AIR 1ST AVIATION COMPANIES - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Owner of Mitsubishi Solitaire, N477DD

Our relationship with Air 1st began in the Fall of 2010 as a result of a fortuitous encounter with Mike Laver at the annual NBAA convention in Atlanta. Wayne Haub, President of H & H Color Lab in Raytown Missouri, had tasked me, his chief pilot, with a litany of things to do in service of our company's flight department at the annual show. The task of learning all I could about MU-2's fell somewhere mid-list, between locating L.E.D. strobe lights for our Cessna 421, and attending a forum on proper radar operation. At that time, the prospect of acquiring a new aircraft was purely speculative, and we were not shopping for a plane or looking for a new friend. We ended up finding both in Atlanta. When I wandered into the Mitsubishi Service Center Booth at the show, I didn't know a Solitaire from a Marquise, a K from an N, or frankly a Garrett from a Pratt, but that didn't matter. Mike greeted me as if we were old friends and went instantly to work deciphering from my ill-formed questions, exactly what it was that our flight department required. Our list was as simple as it was universal; Go fast, go far, do it safely, comfortably, and economically. To this Mike responded, "Check, check, check, check, and check." "And, Mike, there's just one more thing," I added. "It has to be the best in the world." I missed my forum on radar operations that day, but I did spend an incredibly enjoyable and informative afternoon with Mike, who's attentiveness to my questions, and, tolerance of my ignorance, impressed me beyond measure. As fortune would have it, this would be the first of many days I would spend being mentored by Mike Laver. Even at this first meeting I sensed a kinship and excitement about the prospect of doing something unique and wonderful with the MU-2. I was hopeful Air 1st and Carolina Turbine Support had the ability to make that happen. When I left the convention, I wasn't sure if Mr. Haub would ever acquire an MU-2 for me to fly, but if such a decision were made, I knew who we would call, Air 1st.

Job Titles:

• Owner of Mitsubishi Marquise, N644EM

I bought an MU-2 recently from Mike Laver largely because I did not buy one a few years ago. How could that be? Please allow me to elaborate. A few years ago when I was flying my Cessna 414A I considered an MU-2. I was working with Mike Laver and we flew a P model back from Tulsa together. Everything was arranged, all I had to do was "pull the trigger". I asked Mike to bring the airplane to my home base so my wife could see it and ride in it before I bought it. Mike brought it over and on that very morning I learned a business transaction in which I was involved had an unexpected disruption. I became uneasy about the business environment and told Mike at lunch with my wife (the airplane nearby) that I felt uncomfortable moving forward. Mike Laver, being the gentleman and professional he is, counseled me. He told me not to move forward if I was the least bit uncomfortable. Wait, how could this be, an airplane salesman telling me not to buy the airplane that I essentially had committed to buy?

Mike Laver, a native of Australia, is the owner and president of Air 1st Aviation Companies, Inc. He has over 25 years of experience in aircraft sales and in the operational management of contracted flight services for the government and private sector in the United States and throughout Australia. In addition to handling aircraft purchases and sales for Air 1st, Mike has been overseeing contracted training flight services for the United States Air Force at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, FL since 1998, operating and maintaining a fleet of nine Mitsubishi aircraft, flying 4200 flight hours per year.

Job Titles:

• Owner of Platinum Series Marquise and 2013 Queen of the Fleet Winner, N54RK )

Job Titles:

• Chief Pilot, N888WW ( Platinum Series MU - 2 Marquise Owned by Wayne Haub )

"I talked to Mike several years ago regarding an MU-2 but never met Mike until last October when we sat in a golf cart talking about the airplane I had in mind. He was most gracious and was never a salesman. He said he believed he had an idea of what I was looking for and started describing his concept of the Platinum Series MU-2 he was working on. We are now a year later and what I now have is an absolutely incredible airplane and great new friend and mentor and entire group of new friends at Air 1st and CTS, which is a whole other story. Mike and Tom's group at CTS are also incredible and just wonderful people to get to know. I feel as if I have a new family with all of you and look forward to a long relationship. At the end of the day I like relationships and doing business with people that earn it."