A Truly Personalized Experience
“Once you’re on board and you experience it, you’re hooked. I looked at charter, fractional, did all my homework. You’re not going to find a better value than AirSprint."
Brian Rogers, AirSprint Fractional Owner
Jet Type: Cessna Citation CJ2+
Annual Hours: 100
Owner Since: 2014
Brian Rogers is a self-described “truck driver, farmer and oilfield guy” who loves to drive. He’s the proud owner of an exotic car collection, but his wife, Brenda, says they’d get rid of the cars long before they’d turn in their airplane.
The Calgary couple discovered Fractional Ownership in 2014, when a friend flew them to Phoenix, Arizona on his AirSprint jet. They were so impressed that they bought a 75-hour fractional share in a Cessna Citation CJ2+.
Initially, Brian used it to travel to his business in northern Alberta. Shortly afterwards, he sold that company, and the Rogers bought a second home in Kelowna, B.C. Once again, the private jet proved its worth.
“It’s a 45-minute flight versus a 12- to 16-hour drive through the mountains,” said Brian. “We made the drive a couple of times during the peak of COVID, but we said we’d never do it again. You can be delayed on that road for hours due to a storm, an accident or a slide.”
The Rogers have two children – a daughter in Calgary and a son in Victoria, along with two granddaughters in Calgary – so the jet has become an indispensable tool for uniting the family.
“One thing that spurred us on was our kids,” said Brian. “We didn’t want them on the highways, either. The jet is the best way to move them around, especially the little ones.”
While grandchildren are always welcome on board AirSprint aircraft, the team is happy to accommodate four-legged family members, too.
“When we got the share in the jet, AirSprint took us for a test spin. We left Calgary with our dog to see how she would fly; she’s 14 now, and our cat comes along sometimes, too. Not only are we always greeted by name when we fly with AirSprint, but when we book, they will ask if Molly the dog and Ducky the cat will be coming for the ride.”
Traditionally, Brian and Brenda enjoy a coffee with Baileys Irish Cream during a flight, and AirSprint makes sure everything is stocked and ready to enhance their onboard experience.
No request is too small – the Rogers says AirSprint never disappoints when it comes to catering, transportation arrangements or even vehicle detailing.
But while all of those special touches are appreciated, Brian said the main benefit of Fractional Jet Ownership is the ability to help family and friends in need.
One time, they brought the ailing friend of a friend back to Kelowna with them. He was unable to fly commercially but needed to get home from Palm Springs.
On another occasion, their niece’s husband was involved in a serious motorcycle accident in the U.S.
“AirSprint was called around 6 p.m. that night and they looked after everything. They got Customs to meet the plane and my niece actually got to the hospital in time to see him coming out of surgery.”
Brian has even used the aircraft to bring his elderly aunt home from a Phoenix hospital.
“When we started, I thought 75 hours would be lots,” he recalled. “In the first year, we hit 103 hours. I had to up my fractional share.”
Initially, he wondered if the value of having an aircraft would justify the cost of Fractional Ownership.
“The big question was always the cost. I wanted to see value, but it didn’t take us long to understand the value. We can get up in the morning and I can phone AirSprint. They go above and beyond and guarantee us a jet within eight hours. We wanted to keep the house in Kelowna but still see the kids in Calgary. The jet makes it all possible.”
Brian said not only would he join the program again, but he’s trying to recruit others as well.
“Once you’re on board and you experience it, you’re hooked. I looked at charter, fractional, did all my homework. You’re not going to find a better value than AirSprint. With charter, you’ll get pilots you don’t know, who look at you as a one-time customer. At AirSprint, they know they will see you for a hundred hours a year. There is a real personal touch.
“I’m not going anywhere – AirSprint has bent over backwards for us. Plus, my wife would kill me if I got rid of the plane!”