Partners In Aviation (PIA), the leader in co-ownership for private aviation, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary, marking a decade of steady growth, innovation, and nationwide adoption of its structured co-ownership model.
Founded in 2016 with a single focus of bringing two owners together to share one aircraft, the company introduced PIA Managed Co-Ownership, a program that provides the predictability and access owners require within a well-defined legal framework. PIA bridges the gap between membership programs and sole ownership, cutting operators’ costs in half.
Fractional (time-share) programs and jet-card/charter membership programs have long served as industry solutions to the high cost of aircraft ownership. Both tend to be most cost-effective for operators flying up to 50 hours per year, while sole ownership often becomes economically viable once owners exceed 150 to 200 hours annually.
For operators flying between those thresholds, the options have historically been limited.
For many in this segment, sharing an aircraft with another compatible owner offers the most logical solution. Two light users sharing one aircraft can achieve the access they need with economics that make greater sense. However, identifying a suitable partner and creating a structured framework for shared usage has traditionally been difficult.
Providing a clear and structured path to co-ownership became the foundation of Partners In Aviation.
“Ten years ago, we set out to make aircraft ownership more efficient for light users—those flying roughly 100 hours a year,” said Mark Molloy, president of PIA. “The fractional and jet-card models are well designed for those flying up to 50 hours per year. Beyond that, the economics become difficult to justify. Sole ownership typically doesn’t make sense until operators are flying at least 150 to 200 hours annually. Our focus has always been the operators in the middle, flying 50 to 150 hours per year.”
The program matches vetted co-owner candidates who align geographically and in aircraft make and model interest. Each match consists of two owners, one aircraft and a management provider appropriate for that pairing.
PIA clients include both current aircraft owners interested in selling half of their aircraft and non-owners interested in acquiring half of an aircraft that fits their mission profile. The company’s aviation legal counsel provides the structured framework under which co-owners operate, meeting the expectations of sophisticated owners and their advisors.
Over the past decade, PIA has grown from its early focus on light jets to now serving aircraft owners across virtually every category of turbine aircraft—from Pilatus PC-12 turboprops and Embraer Phenom 300/300E jets to Praetor 600s and Gulfstream G500/550 aircraft, and many models in between.
“We are not a plug-and-play membership program,” Molloy added. “Our process requires time to identify the right partner, aircraft, and management solution. But the value proposition makes sense. This is what we do, and if co-ownership fits your needs, we can help.”
As the private aviation market continues to evolve, PIA remains focused on serving owners who value control, predictability, and responsible financial stewardship. The company views the next decade as an opportunity to continue expanding awareness of structured co-ownership as a practical path to private aviation.