CommentsDC DISPATCH-As she surveys the sea of planes at Montgomery County’s Fixed Base Operator, Ashley King knows she is a lucky woman:
“I’ve always found such beauty in private aircraft, physics of flight, and the opportunity to take customers to new heights.”
Her passion in aviation drove Ashley to create ADAX Aviation -- an aviation company that specializes in aircraft sales, acquisitions, and aviation consulting in the private aircraft marketplace, uniting sellers and buyers of premium aircraft in the Washington D.C. area.
For Ashley, it is a passion long nurtured in her:
“I come from a family of generations of working women, and while I have affinity and respect for the many professionals in aviation, my mother-in-law first comes to mind. She started her career and spent several decades as a Captain on the 737 and the A320.”
Ashley put her passion to work after recognizing the opportunity for growth in the industry and developed a strategic business plan for the ADAX endeavor.
“We know the customers, we know the aircraft, and can assist in the financing or leasing the aircraft. We expect our industry to experience double digit growth as the pandemic dissipates and are well positioned in the market to take advantage it.”
Along with expertise in the nuts & bolts of aircraft manufacturing, incomparable customer service is also obligatory for ADAX:
“Our customers are as flight obsessed as we are, and expect great service that comes with the territory. The company offers a unique ‘White Glove Service’, which, unlike other brokerage agencies, dispatches an employee to visit the customer’s aircraft (typically their hanger or local FBO) with a plan in toe designed to meet individual needs, goals, and requirements. We aren’t just in the aviation business. We are in the people business, too. ADAX aims to exceed the expectations of every client that comes through our gateway.”
As the month of women’s history comes to a close, we pause to remember the many women who have made contributions to the art of flight, starting with Amelia Earhart, those since, and those who continue to do so.
“While I think that it’s great to designate March as a month to celebrate the achievements of women, they should be celebrated every day, as women make history every day.”
As a mother of two, Ashley is but one of millions of women who juggle careers and raising a family:
“It is important to me to show my children the value of hard work and how to maintain the tricky work/life balance and how to break barriers guided by passion.”
She has backed up her beliefs with action.
ADAX is proud to be a supporting member of Aviator Mentor, a woman-owned small business that provides mentorship for aspiring pilots.
With the costs of obtaining a pilot’s license averaging $84,000 a year, Ashley knows that this cost keeps many students from realizing their potential:
“We sponsor scholarship programs in the greater Washington D.C. area, provide free flights for those in need of medical care, aid kids in getting SIM time, and provide supplemental assistance in ground school.”
When it comes to employment in the ranks, Ashley is committed to empowering women in her own workforce:
“I am pleased to announce that Morgan Moses Allen joined ADAX as Head of Customer Relations. We are honored to have her as part of our Senior Management Team. With decades of experience in Marketing in the Defense Industry, Miss Moses Allen is a master of her craft. She honed her skills with decades of experience in the defense contracting industry and can often be found jetting off to exotic destinations in a King Air, or an A380, or spending time in the tower at Udvar Hazy.”
One thing is abundantly clear: The pioneering women of ADAX are taking the aviation business to new heights, one aircraft at a time.
“We are so excited to meet you, and put you in the plane of your dreams,” says King.
As she confidently shook my hand goodbye, I could sense that this woman was going to do exactly that.
You can learn more about ADAX Aviation here.
(Sara Corcoran is publisher of the National Courts Monitor and writes for CityWatch, Daily Koz, and other news outlets.) Prepped for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.