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Why More Sole Owners are Moving to PIA Managed Co-Ownership

Sole aircraft ownership delivers control: you set the schedule, choose the crew, and keep the aircraft exactly as you want it. But that freedom comes with full exposure – 100% of the capital, 100% of the overhead, and 100% of the operational responsibility – whether you fly 60 hours a year or 160.

Partners in Aviation (PIA), the leader in managed co-ownership for private aircraft, bridges the gap for owners who fly 50 to 150 hours per year and want to keep their aircraft, crew, and access – at half the cost. At PIA, we’ve seen demand for smarter, more predictable ownership solutions surge over the past decade.

Below, we’ll outline where sole ownership and PIA Managed Co-ownershipSM differ, where PIA offers the same ownership advantages, and how to decide which structure best fits your mission.

The Bottom Line at a Glance

Sole-Ownership

  • Best for: 200+ hours/year
  • Strengths: Complete control; unlimited availability.
  • Considerations: Highest capital and fixed costs; under-utilization if you fly less.
  • Alternatives often considered: Selling the whole aircraft and turning to charter, jet-card or membership programs that result in sacrificing control

PIA Managed Co-Ownership

  • Best for: 50–150 hours/year
  • Strengths: Cuts capital and fixed costs in half while preserving the access you need; you choose your co-owner, keep your crew/manager.
  • Considerations: Shared calendar governed by a clear agreement that gives you unparalleled access to your plan 25+ days per month; PIA provides vetted co-owner options for your approval.

Key Differences

1) Cost Structure

  • Sole-Ownership: You shoulder 100% of capital, insurance, hangar, maintenance reserves, and management—whether you fly or not.
  • PIA Co-Ownership: You split capital and fixed costs 50/50. Your variable costs still scale with hours flown, just like today.

2) Utilization Fit

  • Sole-Ownership: Makes financial sense for heavy users (typically 200+ hours/year).
  • PIA Co-Ownership: Purpose-built for those flying 50–150 hours/year, and owners who love the lifestyle, but don’t fly enough to justify the cost of whole ownership.

3) Access & Availability

  • Sole-Ownership: Unlimited access, only subject to maintenance, crew duty limits, and your schedule.
  • PIA Co-Ownership: 25+ days of access per month via a proprietary biweekly scheduling framework, providing access comparable to sole ownership.

4) Choice & Control

  • Sole-Ownership: You pick the aircraft, the crew, the manager.
  • PIA Co-Ownership: You pick your aircraft, keep your crew and manager if you like, and choose your co-owner from vetted candidates we introduce.

5) Risk & Protection

  • Sole Ownership: Owner assumes full responsibility of both financial and operational risk.
  • PIA Co-Ownership: Risk is shared and governed by a legal structure crafted by top aviation counsel, covering everything from entry to exit and day-to-day operations.

Important Similarities (You Don’t Have to Give These Up)

  • Your Aircraft: Keep flying the make/model you selected for your mission.
  • Your Crew & Manager: If you’re happy, keep them. Prefer changes? We’ll help evaluate options.
  • Mission Capability: Fly the same trips you fly today.
  • Safety & Compliance: Same standards, same professional oversight.
  • Autonomy: Day-to-day decisions remain with owners under a clear, agreed framework.

How PIA-Managed Co-Ownership Works for Current Owners

  1. Schedule a Consult: Schedule a time to discuss your mission, get your questions answered, and see how the numbers compare to sole-ownership.
  2. Get Matched: We will introduce you to vetted and qualified co-owner candidates in your region. You’ll choose your co-owner
  3. Keep Your Crew & Manager: If you are happy with your current crew and management company, you can keep them. If you would like to consider crew or management options, you’ll have the flexibility to do so.
  4. Maintain Your Access: PIA Managed Co-Ownership gives you unparalleled access to your plane 25+ days a month. That’s access comparable to sole ownership at half the cost.
  5. Be Protected by Our Legal Structure: Partners In Aviation’s proprietary agreement encompasses the entire co-ownership relationship, from entry to exit. You (and your counsel) work directly with PIA’s legal counsel to ensure co-owners enjoy the safety and autonomy they require.

“As an owner of a Citation, I knew there had to be a more cost-effective model. I found that in Partners In Aviation.”
 — Bob Yari, PIA Co-Owner | Owner, Yari Film Group

Quick “Does This Fit Me?” Checklist

  • You love your aircraft and crew, but your annual hours dipped below ~200.
  • You want to reduce capital exposure and halve fixed costs without giving up your airplane.
  • You want comparable access to sole ownership, not a jet card experience.

If you’re nodding along, PIA Managed Co-ownership was designed for you.

The Takeaway – Two owners. One aircraft. Half the cost. 

Sole ownership is unmatched for very high utilization, but it’s costly if you’re flying less than 150 hours per year. PIA Managed Co-ownership preserves the private aircraft ownership experience you value, with math that makes sense. Two owners. One aircraft. Half the cost.

→ Schedule a Consult to see your side-by-side comparison and explore matched co-owner candidates in your region.