Clay Lacy Aviation (Booth No. 2520) of Van Nuys, Calif. and Chicago’s Priester Aviation have announced a strategic alliance aimed at creating a nationwide service for management, charter, maintenance and all other aircraft services. Both companies will retain their independent brands while working to provide each other’s clients additional value wherever possible. Clay Lacy and Priester have a combined fleet of almost 100 managed aircraft throughout the U.S., 70 of them charter-ready.

The alliance boasts nationwide services and support, charter supply and demand and buying power, “and it reduces costs and downtime for our current and future clients,” said Clay Lacy president Brian Kirkdoffer.

Citing Clay Lacy’s “complimentary capabilities and a rich heritage similar to ours,” Priester Aviation president and COO Andy Priester said, “We are confident this alliance will continue to strengthen as we improve product offerings and deliver greater efficiencies to the business aviation community.”

Clay Lacy also announced the availability of around-the-clock maintenance at its headquarters facility in Van Nuys and via its newly deployed mobile response teams. “For current and future managed and maintenance clients, offering a 24-hour on-site maintenance component significantly decreases aircraft downtime and increases dispatch reliability without additional overtime costs,” said Kirkdoffer.

Clay Lacy has signed a five-year extension of its maintenance relationship and a five-year lease agreement with Boeing’s flight operations department in Seattle, which operates Boeing Business Jets and Challenger 604s and 605s. “Clay Lacy Aviation couldn’t be happier to continue our support for Boeing and extend our relationship with Boeing Business Jets,” said Brad Wollen, general manager of the Seattle facility.