Premier Jet Center Takes Boutique Approach To Interiors

Most aircraft interior design customers have an idea of what they want to achieve. Premier Jet Center provides boutique service and helps steer

clients in a direction that works well together.

Premier's interior technicians have more than 40 years of experience refurbishing aircraft, focusing on one customer, one aircraft at a time, ensuring the highest quality workmanship.

The full-service general aviation company located at Eden Prairie's Flying Cloud Airport (KFCM) started providing aircraft interior work shortly after Premier jet Center was acquired by Fargo Jet Center in 2014. While they work heavily on turboprop and light to midsize jets, they have completed work on a range of aircraft from Cessna 172s to Dassault Falcon 900s.

Lead Interior Technician Curt Gilbertson said in the last year, a plush industrial look has been become a popular aircraft interior appointment.

Aircraft interior customers are moving away from the wood grain and gold look to darker veneer with brushed nickel finish. They are also looking for materials that are more robust such as a weaved vinyl floor covering instead of carpet.

Within the last year, Premier has completed a variety of work, with each client having a unique request. Some requests are simpler jobs such as replacing or adding a carpet runner all the way through complete interior restyling. The cost varies significantly depending on the work scope and the material that the customer chooses.

"A fresh interior makes the aircraft seem like it is brand new to the customer without paying the high cost of getting a new airplane," Gilbertson said. "It also provides a new comfort level when installing new material on the seats and updating the old worn-out foam."

Some customers personalize their interior to their lifestyle, be it a favorite sports team or a favorite destination like a western ranch.

Others prefer a utility type interior because they use the aircraft like a "farm truck" as one new customer put it.

Premier Jet Center's website's paint and interior photo gallery features a King Air F90 refurbishment. Gilbertson said the project was one of his favorite interiors.

"We changed the woodwork to black and used a nickel finish for the brightwork," he said, adding he also enjoyed the distress two tone leather that the customer picked to complement the weaved vinyl floor runners that can be pulled out of the aircraft and be easily cleaned if they get dirty.

"We do not have interior designers, but we do have interior technicians with more than 40 years of experience to provide suggestions and walk the customer through the interior refurbishment process," Gilbertson said.

Premier Jet Center, a subsidiary of parent company Fargo Jet Center, is a leader in the provision of aviation services and is consistently ranked among the top aviation service companies in the Minneapolis area. Premier also serves as a base for sister company Exclusive Aircraft Sales. Services offered from all companies include FBO services, aircraft sales, aircraft charter and management, aircraft maintenance, paint and interiors and avionics sales, service and installations. Both FBO locations are members of the Avfuel-branded FBO Network and the Paragon Aviation Network. Premier Jet Center currently holds the Corporate Aircraft Association Preferred FBO status at Flying Cloud with a new

contract that continues through April 30, 2023.