BY NATALIA HURT Since the dawn of aviation, efficiency has powered progress—unlocking longer ranges, accessible pricing and lower fuel usage—shaping an increasingly more climate-conscious industry. This natural evolution has helped transform charter air travel into a practical choice and expanded its role within the nation’s transportation ecosystem. Western Aircraft, a Boise-based airline and leader in aviation services, embraced light, point-to-point travel early on, appreciating its impacts on carbon, comfort and convenience. “Charter aviation has evolved. Every stakeholder — air traffic controller, operator, flight planner — is working toward optimizing routes, altitudes and schedules,” explains Josh Weinshank, Director of Operations, Western Aircraft. “There’s a natural migration toward being as fuel-efficient as possible, and that brings both financial and environmental impacts.” Caption 1 Ironic, perhaps, that a sector often associated with excess, lives and dies by its level of efficiency. Wastefulness undermines competitiveness, accessibility and sustainability, something the public values increasingly more. The right tool for the job: light, precise air travel “More and more, people are seeking efficient forms of travel,” Weinshank continues. “It’s about choosing the right tool for the mission. And a lot of the time, it just so happens that our PC-12s are exactly the right tool, so clients will take that over the jet.” Western Aircraft owes its success in precision travel partly to putting its eggs in the right basket, in this case, the right aircraft: the Pilatus PC-12, a single-engine turboprop aircraft that has managed to stay light while maximizing cabin space and comfort. By 2010, Western Aircraft had become the world’s largest PC-12 dealer. “It’s a very sought-after airplane with How evolutions in charter aviation bring environmental and economic opportunity “…People are seeking efficient forms of travel. It’s about choosing the right tool for the mission.” JOSH WEINSHANK, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, WESTERN AIRCRAFT Western Aircraft: The Efficiency of Point-to-Point Air Travel 18 BRAND STORY PRODUCED BY THE OREGON BUSINESS MARKETING DEPARTMENT
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