Comprehensive interview intel — history, fleet, compensation, hiring, culture, and strategy. Know the company inside and out before you walk in.
Solairus Aviation is one of the largest private aircraft management and on-demand charter companies in the United States, managing a fleet of 360+ aircraft across 100+ bases nationwide with 2,300+ aviation professionals. The company is headquartered in Petaluma, California (San Francisco Bay Area) and operates under both Part 91 and Part 135 certificates. Solairus is non-union and privately held. Dan Drohan is the Founder and CEO, with Rene Cervantes serving as COO and Sue McDonald as CFO. The company's callsign is "Twilight."
For interview purposes, the simplest way to frame Solairus is this: it is a premier aircraft management company where individual aircraft owners place their planes under the Solairus certificate, and Solairus provides the crew, maintenance oversight, operational support, and charter revenue opportunities. This is fundamentally different from fractional operators like NetJets or Flexjet — Solairus pilots are typically dedicated to a specific aircraft and owner, creating a more personalized flying experience. Pilots fly virtually every type in business aviation — Gulfstream, Bombardier, Dassault, Cessna Citation, and more — because the fleet composition is determined by the owners who join the platform. With nearly 50 aircraft added in 2025 alone, Solairus is actively growing and currently has approximately 90 open positions. Dan Drohan was recognized by Living Legends of Aviation in 2026 and received the Kenn Ricci Award in 2023 for his contributions to business aviation.
Sources listed at the end of each profile. Data compiled from public filings, airline newsrooms, AirlinePilotCentral, Glassdoor, FAA records, and industry publications.