ISTAT Jetrader - Spring 2021 - 13

made me reflect back on my very first
ISTAT conference at the Boca Raton
Resort. Back then, ISTAT was solely
run by volunteers, and I remember
working at the check-in desk looking
forward to the days when I could be
a relevant part of the industry. In the
decades since then, ISTAT has become
an incredibly valuable organization
that serves as the nerve center for all
things related to aircraft trading and
the multitude of ancillary businesses
that surround it. The industry best
practices that we all abide by and
adhere to were developed because of
the ISTAT organization. The Appraisers
Program has led to an army of industry
experts that serve as the keel that
keeps our ship balanced. However, by
far the most value ISTAT brings are
the ISTAT conferences that result in
a global conglomeration of industry
players. In any given year, there are
no greater events to do business in than one of the many global ISTAT events. I am
a firm believer in the organization and the leadership position it continues to take
in making our industry the best it can be. I am also incredibly proud of its support
of education related to the aviation and aerospace industries through the ISTAT
Foundation. I have always been a huge supporter of the ISTAT Foundation and will
continue to be a supporter in the years to come.
Jetrader: For young people considering going into aviation, what thoughts or
advice would you give them for how to approach their careers?
AM: Interestingly enough, you don't have to be an aviation nut to do great and
impactful things in this industry. However, I do promise that once immersed in the
various aspects of what this industry has to offer, it is hard to look elsewhere. Let's
start at the beginning: There is no replacement for air travel in the foreseeable
future, so there is yet a lot of runway for a young person to achieve success. Beyond
that, the opportunities are boundless, no matter what specifically is of interest to
someone. Lawyer, banker, financier, engineer, consultant, insurance, asset manager,
maintenance, manufacturing and especially entrepreneurship are all available for
the taking, and within each of those is a multitude of different opportunities that can
lead to a successful career path. If I learned one thing about this industry, it is that
success has no number. The opportunities are boundless. I am proof of that.
Jetrader: How has your business been affected by the pandemic? Which parts
have thrived, and which parts have been negatively affected?
AM: Organizationally and operationally, we run a tight ship, but we have certainly
been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we are very proud of how we
have managed our organization through this difficult period and have been fortunate
enough to keep our core team together. Our leasing business has worked with our
customers to provide some level of flexibility around lease payments. Our volumes
as it relates to parts have also been significantly impacted, although they have done
better than we anticipated. However, our MROs did very well and in fact grew during

Abdol Moabery (far right) on a panel at
ISTAT Americas 2017 in San Diego, California.

the pandemic. I suggest that was a
result of our staying fully staffed and
operational from the onset. Our people
across all divisions really stepped up
and came to work each and every
day despite the pandemic to ensure
that the air travel that was happening
could happen.
Jetrader: What opportunities do
you see in the post-COVID-19
environment for GA Telesis?
AM: There will be a lot of rebuilding,
and we are excited to be a part of that.
After every down cycle, our industry
comes up with new and creative ways
of tackling new issues that emerge; this
will be no different. Airlines are going
to be looking for new ideas and new
service offerings, and we are prepared
for the task. Much of what we do is to
create solutions for our customers and
partners, so this is right up our ally.
Perhaps what will differentiate us is
how we do it. By pulling our customers
into the GA Telesis Ecosystem™, we
are able to create integrated solutions
across multiple product offerings and
therefore create a value proposition
for our customers. One thing I know
Jetrader

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ISTAT Jetrader - Spring 2021

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