In this episode of Think Like an Owner, I sit down with Eric Legvold and Trey Darr of Davinci Jets to explore the business of private aviation management and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) services. We dive into how Davinci Jets was built from the ground up, the evolution of private jet management, and why the company has remained profitable every year since its founding.

Eric shares how the company pivoted from its original single-seat charter concept to full-service aircraft management, bootstrapping the business while maintaining a lean and disciplined approach to growth. Trey brings insights from his experience in aircraft maintenance and explains how Davinci is balancing fleet management with third-party MRO services, ensuring efficiency while expanding their customer base.

We also discuss:

• Why more Fortune 500 companies are turning to third-party flight management
• How vertical integration in aviation can reduce costs and increase control
• The challenges of hiring and scaling in the MRO industry
• How Davinci has stayed profitable in an industry where many companies struggle

If you’re interested in private aviation, business strategy, or the complexities of running a capital-intensive operation, this episode is full of insights from two experienced operators navigating an evolving industry.

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Learn more about Alex and Think Like an Owner at https://tlaopodcast.com/

Links:

Davinci Jets

Trey Darr on LinkedIn

Eric Legvold on LinkedIn

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:03:58) - Starting Davinci Jets

(00:09:09) - Growth constraints

(00:11:44) - Ventures before Davinci

(00:13:46) - The upside to MRO

(00:17:31) - Prioritizing your own fleet vs. external customers

(00:18:28) - Growth plans

(00:20:56) - MRO & Management compliments

(00:22;59) - What do you do differently to maintain profitability?

(00:27:16) - The Charlotte market

(00:29:22) - MRO Growth

(00:31:46) - Process improvements

(00:33:30) - Market growth

(00:40:29) - The slowdown in Jet Cards

(00:43:35) - What are you most excited about in the industry?