Today we’d like to introduce you to David Snell.
David, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In June of 1991, I was in my second year at Louisiana Tech University in pursuit of my Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Aviation and was looking for ways to build flight time prior to obtaining my (CFI) Certified Flight Instructor rating. I grew up in Plano and came up with the idea to start a sight-seeing business (much like a helicopter company would offer) using 4 passenger Cessna 172 airplanes. My existing “commercial rating” which you obtain prior to your CFI enabled me to conduct this limited commercial type flying so I went to create/register the name Starlight Flight and with a new sales tax certificate registered and in hand let the tours begin. How does a college kid get the word out in such a large area as the DFW metroplex? Started small with flyers posted at surrounding apartment complexes BUT soon found out that pitching unique “flight tours” like marriage proposals etc. would attract BOTH local newspapers and TV stations to want to come out to cover these stories. I have had great success over the past now 27 years obtaining free and wide spread media attention saving me thousands in unnecessary “paid for advertising”. This has been key in my success. Also web page SEO work is key also. IF you search anything to do with “aerial tour” or helicopter tour/flight you will find Starlight Flight. Even though we fly small airplanes, my goal was to come up in any search for a local helicopter company! Why you may ask? Simple, our operating cost hence our charges for a flight per 30 or 60 minute flight was many times under as in hundreds of dollars less than ANY local helicopter company yet we can and do show most same sites they can/do. Can we take off from the top of a building or land in a little field no. However, most people take off/depart from same airport when they take off on a tour or aerial survey flight or land survey/aerial photography flight etc. I was entering or should I say “creating” my own “niche market” by utilizing a small general aviation airplane most people do not even know exist and going after the very expensive local helicopter market. Come see what they do for about 50% or less in most cases. Making it more affordable for those seeking a premium date idea or even for companies who had previously utilized helicopters we may be able to serve same purpose at half the price. Now 27 years later Starlight Flight has a branded name within the Dallas market place and we have been involved with all kinds of cool flight experiences from hundreds of marriage proposals to flying sick children and first time flyers both young and old. One other noteworthy point is about our aircraft. Not too common a 18 year old kid goes out to buy a few small planes and NO I did not I was broke like most going to school also at the time especially enrolled in a flight program where regular tuition and flying chewed up cash pretty fast! I approached a few flight schools/ airplane rental companies and worked out deals to use their airplanes in a limited commercial capacity by renting NOT owning. SO for years, I worked smart utilizing other people’s expensive assets not my own and simply paid to have a different insurance to cover our operation and commercial flight operations, For most of the past 26 years I have used other companies airplanes thus my overhead to run a “aerial tour business” has been next to nothing! Leaving hangar/maintenance cost to the rental company NOT me. However, in September of 2017 after years of dealing with flight schools and sometimes poorly run flight schools, I opted to buy my first airplane which we got really lucky finding out of Boston and flew it back to Addison. So now we primarily fly my 1999 Cessna 182 which has all new leather seats etc. may be seen at www.rentmy182.com or www.starlightflight.com. So in conclusion I did/do not fly for a career! Starlight has evolved more so in to a self-fulfilling way to offset my passion to fly but not do it for a career! I use part time pilots who have their CFI or Commercial ratings thus enabling them to build time like I started off doing back in 1991, they make more than most flight schools pay and I go fly when I want! I probably should have bought a few airplanes years ago but this is one of three niche businesses of mine and the rental/flying low overhead deal worked great for years. Low financial risk to me making it easy to get out without expensive assets to pay for when I didn’t have to. I mean who could say they run an airplane tour operation with 4 airplanes to choose from and my main overhead used to be a 4k a year insurance payment plus rental cost per hour. IF we were not flying as in 6-8 weeks after 911 took place, it cost me nothing to sit on the ground. However, those whose airplanes we rented who were unable to fly till things got back to normal FAA wise, it cost them thousands. So now today we own one airplane I endure the hangar lease cost plus monthly insurance cost which are much higher than before since I own the plane but having the ability to manage my own airplane versus depending on others is or has been a great experience so far! Pretty cool to call the (FBO) Fixed Based Operator we keep the plane at and simply ask them to pull the plane out and to it off with fuel please! “I’d like to go fly somewhere for lunch or breakfast today please etc.!” End of the day… I love the fact that Starlight Flight has been a part of so many different people’s special occasions etc. I have donated hundreds of flights over the years or see a sick kid story on TV or kid did a cool thing and I will call the news get in touch with the family and offer to take them all flying. It is the look on people faces that keep me flying. I came up with a slogan I liked a few months ago I intend to use more often relating to Starlight Flight: Starlight Flight…flying people happy! That is just what I hope we continue to do as that is what it is all about…..at a great price making it more affordable for those who may not can afford to do a helicopter ride!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Smooth road for the most part yet there have been some bumps in the road. Maintaining the required “limited commercial insurance” through assorted flight schools has been a tedious task of time spent! Most flight schools do not have this insurance to cover our operation where we take a flight school airplane and use it to carry paying passengers. So, over the years it has not always been so easy to obtain the needed insurance taking loss of my time to obtain it. Tough when you do not own the airplanes and had to work through other people who were at times skeptical of allowing us to do what we do! Also pilot wise most have been great but some would tell you how they would be available and then they are not thus wasting my time training them and putting them in to our required DOT drug/alcohol testing program. That stuff takes time/money spent so frustrating when or if anew pilot bails to a better flying job where they get more time. Then my favorite bump in the road would be the “greedy flight school owner” (two in particular) who saw us do well and thought they would go try to get the same approval we do with Love Field to tour downtown! Thinking they’d just jump in and book away! Well doesn’t really work that way they have always found out! Stay tuned, you may just see a story on the news soon about the most recent company I shall not name here! Shouldn’t really advertise close up photos of downtown Dallas when you do not have the correct clearance to go show people those sites! Overall was the “juice worth the squeeze” from one of my favorite movies the girl next door. YES. Have there been bumps in the road YES! However, I learn from all of them and think now 27 years in to this it is all 100% worth it. I try to do all three businesses of mine by my favorite acronym: KISS Ya know the Keep it simple………. Now, owning the plane and having total control over it is great. I have fewer but more loyal pilots who have other careers so they too get to fly “for free” without paying for airplane rental and make money doing it. A win win just too bad a couple former flight schools didn’t get greedy and run me and our night time rental business away! Oh well, life is now easier with fewer bumps in the road and less turbulence in our skyways!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Starlight Flight is Dallas original airplane tour operation started in June of 1991. Offering aerial tours of the DFW Metroplex at a fraction of the cost of our competition any helicopter company. Simply put we fill a niche market. Our operational cost are a fraction of the cost of any helicopter company. SO if you want a romantic date in the air, marriage proposal over a large lighted sign we set up on the ground with 8 ft. letters which say: “Marry Me” or aerial photo work or aerial corporate land/building survey” we can do it for less than any helicopter company. We have been featured in more local print/TV than any aerial operator. What I am most proud about is that we are still flying just as we started in 1991, we do more aerial tours of Dallas than any operator and the lasting memories we have created for people is what I am most proud about. Hundreds of marriage proposal flights flown. Many first time flyers who had never flown. I am proud they select us to let us fly them vs. anyone else! What sets us apart from others to me is this is not my full time job/source of income. So I donate many flights out of pocket because I can and want to. Do you know how cool it is to reach out to a family I re a story I saw on the news about something special an adult or sick kid did etc. etc. and be able to take them flying? Yeah its cool and I love I can do it and still support my operation through all the other flights we do! I think my honesty and desire to help people sets me/us apart from others. Each flight is not always just about the bottom line dollar I can take in. We do well fly allot and I give back isn’t the way every company should be?! I think so.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up as for me: 125% a total smart azz! Known for a pretty solid sense of humor with vast ability to make people laugh as laughing is good. As for a “filter” probably limited at best. I will do anything for you BUT if I get taken advantage of or worse, someone does something really bad to me or people I know business wise etc., I am one to make sure they do not get away with it. Legally of course should have been an attorney BUT I hated school! Most of my friends come to me when they have contractor issue as they know I am pretty solid about getting people to make good on things they need to make good on! Think standing record 7 directed to jail I helped send all great stories in deed! As for interest: Gosh, I love to hang out at my boat dock on my 29 ft. Sea Ray boat at Lake Lewisville (when its warm!), love to fly places in my plane, love to travel, love cars, love to hang around my last surviving dog. Nothing more rewarding when at home and middle of the day than just to hang out with my Weimereiner Buddy. Joys of self-employment!!
Pricing:
- 30 minute flight for two people $195.00
- 60 minute flight for two people $285.00
- Marriage propsal sign in 8 ft.. lighted letters $185.00
Contact Info:
- Website: www.starlightflight.com
Image Credit:
David Snell
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