You may have heard of aviation consultants before, but what exactly do they do? Who needs them and why?
Aviation consultants provide a variety of services to a variety of different organizations, but many of them usually seek to help aircraft owners. Upon being contracted, consultants perform a case assessment of the company they will be working for in order to create a plan of action that will shift the company towards success. At times a company faces an obvious issue with a straightforward solution, and they simply need help dealing with it. For example, the company may be dealing with a recent aircraft accident and needs the aviation consulting firm to act in a public relations capacity. Another client might need repair work on their craft done. However, there are situations in which the solution is not apparent; good aviation consultants treat these situations with the same attention and care.
An aviation consultant should have knowledge of FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) rules and regulations. The aviation consultant also understands the process of gaining any and all necessary work-related certifications. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, consultants use analytical skills in order to interpret various sources of information and make the best possible recommendations to clients.
Preconceived concepts and ideas affect everyone, and sometimes these ingrained opinions blind people—even the most seasoned professionals—to the realities of a situation. A consultant looks objectively at a given issue from different angles and offers fresh insights. Getting the complete picture, exploring differing points of view, and adding credibility to a recommendation with a second opinion from an independent third party are all reasons to work with consultants.
The ideal aviation consultant is an expert in bureaucracy and the latest industry trends, but is above all an excellent communicator. While consultants provide a fresh view of situational realities, they still need to relate to their clients and read their situation well enough to understand what company executives are really asking. They need to know how to balance what a client needs and what they want. They should have the interpersonal skills to cultivate and maintain relationships with both potential and existing clients.
At DSLP, we understand that trust is the key issue in any successful engagement with a consultant, be it independent or part of a brokerage. Yes, our team has years of professional experience under our belt, and we use that experience to serve you better and drive success. But even more importantly, we understand your worldview and the reasons why your company needs its aircraft. We never use a one-size-fits-all approach: our services are specially catered to you, so that your business obtains its specific needs. You are the one who decides how far we need to go, and we use our experience with tech—and more importantly, its people—to help get you there.
