I'M NOT AFRAID TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS.

BUSINESS AVIATION IS ONLY JUST STARTING TO KICK OFF IN ASIA–PACIFIC AMID ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY, AND METROJET CEO GARY DOLSKI SEES HIS ROLE AS NOT JUST SUPPORTING THE COMPANY BUT ALSO HELPING GUIDE THE INDUSTRY.

- Oliver Featherston

Metrojet CEO Gary Dolski says the first thing you’d notice about him is the grey hair. After all, he’s been doing this (‘this’ being aviation, aircraft management and maintenance) for nearly 40 years. But the fact he’s kept at the job for so long is a testament of his passion for the industry – operating through companies as prestigious as Bristol Aerospace, Bombardier, MD Helicopters and Jet Aviation.

“It’s still exciting after 39-plus years,” he says. “You still learn something every day. It’s not just the global economy that’s dynamic right now but also business aviation itself. If you look regionally within Asia, and even more locally in Hong Kong, it tends to be... I’ll use the word ‘interesting’. Our market is continuing to evolve. Asia is still a pretty immature market, so it’s actually fun going in because you can use your experience to help educate your customers in terms of what business aviation is.”

Gary draws a clear distinction between the business aviation market in Asia, compared to North America or Europe. Whereas customers in the latter regions tend to start small with private aircraft, upgrading as they accumulate wealth, buyers in China are only just starting to consider the possibility of aircraft ownership, with the result that already-wealthy individuals are suddenly purchasing US$70 million aircraft, incurring yearly operating costs in the millions of dollars.

As a result, part of Gary’s job is to educate these nouveau riche and first-time buyers on the ins and outs of aircraft ownership. With China playing host to an increasing number of billionaires, Metrojet’s potential customer base is poised to grow, and the company’s expertise in aircraft management and maintenance will be increasingly in demand.