Published
September 2023
Products used
Operation type
Part 135 Charter, Cargo, Scheduled Passenger, Air Ambulance
Grant Aviation has been a staple in Alaska since 1971. Operating 8 bases across the state, they employ over 200 team members and maintain a diverse fleet of over 28 aircraft, including GA8 Airvans, Cessna 207s, Piper Navajos, Grand Caravans, and Beech King Air 200s.
Providing critical air ambulance services, scheduled passenger, cargo, charter, and scenic Part 135 flights, Grant Aviation operates a complex and essential network for the communities of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, the Aleutians, and Bristol Bay.
The challenge
Moving beyond paper and clunky software.
Initially, Grant Aviation relied entirely on paper. While simplistic, it led to significant operational friction: missing boxes of paperwork, operational errors, delayed billing, and disconnected communication. This paper-based system negatively impacted the client experience due to booking, rescheduling, and accounting errors.
Seeking a solution, they transitioned to another software provider, but found it too cumbersome. It lacked the flexibility and functionality required for their unique operations. The software introduced too many extra processes, ultimately creating a frustrating dual-entry problem. They needed a streamlined way to solve their daily problems without adding administrative overhead.
The solution
An end-to-end digital foundation.executed without disruption.
Grant Aviation discovered Takeflite at the Alaska Air Carriers Association and realized it was the solution they needed. They implemented Takeflite to manage the entire lifecycle of a flight—from the moment a reservation is made to the moment the final bill goes out.
Takeflite is now the digital foundation for our operation – it helps our operation communicate and flow. With the organization growth we are experiencing, Takeflite is making it easier for us to scale.
Austin Engebretson, VP of Flight Operations, Alaska
Takeflite now acts as their online booking system, hosts their website, and manages reservations, freight, inventory, dispatch, scheduling, pilots, and accounting. They are also expanding into Takeflite Maintenance. Today, 90% of their operational employees interact with Takeflite on a daily basis, running the entire company on a single, cloud-based platform.
The result
Seamless communication and unrestricted growth.
The transformation was immediate. Invoices now go out on time, eliminating lost revenue and ensuring timely payments. The management team gained unprecedented visibility across the entire operation, facilitating improved and efficient communication between all 8 remote bases. Fleet planning and maintenance scheduling drastically improved because everyone now has access to the same information in real time.
90%
Of operational employees use the platform daily
8 Bases
Seamlessly connected with real-time operational visibility
Customer connections have also deepened. The new Takeflite-built website integrates perfectly with the online reservation system—a goal Grant Aviation chased for years. Customers can book directly, and account holders utilize a dedicated customer portal. By eliminating lost data and interrupted workflows, the team spends less time searching for paperwork and more time talking to customers. The cloud-based nature of Takeflite has broken down the barriers for growth, allowing Grant Aviation to scale anywhere they choose.
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