Increased corporate travel in business jets has prompted another fixed-base operator to set up shop at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.
Great Circle Flight Services LLC offers fuel service and a rest stop for corporate jets transitioning through Alaska to Asia, and for their main client, Security Aviation.
Located at South Airpark at the Anchorage airport, Great Circle Flight Services has its fuel trucks and office located at the Security Aviation complex.
"With the increased numbers of private and corporate jets that come through here, we feel that with competitive prices and good service we will find our niche in the (fixed-base operations) market," said manager and co-owner Shaen Tarter.
Tarter says that more than 1,500 private and corporate jets land in Anchorage every year, and the numbers are increasing.
"We are targeting for 25-35 percent of the market share over the next year to year and half, and we have a good client with Security," Tarter said.
Great Circle serves the likes of Tom Cruise and Tiger Woods, as well as other sports superstars flying through Anchorage; but it not as glamorous as it seems, Tarter said.
"Most of the time - this time of the year - they don't even get out of the aircraft. We go to their aircraft parked at the north terminal, fuel them up, and they are gone."
Justin Charon and a silent partner came together to start the fueling business in September. Tarter joined Charon in October 2005.
Great Circle started fueling aircraft in early October, but their owners have been around Alaska and the fueling business for some time. Charon was the chief financial officer and Tarter was the vice president of marketing and distribution at Yukon Fuel Co., which was located in Anchorage and covered Southwest, Western and the Northwestern Arctic areas of Alaska. Yukon was recently bought out by Crowley Maritime Corp.
"Most of our experience is in Western Alaska," Tarter said.
The new company is the first to use Phillips 66 fuels with two jet fuel trucks and one with av gas.
"We are proud to provide a fuel that has a connection to Alaska, and to support ConocoPhillips," Tarter said.
Advertising their prices on their Web page at www.greatcircleflight.com, the company offers competitive prices despite the current fluctuations in oil and pump prices.
Even though they are wedged between competitors Signature Flight Services and Era Aviation, Tarter says that he feels confident of the company's success.
"We can truly say that we are the only Alaskan-owned FBO on the field," Tarter said.
Great Circle Flight Service is currently building a 1,400-square-foot flight lounge that it hopes to have completed in early spring.
Rob Stapleton can be reached at
rob.stapleton@alaskajournal.com.
