After two decades of building and growing consulting and brokerage Guardian Jet, Michael Mikolay has launched new aircraft sales and acquisitions firm Mikolay Jet Group.

Based in Guilford, Connecticut, Mikolay and his team will serve in an advisory role to improve the way aircraft are bought and sold, making the unregulated brokerage process smoother, more efficient and more effective for their clients.

To mark its inception, its inaugural listing is a noteworthy 13-passenger business jet, a 2002 Bombardier Global Express. Exclusively available through Mikolay Jet Group, this exquisite aircraft promises performance, luxury and reliability. Listing details can be found on the company's newly launched website, where aviation enthusiasts and prospective buyers can explore information about the firm.

"At Mikolay Jet Group, we want to change the traditional aircraft brokerage relationship," says Mikolay. "We are dedicated aviation advisors, ensuring attention to our client's needs in every transaction. With our motto of 'delivering unmatched client experiences', we will prioritise our clients' satisfaction above all else."

Industry peer Michael Delmastro, who has worked with Mikolay on numerous transactions for a Fortune 100 firm, is enthusiastic about the venture: "Mike's exceptional organisational skills and process-oriented mindset ensure flawless execution at every step of an aircraft transaction. When you call Mike Mikolay, he gives you the best of his unvarnished expertise. And while he may not always tell you what you want to hear, he tells you what you need to hear. And that advice is well worth following. Mike is a true professional, the pinnacle of honesty and integrity, and I look forward to working with him for many more years to come."

Mikolay has served in a variety of key leadership positions in which he has overseen every aspect of the aircraft transaction process, from client relations and extensive contract negotiations to taking delivery and beyond. Remarkably, he has facilitated and helped close 950 deals worth nearly $14 billion in sales.

Throughout his career, Mikolay has been focused on developing and maintaining long-term relationships with clients and trusted industry partners. These relationships run the gamut from aircraft OEMs to legal and financing entities, as well as consulting, aircraft management and staffing agencies.

Mikolay began his focus on aviation, business and technology following his graduation from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, where he earned a BSc in aero technologies. His early career included roles in aircraft sales at Piedmont Hawthorne Aviation, Cessna Citation and Raytheon Aircraft (Beechcraft).

An accomplished pilot with 1,700 flight hours, Mikolay holds an Airline Transport Pilot rating as well as flight instructor certifications. Additionally, he has a seaplane rating and a Raytheon Premier I type rating. In 2019, he earned his aircraft broker certification from IADA.

Mikolay describes his particular philosophy for his new enterprise: "Leveraging market insights, a consultative approach and a robust network, our clients can expect transparent communication and tailored guidance throughout every transaction. We'll integrate the most experienced and reputable parties into the transaction team, leveraging their expertise as needed. This ensures issues are proactively addressed and/or resolved quickly if they're unavoidable."