Category: Blog

Both super midsize business jets will operate under its San Marino AOC
(Dubai, UAE) Titan Aviation (http://www.titanaviation.aero), a global leading provider of
aircraft management, sales, and charter services, announces the addition of two Hawker
4000 super midsize business jets to its San Marino fleet. With the addition of these
aircraft, Titan Aviation now manages a total of three Hawker 4000 aircraft worldwide.
“With these two new exciting additions to our worldwide fleet, Titan Aviation is on target
to reach our goals this year as we continue progress on our global expansion,” said Capt.
Sakeer Sheik, Founder and Managing Director of Titan Aviation. “We continue to induct
jets that fill the gap in the charter market regionally and deliver safe and quality services
to the end users. Hawker 4000 with its range and cabin is a good fit for the region”.
The addition of the two Hawker 4000 supplements Titan Aviation’s global expansion plan
as the company recently expanded in the United States and added new leadership. With
an expansive fleet ranging from short-ranged aircraft to Boeing Business Jets and
Helicopters, the Company continues to expand globally, achieving its goals.
For more information about Titan Aviation, visit http://www.titanaviation.aero.

The global provider of aircraft management, sales, and charter services, Titan Aviation has announced the appointment of Toni Drummond, the seasoned private aviation entrepreneur as its new president in the US, to lead the company’s operations in the North American market.

The recent appointment aligns with the company’s growth strategy and planned expansion in 2023, especially in emerging markets.

“We are excited to start 2023 with this new leadership addition as we continue to execute our global expansion plan,” Titan Aviation Managing Director Captain Sakeer C. Sheik said, emphasising that “Toni’s experience in emerging technologies and sustainability correlate with the future of aviation and Titan Aviation’s evolution.” Sheik further highlighted that the move will better position Titan Aviation to “understand what possibilities will take flight within the next few years.” In her new role, Drummond will spearhead the company’s growth strategy, including expanding its service offering and aircraft fleet, as well as identifying key emerging markets and future growth opportunities.

With over 25 years of extensive experience in general aviation and a steadfast focus on innovative technologies and emerging sustainable aviation solutions, Drummond is set to play an integral role in realising the company’s fleet expansion and growth objectives as well as advancing its sustainability agenda. Throughout her career, Drummond assumed various senior global roles across the corporate aviation and emerging aviation technologies sectors, including the chief executive of Global Aerial Management Group,

Titan has consistently provided excellence in aviation for almost 20 years – a true example of safety and professionalism around the globe,” Toni Drummond, President – US, Titan Aviation

Partner at Prestige Air Group, Emerging Tech Committee Member at the National Business Aviation Association, and the president of the aviation consulting firm EmreAir Solutions, among others.

Commenting on her new appointment, Drummond said that “Titan Aviation is front and centre to the expansion and orchestration of business aviation as we know it,” adding that the company has consistently provided excellence in aviation for almost 20 years “a true example of safety and professionalism around the globe.”

Drummond further expressed her enthusiasm to lead a “forward-facing team” that works to position Titan Aviation as a leader in sustainability. Moreover, she remarked that along with her team, she will be bringing Titan’s “five-star services boldly into the US market where it is needed.”

Elaborating on her strategy to realise the firm’s sustainability targets, Drummond revealed that her main focus will be building the roadmap to provide and implement sustainable aviation solutions to the business and corporate jet markets while maintaining the company’s service level and “embracing the future,” stressing that the company’s growth and expansion will be her topmost priority in 2023. According to Sheik, Titan Aviation has “aggressively” stepped up its operations in the US market in the first half of 2022, as part of a company- wide growth strategy, which involves expanding its fleet to 5o aircraft by year-end and growing its global foothold across key growth markets.

In an earlier interview, Sheik remarked that despite having many local players, the US market has got scope for many others adding that even in a saturated market, “there are always opportunities.” Currently, Titan Aviation operates a diverse fleet of 3o aircraft – As of December 2022 – including the Bombardier Glob-1 6000, Embraer Lineage i000, Embraer Legacy 65o, Embraer Phenom 300E, Gulfstream G zoo, Hawker gooXP, Hawker SooXP, and Embraer Phenom 100. Since it launched operations in 2004, the company has rapidly expanded its market presence, with operations in the US, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific, earning a reputation as a quality service provider of customisable aircraft management solutions, low-cost charter, aircraft sales transactions, turnkey aircraft operations management, and ethical aviation consulting services. AVB

Portland, Maine – USA, March 15, 2023 – Organizers of Commercial UAV Expo, the world’s leading commercial drone trade show and conference, have announced an impressive list of influential leaders in the drone industry who will be participating on the Advisory Board. Following record-breaking attendance at the 2022 event, the Advisory Board will guide programming, recommend speakers, and deliver critical insights about the commercial drone market. The event will take place September 5 – 7, 2023 at Ceasars Forum in Las Vegas.

“The Commercial UAV Advisory Board brings together industry leaders who have insights and expertise that are key to program development around commercial UAS technology, trends, and expansion,” said Lee Corkhill, Group Director at Diversified Communications, organizer of the event. “Board members are at the top of their fields, and they are committed to delivering the high caliber education commercial UAV professionals have come to expect from Commercial UAV Expo. Following the monumental turnout last year, we are excited to have this Advisory Board in place to help guide the event and continue to deliver the best conference and expo in the UAS market.”

Members of the Commercial UAV Expo Advisory Board include:

• Dallas Brooks, Wing
• Michael Cohen, Aerial Evolution Association of Canada
• Toni Drummond, Titan Aviation
• Lisa Ellman, Commercial Drone Alliance
• Dyan Gibbens, Trumbull Unmanned
• Shayne Gill, AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials)
• James Grimsley, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
• Brendan Groves, Skydio
• Ashley Hanson, John Deere
• Thomas Haun, Turner Staffing Group
• Ethan Hunt, AT&T
• Grant Jordan, SkySafe
• Ted Kalnas, Los Angeles City Fire Department
• Eszter Kovács, DroneTalks
• Eileen Lockhart, Spright an Air Methods Company
• Rishap Malhotra, DroneUp
• Robert McCoy, Crown Castle
• Jennifer Pidgen, Sundance Media Group
• Christopher Todd, AIRT (DRONERESPONDERS)
• Gretchen West, Brayker Consulting Group
• Anne Zink, 5×5.ai

Bios can be found here.

The Advisory Board will assist in developing conference programming comprised of both general sessions and vertical industry breakout sessions that delve into UAS integration and operation for specific vertical industries including construction, infrastructure & transportation; drone delivery; energy & utilities; forestry & agriculture; mining & aggregates; public safety & emergency service; security; and surveying & mapping. In addition to these specific vertical applications, the conference program will showcase the reality around how and where this technology is making a difference when it comes to BVLOS operations, what it means to quantify the ROI of a given program or investment, and how the potential that has long been associated with drone technology is finally being fulfilled at scale.

The 2022 edition of Commercial UAV Expo drew over 3,400 verified professionals and 232 exhibitors from throughout the world. Advisory Board members expressed their enthusiasm at being involved in the 2023 event and building on the momentum from last year.

“Commercial UAV Expo provides a one-stop experience for [Government] agencies to evaluate the latest drone technology and make educated purchasing decisions that benefit the communities they serve,” said Christopher Todd, Executive Director of AIRT (Airborne International Response Team). “In a rapidly evolving technology landscape, public safety and government agencies need a one-stop source to evaluate the key players in the marketplace.  Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas provides that experience.”

“Anybody who really wants to understand where drones are being applied commercially should be at Commercial UAV Expo,” said Thomas Haun, President at Turner Staffing Group. “Everything in the sessions is about what’s happening on the ground now. I think that applicability makes the sessions at Commercial UAV Expo that much more valuable.”

In addition to the sessions in the extensive conference program, Commercial UAV Expo offers a vendor neutral show floor with more exhibitors than any other commercial UAS event, featuring best-in-class solutions from manufacturers, suppliers and service providers that focus on commercial drone applications. Additional event features include vendor-delivered Exhibitor Showcases, DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Summit, Exhibit Hall Theater Programming, networking receptions, and live Outdoor Flying Demonstrations. More than 300 Supporting Partners from six continents representing media, associations, portals and more, support this event.

Registration will open in May. Commercial drone professionals are encouraged to register early to secure discounted conference pricing, and to fill out the Attendee Inquiry form for event updates.

About Commercial UAV Expo

Commercial UAV Expo, presented by Commercial UAV News, is an international conference and expo exclusively focused on commercial UAS integration and operation covering industries including Construction; Drone Delivery; Energy & Utilities; Forestry & Agriculture; Infrastructure & Transportation; Mining & Aggregates; Public Safety & Emergency Services; Security; and Surveying & Mapping. It takes place September 5-7, 2023, at Caesars Forum, Las Vegas NV. For more information, visit https://www.expouav.com/  Commercial UAV Expo is produced by Diversified Communications’ technology portfolio which also includes Commercial UAV News; Geo Week, Geo Week Newsletter, 3D Technology Newsletter, AEC Innovations Newsletter, Geo Business (UK) and Digital Construction Week (UK). For more information about exhibiting at Commercial UAV Expo, visit the Exhibitor Information page or contact Kat McDonald, Sales Manager, at kmcdonald@divcom.com or +1.207-842-5646. For attending information, visit https://www.expouav.com/ or email info@expouav.com.

Titan Aviation, the Morristown-based provider of aircraft management, sales, and charter services, announced the appointment of Toni Drummond as president of Titan Aviation US.

“We are excited to start 2023 with this new leadership addition as we continue to execute our global expansion plan,” said Founder and Managing Director Captain Sakeer C. Sheik. “Toni’s experience in emerging technologies and sustainability correlate with the future of aviation and Titan Aviation’s evolution. We’re positioning Titan Aviation to understand what possibilities will take flight within the next few years.”

Drummond will lead the strategy for responsibly growing Titan Aviation’s aircraft services and fleet, in addition to identifying emerging markets and expansion opportunities.

“Titan Aviation is front and center to the expansion and orchestration of business aviation as we know it. Our company has consistently provided excellence in aviation for almost 20 years – a true example of safety and professionalism around the globe,” said Drummond. “As emerging aviation technologies continue to evolve, I’m grateful to lead a forward-facing team that cares about positioning ourselves as a leader in sustainability. We are bringing our five-star services boldly into the US market where it is needed. I will focus on building the roadmap to providing and implementing sustainable aviation solutions into business and corporate jet markets, while maintaining the service level and embracing the future.”

Drummond has committed to focus solely on the growth and expansion of Titan Aviation in the Global marketplace in 2023. She brings more than 25 years of experience in the aviation industry. Drummond is a seasoned private aviation entrepreneur previously holding global roles in both corporate aviation and emerging aviation technologies.

Credit: Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images

A test flight is flown by a DroneUp pilot in preparation for drone delivery of Covid-19 home self-collection kits from Walmart amid a Covid-19 surge in El Paso in 2020, in El Paso, Texas. Residents who lived within 1.5 miles of the Walmart Supercenter in East El Paso were eligible for the free kits as part of a drone delivery pilot program.

It’s an exciting time for the corporate flight department.

This segment of the market will help set a safe and scalable pathway forward into NextGen flight. Business aviation is, by nature, cloaked in a thick and unwavering commitment to prioritize safety above all else. The future flight department will have opportunities to take that goal with them as we progress digitally. The deep knowledge and understanding of general aviation practices are what will help enable the progression of new aviation technology.

Most recently, Walmart teamed with drone delivery giant DroneUp to service last-mile delivery solutions. In 2022, this partnership expanded with an aggressive goal of opening more than 34 DroneUp delivery sites nationwide by year-end. That has been a visible shift in the marketplace and has opened up conversations about sustainable responsibility that has become more comfortable over time.

Corporate giants, such as Verizon, have stepped into the spotlight by highlighting a business/general aviation safety standard in using uncrewed aerial vehicles to provide effective solutions. This company, along with other utility providers, uses drones for inspections on a regular basis. Verizon announced that it recently obtained a coveted ISBAO safety rating. This proactive safety practice highlights the company’s commitment to integrating current GA safety standards into the uncrewed environment as it looks forward.

Start-up drone innovation companies, such as San Diego-based PromoDrone and Las Vegas-based Brinc Drones, are using uncrewed aerial systems to aid mission-specific search and rescue professionals. These aircraft bring a layer of protection to our first responders and keep them physically out of harm’s way while alertly and proactively monitoring and managing the situation. General aviation applications for search and rescue, first responders, and health-related movements can now be handled safely and with accuracy.

As we look into the future of aviation, there is a keen eye on electric aviation. Electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, or eVTOL, provides a scalable and environmentally conscious solution for the overall well-being of the planet. It is a key force multiplier when we talk about NetZero 2050. Electric and even hydrogen solutions are being tested around the world. In fact, more than 750 electric concepts are presently listed with the Vertical Flight Society worldwide.

The future flight department will include team members that become specialists in new fields. We will be keen to implement socially sustainable goals when hiring, training, attracting and encouraging the ecosystem that supports future flight. Specialties, such as carbon offset, carbon neutrality and sustainable aviation fuel management will be a new spade for expertise. A step further into the future envisions electric battery and hydrogen management as well. Licensed dispatchers and those who understand FAA regulations like 14 CFR Part 135, Part 91, and Part 121 stand to gain significant career advancement as they will be in great need. We now open up new roles for remote pilots, advanced traffic management systems, maintenance and repair, to name a few.

The revolution of next-generation future flight is abruptly moving forward, and we are poised for a shift unlike we have witnessed for many decades.

We honor the lessons of the past as we adapt digitally and generationally to what lies ahead. As aviators, our commitment to prioritizing the utmost standard of safety will remain firm as we implement new ideas. As the industry makes room for new stakeholders, I can envision today’s experts collaborating with tomorrow’s change makers to focus on safe and equitable solutions.

As we step ahead in 2023, may we do so with excitement and vigor for we are all part of what is next. We will move forward with a gentle, deliberate hand to usher in an intentional and responsible future in the sky.

Toni Drummond is founder and CEO of Global Aerial Management Group, a company with a focus on UAS, AAM, electric aviation and sustainable aviation initiatives. Additionally, she owns multiple general aviation companies. She was the winner of the 2021 Women and Drones Team Innovation award and in 2022, was also named as one of the Top 100 Women to Watch in aviation & aerospace. Drummond is a member of the National Business Aviation Association’s Emerging Technologies Committee.

Aviation services concern Titan Aviation expanded into Indonesia in 2020 and added a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ), bringing fleet size today to 28 aircraft. It also added Guernsey approval to its existing four air operator certificates (AOCs), of which the San Marino’s is the most important.

“For the first time, we added a BBJ under our San Marino operations,” managing director Sakeer Sheik told AIN. “That’s a 2016 aircraft based in the UAE, a big addition to the fleet. The private owner hopes to use it for charter in the future.” Sheik noted the organization has also added three other aircraft—two Hawkers and one Embraer 145—to its San Marino managed fleet. Further joining Titan’s San Marino AOC is a Falcon 50 based in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Titan’s aircraft owners hail from the Middle East, India, Indonesia, and the U.S.; 70 percent are business leaders or corporations, but it also has single owners. “In 2022, we are probably looking at adding about 10 aircraft to the fleet,” he said. ”We expect to hit the 50-aircraft mark by end of 2023.”

In addition to the four approvals AIN detailed in 2018, Titan now has a Guernsey private operator certificate (POC) and has also secured IS-BAO Stage 2 approval.

“We actually expanded into new territory in 2020,” he said. “We moved into Indonesia with a fleet of three aircraft, locally based. You do have both island-hopping as well as international; the aircraft are busy. We also sold aircraft into Indonesia in the last few months, including a Praetor 600 for delivery in 2024.”

Sheik said India was booming. In the last two months, Titan signed up to 2,600 hours for one year on three aircraft: two light jets and one super-midsize. “That’s a one-year contract,” he said. “We have three years on all three aircraft together. That’s very good business for us. That’s how the charter business is performing in one of the most price-sensitive markets.”

During Covid, new people entering the market often became new owners, he said, after flying charter for a time. “It was not easy chartering these aircraft, so they started trying to buy them. If you look at how the market has behaved since the third and fourth quarters of 2020, it’s been a continuous upswing. Industry participants have all been signing up aircraft.

“There is always demand. Supply is short today, but there are always people who want to pay you money to buy an aircraft. For example, an aircraft valued at $10 million is listed in the market for $13 million. There are buyers at about $12 million or $12.5 million because they are desperate to buy. They will never see the delta between the actual value of 10 and buying price of 12.5, that it’s something that you write off for life. That’s where the market is these days.”

In terms of operating out of Dubai, Sheik said Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) fit the bill well. “We are very comfortable with DWC,” he said. “It is a good airport; customers are happy with it these days. It has a good FBO setup. We have a tie-up with Falcon Aviation’s FBO. Falcon is functioning as an independent FBO at the DWC VIP Terminal today.”

Titan saw 5,500 revenue hours in 2021. “I don’t have the numbers off the top of my head, but in 2022 it’s going way above what we have predicted,” he said. “We will probably do over 7,000 hours.”

Sheik conceded that Titan had been a late starter in the U.S., despite having the Part 135 charter approval. “We’ve been waiting and watching the market; unlike, let’s say, the Middle East or Asia, the U.S. has a lot of players,” he said. “We wanted to go in with the right kind of strategy and business model, which creates value for the customers and is a win-win for everyone.

“Whenever I meet an aircraft owner there, I learn about new business models. We’ve been waiting and watching; we got hold of two or three good aircraft owners who are in sync with our thinking. All of us know that aircraft ownership is not an easy road to profitability. Our U.S. business is all light and midsize jets. We are now working on adding super midsizes to the fleet.”

From 2020, Titan’s Indonesia presence has helped it to branch out into Asia-Pacific, and the company is seeing strong activity in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. “One of our core aims is to establish a much bigger base in that part of the world, to drive business coming from Singapore,” he said. “On Malaysia, we’ve been talking about at least five-to-seven aircraft in the next few months, to go into that part of the world, either for sale or under our management.”

Operating under the San Marino Aircraft Registry has been a boon, he said. “It’s the regulatory acceptance of the authority; it’s a neutral country. It’s very easy to get things done around the world. If you have a T7 aircraft, it’s the approachability of the authority. They give you solutions, and they get things done fast. Speed of delivery is very important, especially in the private jet business.”

The first quarter of 2020 was fairly routine for Titan, but MD Sakeer Sheikh admits that Q2 and Q3 were a ‘total washout’. It has however added five jets of late in Indonesia and Dubai, and brighter times are ahead.

Dubai-headquartered Titan Aviation, which operates across Asia Pacific, the Middle East and the US, has added five more managed jets to its roster since October 2020. The additions comprise a Legacy 600, a Citation Latitude and a Hawker 850XP based in Indonesia, and a Phenom 300E and a Hawker 900XP based in Dubai.

MD Sakeer Sheikh says the company’s most popular aircraft are the Legacy 650 and Hawker 850XP/900XP. “Both types serve the clients extremely well, and they fulfil specific mission requirements,” he says. “Owner flights are their regular mission, and customers have business reasons to fly around their respective areas. We also organise third party air ambulance flights and recently operated one for a high profile client who had multiple health complications. This was very challenging, especially with the additional COVID complications.”

The first quarter of 2020 was fairly routine for Titan, but Sheikh admits that Q2 and Q3 were a ‘total washout’: “Since Q4, we have been extremely busy, and I have spoken to lot of my industry colleagues who have confirmed that it is the same for their business as well. This is a very positive indication. We are scaling up after making certain organisational changes during Q2 and Q3, and we hope to achieve our best performance in the months to come. There is positivity in the air, and we hope that the introduction of the vaccine will help to sustain it.

“After what we saw in the year 2020, it is best not to plan too much. COVID taught us many lessons, and many of us are learning to accept and adjust our business model accordingly. We want to sustain the growth, build adequate infrastructure and resources, serve the clients and operate under strict compliance of health and safety.”

12th January, 2021: Titan Aviation, a specialist Aircraft Management company has added three more business jets to its globally managed fleet, in the Asia Pacific market.

The new expansion includes brand new Citation Latitude, Embraer Legacy 600, and a Hawker 850XP. Citation Latitude is the first ever jet delivered in Indonesia, which will be exclusively operated by Titan Aviation under private category for the Owners.

“Legacy 600 and Hawker 850XP will be operated under San Marino registry while the Citation Latitude will be flying under FAA private category” said Mr. Javed Ahmed, President -Technical of Titan Aviation.

Titan Aviation has been operating Legacy and Hawker family of jets for over 10 years, worldwide, and the company is hands-on with these types, with extensive knowledge and experience on these models, according to Capt. Sakeer C. Sheik, Founder and Managing Director of Titan Aviation. “With its new cabin and modern platform, Citation Latitude is a great addition to the fleet, and working with Textron is a pleasure, globally”, he says.

“In a span of 20 years business jet and civil helicopter fleet is conventional to grow by 5.7% ahead of the global average of 4.5%. APAC holds for 30% of global passenger traffic and I see a good opportunity to expand our operations in this region. Following the world class Safety Management System and with IS-BAO Stage II approvals, we are thrilled with this expansion and look forward to add more jets in the APAC” he concluded.

^{Citation Latitude}

^{Legacy 600}

^{Hawker 850XP}

About Titan Aviation

Titan Aviation is a world-wide aviation specialty provider headquartered in the USA. Since 2004, the company has created a robust reputation offering specialized services in Aircraft Management, Charter Sales & Leasing, Cockpit Crew Support and Pilot Training. Managing a fleet of over 20 aircraft, including US, Middle East & Asia and is now expanding its services to APAC. It is one of the unique Private Aviation Companies in the World that operates under FAA 135, San Marino AOC, Cayman and Guernsey POC, with fully qualified Safety Management System and IS-BAO Stage II approval. For more information, please visit www.titanaviation.aero

On completing 1000 hours of flying; Dr. BR Shetty with Capt. Sakeer C Sheik – MD, Titan Aviation and Mahesh Iyer, President, Titan Aviation.