Frequently Asked Questions

General questions

What is Sterling’s main business?

Sterling Aviation is a privately held full-service aviation firm specializing in corporate aircraft management , air charter , aircraft maintenance , and acquisition support . Sterling holds an FAA Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate to provide worldwide, on-demand charter. Additionally Sterling is an FAA authorized Part 145 repair station for corporate jets and turbo-props.

Where are you located?

We have modern facilities for the exclusive use of our clients at our corporate headquarters location at General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee and at Naples Municipal Airport in Florida. At both of these locations we also have FAA Part 145 repair stations which cater exclusively to the service of our managed aircraft. Many aircraft in our fleet are conveniently based with us; others are out-based at central locations of their businesses.

Who are your clients?

Sterling serves aircraft owners with turnkey management services as well as discerning air charter clients. Our clients are individuals, corporations and partnerships.

What is your safety record?

Sterling Aviation has more than 24 years of accident-free operation, and we are Gold Rated by ARG/US , the premier safety auditing firm in the private aviation industry. See additional details of our safety procedures and practices .

What types of aircraft are in your fleet?

We have wide body, international capable large-cabin jets, mid-cabin and small-cabin jets as well as single engine and multi-engine turboprops. See full fleet details .

Questions about air charter

What kinds of charter programs does Sterling offer?

We have on-demand programs, as well as block time and pre-paid programs. See details of charter programs .

How much does it cost to charter a plane?

Base rates for jets will typically range from less than $2,000 per hour and extend up to approximately $4,000 per hour for the wide-body, large-cabin international jets. Turboprops are about $1,000 per hour. Generally there are two-hour daily minimums, plus airport fees and federal excise taxes. Customized concierge and catering services are always passed through at the Sterling fleet discount rate, with no mark ups. All Sterling charter trips are pre-quoted.

What about meals, luggage, pets, ground transportation?

We offer custom catering on all flights and will handle all luggage arrangements. Baggage capacity varies depending on aircraft size. Sterling also will be happy to coordinate reliable ground transportation . Most aircraft will accommodate your family pet.

Where does Sterling fly?

The majority of our flights are within North America, Central America and the Caribbean. In addition, our large aircraft fly to Europe and other distant destinations.

Questions about aircraft management

What kinds of management programs does Sterling offer?

Sterling provides turnkey management services as well as charter management services to aircraft owners. See details .

How much does Sterling aircraft management cost?

The fee varies based on the size of the aircraft and the scheduling requirements of your operation, but generally ranges from $2,000 to $5,000 per month. We can manage any size corporate aircraft with the most demanding scheduling requirements at a price far less then a traditional in-house corporate flight department.

Questions about aircraft ownership and acquisition

What is Sterling’s position on the various types of aircraft ownership?

Generally speaking, we believe that full aircraft ownership (with the ability to generate charter revenue to offset costs) is the best choice for individuals and corporations who fly at least 150-200 hours per year. For lower hour utilization, block charter will be the best value. In our experience, at virtually any usage level, fractional ownership will represent the highest cost option when compared on an hourly basis.

Who should own an airplane?

As a general rule, if your personal flight hours are 150 or more per year, you are in a position to consider aircraft ownership.

What is Sterling’s role in the acquisition process?

Though Sterling is not an aircraft broker, clients turn to us for guidance in identifying, evaluating and financing quality pre-owned aircraft that meet their unique needs. For more information, please see the Aircraft Ownership section.