Kenn Ricci’s Directional Aviation Group unit OneSky Flight is acquiring helicopter charter operator Associated Aircraft Group (AAG) from Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky unit, the companies confirmed on Tuesday afternoon. "OneSky Flight LLC can confirm the acquisition of [AAG] from Lockheed Martin and we are happy to welcome the company to our family," a spokesman for Directional told AIN. “It has long been a vision to bring vertical lift to the OneSky portfolio and this move brings us closer to that reality. Look for more details on our overall vertical lift strategy in the spring."
Rumors of the acquisition began circulating last week. AAG operates 10 Sikorsky S-76 medium-twin helicopters based in the New York City area. The company was founded in 1989, purchased by Sikorsky in 1999, and used to launch the OEM’s fractional shares program. Current bases include Wappingers Falls, New York; Bridgeport, Connecticut; Trenton, New Jersey; and Providence, Rhode Island. AAG offers customers a variety of programs including aircraft maintenance and management, charter, shares, airport transfer, and the “Excalibur Card,” which is sold in 10-hour increments.
Current Directional brands include fractional program Flexjet, Sentient Jet cards, FXAir premium charter, Sirio aircraft management, Nextant Aerospace, maintenance provider Constant Aviation, turbine parts provider N1, aviation training company Simcom, charter platform PrivateFly, aircraft brokerage Sojourn, and air ambulance company Reva. The acquisition of AAG could be linked to Ricci’s interest in advanced air mobility (AAM). In November, he co-launched special acquisition company Zanite to seek out investments in AAM, aerospace, defense, and emerging technologies.