 per cent since the pandemic began.

FXSolutions can help buyers and sellers navigate these unique market conditions with a purchase process that includes an in-depth interview with the buyer to understand their mission and match them with the right aircraft types, and then a worldwide research report aimed at identifying those available aircraft. FXSolutions uses its unique market data system and contacts to stay on top of aircraft availability. Not only does that hands-on approach benefit the buyer, but it also benefits the sellers it represents. The company manages demonstration flights, pre-purchase inspections and all phases of the closing process.

Doyle adds:“Our team of technical experts have such a depth of knowledge and experience that is unmatched in handling the inspection and due diligence during an aircraft transaction. To add to that, their knowledge in global aircraft sales is becoming increasingly sought after in this environment where inventory is tight. What is unique, though, is that our service doesn't end when the sale closes. We also can help you find a home for your aircraft, a crew to operate it and the resources to maintain it.”