George Miller, President, Ship it AOG

AM: Tell us about your background.

George Miller: My passion for aviation started at a young age on Long Island, N.Y. on the approach path to JFK Airport. I went to Aviation School during HS at B.O.C.E.S. at Grumman Field in Bethpage. After graduating with my Power Plant License, I went to Tulsa to attend Spartan School of Aeronautics. I worked 16 years for a couple of corporate operators thus becoming a DOM for one of them. I came upon a opportunity to work for a large international company in Wichita as a DOM. A few years later our operations moved to Dallas, which is now home. After 13 years of being DOM, I found it an opportune time to start something different with my career.

Why did you start Ship it AOG?

GM: After years of being a A&P/IA and maintaining aircraft, I wanted to stay involved in aviation and be able to use the knowledge I obtained over the years. I knew my qualifications were on the maintenance side of the house, which limited me somewhat in my unknown aspirations. My passion has always been trading. I have for many years traded stocks, commodities, futures, options, and still do. At one time I contemplated becoming a professional trader. The parts business satisfies a large part of my aspirations to trade, so it is a very natural fit. We buy, sell, trade and keep airplanes flying without picking up the wrench. In June 2001 we started Ship it AOG, LLC.

What is the mission of the company?

GM: We are a worldwide supplier of quality parts and equipment, with the proper certification, from certified vendors at a competitive price.

You have focused on Bombardier parts but it seems that you are expanding your offerings. Is that accurate?

GM: Having worked on numerous aircraft types, the later portion of my A&P career was spent maintaining mostly Bombardier Challengers. I obtained a deep knowledge of the aircraft since 1983 when I was handed my first one as a new DOM. Over the years I became very involved with Bombardier as an active customer. I served on numerous committees supporting and designing their present and then-future aircraft. This seemed like a good product to launch my business. We have since been pulled into other aircraft types by our customers who exclusively deal with us.

You specialize in complete liquidation of corporate flight department assets. Tell us about that part of your business.

GM: In corporate aviation there are always flight department closures. In serving the needs of our customers, we have liquidated several flight operations that have experienced that situation. It’s not always pleasant but everyone recovers in due time, and then someday look back and laugh. We reach agreement with the seller, get in, get loaded what’s agreed upon, and get out. We try and make it the best for everyone.

You recently announced a Unitron distributorship. Do you carry other GSE?

GM: Not every operation can afford each piece of specialized equipment. We have an extensive amount of specialized equipment and GSE that we rent as well as sell. We have a dedicated person to handle only GSE, which we ship all over the world. Unitron was a vendor that performed numerous tests for us and recently we were named a factory distributor for them, and now stock a full line of their products in our warehouse. Along with Unitron, we carry other manufacturer products to help support our customers’ complete needs.

Is Addison, Texas a good location?

GM: Anyone that knows Dallas is familiar with Addison. The restaurants, hotels, nightlife, city activities and airport all make up the the place we call home. Customers come for maintenance at Love Field (Bombardier, GDAS, Gulfstream, West Star, JetCorp) or training at DFW, but they always end up in Addison, and they know where to find us. Our location allows our shipping department to hit about any target direct out of DFW or Love Field in short order.

What role do loyalty and personal relationships play in your business?

GM: Aviation is a business of relationships. Integrity and credibility are attributes that are demonstrated over many years in many different situations. Our saying here is, "Do the right thing each and every day, and the next day will be that much easier." We simply do what we say we are going to do, and our customers appreciate it. Loyalty and personal relationships are the keys to our success.

Your logo features a woodpecker smoking a cigar. How did cigars come to play such a strong role in your marketing?

GM: The Woodpecker logo is a perfect fit for who we are. He is smart and fast in nature, determined and tenacious with his strong beak, and smiling while he is enjoying life and flying upward. The cigar is symbolic of our continued success. We recognize and thank our customers often by giving them cigars with our logo on it.