Pegasus Aircraft Maintenance Named Alaska Small Business of the Year
The U.S. Small Business Administration recently named Carlos Nelson and Roy Ardern, joint owners of Pegasus Aircraft Maintenance, LLC in Anchorage, “Alaska’s Small Business Persons of the Year for 2007.” The firm was also recently recognized by U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski in Washington D.C. for their achievement.
Pegasus Aircraft Maintenance, LLC was started six years ago to provide on-call maintenance services to passenger and cargo aircraft. Initially Mr. Nelson and Mr. Ardern contacted the Small Business Development Center for assistance with developing a business plan and determining a marketing strategy. Subsequently, they were referred to the Alaska PTAC program for assistance with understanding the government marketplace and for pursuing 8(a) certification.
The business quickly evolved from two men performing safety checks for an air carrier that found it more cost effective to hire Pegasus than it would be to pay an airline employee to fly along with their aircraft or to live and work in Anchorage. Today, Pegasus does every type of aircraft maintenance from tire changing to switching jet engines out in a 747 and at times has more than 70 employees. Additionally, Pegasus is also heavily involved in aircraft de-icing, both as primary and secondary contractors to airlines passing through Anchorage. Pegasus is one of four companies of its kind at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, which services hundreds of flights per month and is the number three airport in the world for cargo throughput. Pegasus Aircraft Maintenance, LLC is the only company that works in the aforementioned arena that can boast that it is an American as well as an Alaskan-owned company.
The story of Pegasus Aircraft Maintenance is similar to the stories of many small businesses. While employed with other air carriers Carlos Nelson and Roy Ardern became familiar with a number of aircraft in Anchorage. They saw the existing level of service and they felt they could do better. The two friends discussed the idea of moving into their own business, cashed out their retirement plans, and moved to Anchorage, where they opened up Pegasus with little more than a catchy red logo and extensive knowledge about airplane engines. They lived in the Pegasus warehouse, where Nelson and Arden serviced their clients’ planes themselves. Their achievements are considered phenomenal when compared to the industry rivals. Their focus was, and continues to be, on providing consistent, reliable service and expertise.
The Alaska PTAC is proud to have played a role in the development of Pegasus Aircraft maintenance and joins the Small Business Administration in congratulating Carlos and Roy on their achievements.
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