Story ID: 
CB Aviation Launches Fractional Share Program
By: Chad Trautvetter
Caption: The service area is currently defined as the U.S. West Coast, but company has plans for CB SkyShares to be a national plan in a few years.
Word Count: 241
Ogden, Utah-based aircraft sales, FBO and MRO firm CB Aviation has launched a fractional program for companies and individuals in the western U.S. Dubbed CB SkyShare, the operation is expected to start this month under Part 91K using pre-owned Pilatus PC-12s, Embraer Phenom 100s and Cessna Citation CJ2s.

According to CB Aviation CEO Cory Bengtzen, program aircraft are six to seven years old and sell on the pre-owned market for less than $3 million, meaning a sixteenth share costs about $175,000. Customers have access to the entire fleet, though hourly occupied rates vary depending on aircraft. All of the aircraft include new paint, refurbished interiors and Wi-Fi. To keep management costs low, its PC-12s and light jets will be operated single-pilot.

A sixteenth share equates to 20 occupied days a year. By using occupied days versus hours, CB SkyShares customers can complete a multi-city trip in one day using the same crew and aircraft. The company is reporting that share sales are “brisk.”

The service area is currently defined as the U.S. West Coast, but Bengtzen told AIN that he has plans for CB SkyShares to be a national operation in a few years. He expects to have a fleet of 25 aircraft within 12 months. Further, Bengtzen said, a super-midsize Gulfstream G200 will join the fleet in the fourth quarter, but pricing has yet to be determined for this larger aircraft option.