Capital Region Business Journal

Time and convenience are major reasons that executives may shell out six figures or more to buy and fly their own planes instead of relying on commercial airlines.

Wayne Riser, who flies often to supervise his far-flung hotels and Culver's franchises, said the high cost of a plane isn't the most important thing.

"It's not what an airplane costs you, it's what an airplane can make you," said Riser, who is also Culver's corporate pilot. "If you look at the time value, they will more than return themselves."

Saving time and the convenience of flying yourself have become important since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and airline cutbacks have made commercial flying a lot less convenient.

"The plane I've got really can save me time on the road," said David Stauffacher, founder of Exel Inns, who's been flying his own plane for 30 years. "I used to haul the kids and the family with me."

A business trip that might take a day in your own plane could take two or three days on a commercial airline, said Don Wahlin, president and chief executive of Stoughton Trailers.

All three executive pilots are based at the Wisconsin Aviation terminal of the Dane County Regional Airport.

Riser, who owns a Piper Malibu, said he started flying in 1976 when he had a concrete business in Minnesota. He acquired a second business five hours away and drove a pickup truck between them.

"One day I didn't have time to drive, so I hired a guy to fly me," he said. "He asked if I wanted to learn. I got the (flying) disease and for me it's incurable."

Besides not worrying about flight schedules or security, Riser said he can land his plane at smaller airports that often are closer to his destination.

Today, Riser owns AmericInn hotels in Beaver Dam, central Illinois and North Dakota; a Hampton Inn in Prescott, Ariz.; and Comfort Inns in Wisconsin Dells and Omaha, Neb.

He said the rising cost of aviation fuel isn't a problem yet but could become one for some pilots over the long term.

Stauffacher, who also owns a Piper Malibu, said he started flying after his wife bought him 10 pilot lessons for Christmas.

"She knew I wanted to fly, but we didn't have a lot of money and we were struggling to get our business going," he said.

Stauffacher said he flies only for business to supervise his hotels in more than a half-dozen states. He flies on commercial airlines for vacations or longer trips to the West Coast.

"You have to go on their schedule and you're limited to the larger cities," he said. "I can get in with my airplane very easily and save a lot of time. Within 15 minutes, I can be on my way."

"It helps having her aboard because I've got the extra help with a tough instrument approach," he said.

Wahlin, who owns a Beech Baron, said he started flying more than two decades ago when he was in the Air National Guard. Recent destinations have included Grapevine, Texas; Nashville, Tenn.; and Rochester, Minn. He usually lands at smaller airports and flies to Canada for fishing once or twice a year.

"Commercial flying's just horrible," he said. "You want to avoid the bigger airports because of the congestion. I'd never go to O'Hare."

From boardroom to cockpit

By Marv Balousek

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