Evolution of an Enterprise, Chapter 7: Cleaning Challenger

Josh Somers and Binh Uebinger have been working for months to woo OzAir Charter Service, but their efforts may be for naught because of a young competitor waiting in the wings.

Taylor Hayes, 18, has been detailing cars and boats for about three years. After becoming a legal adult this year, Hayes became the registered agent for his company, Distinct Detail LLC, which operates from 528 N. Prince Lane. He said he now generates more than $30,000 in annual revenues by detailing land- and watercraft while finishing high school. His next target is aircraft.

Hayes has detailed about 10 cars for OzAir’s charter customers, and now he’s negotiating to provide airplane-detailing services for OzAir, based at Springfield-Branson National Airport. OzAir is also a key target for Somers and Uebinger, who launched aircraft detailing company Voyager Industries LLC in December.

“We’re willing to do whatever it takes,” Somers said of nabbing the charter client.

The Voyager duo submitted a proposal March 19 to OzAir to provide services at half price. They offered to charge $250 per airplane, per week, for weekly detailing services, and Uebinger said they’re willing to sweeten the pot even more, possibly giving free automobile detailing service.

Voyager’s clients include trucking company Prime Inc., Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Co. and pilots Jack Webster and Doug Anderson, who each own or manage airplanes. They’ve developed a connection with the pilot for the jet shared by hotelier John Q. Hammons and construction contractor Bill Killian, but they have yet to detail the $11 million 2007 Bombardier Learjet.

Landing OzAir would roughly double Voyager’s business overnight. OzAir, which operates under the banner of Burgess Aircraft Management LLC, owns a Cessna Citation I jet, leases a Beechcraft King Air 90 twin-turboprop and manages three other corporate jets for unnamed clients.

OzAir, owned by Bob Noble, Mark Burgess and Patrick McKee, is the youngest Springfield-based charter service. When OzAir launched in August, it joined the ranks of Aviation Enterprises, Springfield Aircraft Charter & Sales and Worldwide Aircraft in Springfield.

For Hayes, OzAir represents the open door to airplane detailing – something he’s wanted to do for years, he said. He’ll look for more airplane business if he gets the OzAir job, he said.

“I’ve been talking with (OzAir),” Hayes said. “We’re going to get the ball rolling here in the next few weeks.”

Hayes said he’s conducted research on airplane-cleaning products and procedures and received advice from professionals within the local piloting community. Voyager’s Somers said detailing cars hasn’t prepared Hayes for detailing airplanes.

“We had a bit of a learning curve, and I’ve been around airplanes since I was 5 years old,” Somers said. “(Hayes) has no idea what it’s like to spend two hours underneath the belly of a greasy, sand-covered plane.”

Somers and Uebinger have yet to meet face-to-face with Burgess, a pilot and managing partner for OzAir. Burgess said he hasn’t decided whom, if anyone, to hire, but he’s leaning toward Hayes.

“From what we’ve seen on pricing … we can probably do it more economic ourselves or, like I said, we’ve got a history with Taylor, so we’re probably going to give Distinct Detail a shot at it first,” Burgess said.

Somers said he and Uebinger wouldn’t be deterred if they were passed over for the OzAir job. They plan to develop marketing materials this spring and visit air shows to solicit business.

“It’s not like all our apples are in one basket,” Somers said. “We would like to have (OzAir’s business) because it’s local (and) it’s a new business at our first airport. Both of us being able to help each other out would be nice.”