PALLAVI VIMAL JOSHI,CO-FOUNDER & CEO, AIRFLEET MANAGERS

AirFleet Managers is one of the leading Aviation technical consultant companies in the region having its presence since 2010. Today, it is known as the most preferred partner in aviation asset management across the globe. Aviation World takes this opportunity in featuring exclusive Interview of Pallavi Vimal Joshi, Co-Founder & CEO, Air Fleet Managers, who is revered as the “The Woman at the Helm of Aviation Asset Management”. Excerpts…

Q: Hi Pallavi, for our readers would you please introduce yourself, and also briefly talk about your future goals before we get into the details of your career.

A : My aviation career took off as a trainee with one of India’s oldest MROs, where I laid the foundation for my future success. I then joined Indian Airlines’ engineering quality department, gaining invaluable insights into airline operations from engineering perspective.

As I progressed in my career, I took on the role of Quality Manager at an upcoming organization, further expanding my expertise. It was during this time that I discovered my true calling: aviation asset management. The dynamics of this field fascinated me, and I knew I had found my niche.

In 2010, I identified a significant gap in the Indian market for aviation asset management services. This realization led to the inception of AirFleet Managers. Since then, our team has worked tirelessly to deliver tailored, top-notch services to our esteemed clients.
Today, we take pride in our remarkable journey, from a single subcontract in 2010 to over 23 satisfied clients by 2024. Our team’s dedication, smart work, and perseverance have earned us the reputation as the most preferred partner in aviation asset management.
We’re honored to be known as the ‘Dependable Team’ – a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence and client satisfaction. As of now for the future, we are gearing up by embracing the latest technology and developing our in-house software like DARTS, AFM Vault and the latest addition to the suite supercharged with AI is Aviaginie.

Looking ahead, our goal is to consistently deliver an exceptional range of services to our clients, leveraging the latest technological advancements to ensure optimal performance and becoming a one-stop shop for the current as well as future demands.

Q: Aviation asset management is a dynamic and complex field. Can you walk us through the range of services your firm offers and how do they contribute to managing the client’s aircraft assets effectively?

A: Since the inception of AirFleet Managers in 2010, we have worked rigorously as a team to expand and grow the range of services we provide to our esteemed clients. During these 15 years and after successfully working with 22+ clients from all around the world, we have built a comprehensive set of services including:

* Aircraft Pre-Purchase Inspection
* Aircraft Records Digitization and Management
* Aircraft Delivery/Redelivery
* Engine & APU Management
* Shop Visit Management
* Heavy Checks Supervisory
* Borescope (DGCA 145 and Nepal CAA 145 approved)
* Maintenance Reserve Claims Management

We are proud about being the first stand-alone organisation to get DGCA 145 and Nepal CAA 145 approval allowing us to add the Borescope services to the already wide ranged set of services we offer. We were by no means able to achieve this feat overnight, with 29+ engines already under our engine management expertise, the recent certifications helped streamline our client experience.

Efficiency is one of the core pillars for us over at AFM. For the past decade, we have been working on setting up effective communication, organizing and operational systems in place, in comes the AFM suite of our in-house software.

DARTS: A cutting-edge project management platform designed to optimize workflows and ensure seamless execution of projects. DARTS becomes a central hub for communication keeping our clients updated with progress on all active projects 24×7. This project management software helps the team to maintain a precise structure while reporting a breeze for our technical representatives.

AFM Vault: An encrypted and reliable archiving solution, providing a safe environment for storing and managing critical records while also being able to share them with all the stakeholders involved. Imagine a Dropbox or a google drive, but for aircraft records.

Aviaginie: An AI-driven tool that streamlines the management of Continued Airworthiness Management Organization (CAMO) processes with enhanced precision and utmost accuracy. Data driven statistics and predictions allow the users to make informed decisions, striving for superior efficiency and minimal workload.

We as a team are currently also working on making physical records more streamlined by incorporating a Phygital (physical & digital) approach into records management. Allowing the record handlers to handle the records in more simplified. This will not only make operations efficient but also reduce the amount of stress on manpower.

Q: Aviation operates on a global scale. Could you share insights into the geographical scope of your operations, and the key stakeholders—such as airlines, lessors, and financial institutions—that benefit from your services?

A: As rightly said by you, aviation operates on a global scale and that is the beauty of it. We have successfully delivered world class services in 60+ countries as of the Q1 in 2025, this was only possible by joint effort of the versatile and “Dependable Team” that we have been able to form. With our first office in Delhi, India in 2010 we have had to expand our arms periodically due to our ever-growing client base &expertise.

In 2017, we inaugurated our first foreign land office in Singapore to cater to all our Asian clients as this office also allowed to stay well connected to the entire region. Harnessing this momentum we also opened our doors in Dublin, Ireland in 2019 serving the European region and in 2023 we expanded our Asia presence with another office in Malaysia.

This network of offices allows us to call the world our home, with professionals always ready to travel, no corner of this world is unreachable for “The Dependable Team”.

At AirFleet Managers our clients are at the forefront of our priorities, but with the nature of our line of work we have a lot of stake holders involved in delivering a project successfully.

Clients like Air Castle, Bank Of China Aviation, Avation, 3Top Aviation have trusted us for over a decade at this point and we look forward to carrying on this relation for decades to come. Some of our recent onboardings have witnessed clients like Chinese Developmental Bank, Pembroke Aircraft Capital& VMO Aviation. A lot of these players have major influence in the industry due to the sheer size of their fleets. We are talking about over 500 aircraft each with constant investments being poured into acquiring more assets. With our core team coming from major airlines, we also foster healthy relationswith a lot of operators. We take pride in our relationships with our clients as we nurtured them by providing years of service and hence becoming the number one choice for many in the APAC region.

Q: What’s the vision for your company and where do you see AirFleet Managers heading?

A: At AirFleet Managers, we’ve never prioritized being the largest company in terms of financial turnover. Instead, our focus has always been on delivering exceptional client satisfaction through our unwavering commitment to quality and excellence.

Our mission remains unchanged: to provide top-notch services tailored to our clients’ unique needs. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, including AI-powered software, we aim to elevate our services to new heights.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to expand our footprint in several key areas:

Software Development: Integrating innovative software solutions to enhance our service offerings. Helping us boost our quality of work while also decreasing the turnaround times.

Expanding 145 Capabilities: Broadening our maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities to better serve our clients.
EMEA Regional Expansion: Establishing a strong presence in the European, Middle Eastern and African region to provide localized support to our clients.

Building on our successful expansion in India, Singapore, and Ireland, we’re committed to replicating this success in the EMEA. By doing so, we’ll be better positioned to deliver exceptional services to our clients across the globe.

We’re excited to announce that AirFleet Managers is engaging in discussions with multiple asset management companies worldwide, exploring potential acquisition opportunities.

These strategic partnerships and acquisitions should enable us to:
* Expand our global network and reach
* Enhance our service offerings and capabilities.
* Provide seamless support to our clients across the globe.
* By joining forces with like-minded companies, we aim to create a robust and diversified platform, further solidifying our position as a leading provider of aviation asset management services, component sourcing and distressed asset recovery services.

Q: Given the exponential growth of Indian aviation, how do you plan to differentiate your company and establish exclusivity in your niche?

A: India’s aviation sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, fueled by a combination of rising passenger demand, increased infrastructure development, favorable government policies, and expanding fleet sizes. With projections indicating that India will soon become the third-largest aviation market in the world, the industry is witnessing an influx of investments, new airline entrants, and increased demand for aircraft leasing and asset management solutions.

At AirFleet Managers, we see this rapid expansion as a catalyst for innovation and service excellence rather than a race for exclusivity. While some might view market dominance as the ultimate goal, we firmly believe that monopolization often leads to reduced service quality, inflated costs, and a lack of innovation. Instead, our values align with fostering a competitive, transparent, and service-driven ecosystem that strengthens Indian aviation as a whole.

To differentiate ourselves, we emphasize three key areas:
Quality and Expertise Over Exclusivity – Rather than seeking to dominate the market, we focus on providing best-in-class asset management solutions, ensuring operational efficiency, and helping Lessors, Banks &Investors optimize their fleets. Our commitment to best industry practices and advanced asset management strategies sets us apart.

Collaboration to Drive Growth – India’s aviation sector is evolving at a rapid pace, and collaboration is key to maintaining its momentum. We work closely with airlines, lessors, financial institutions, and regulatory bodies to build a more resilient and sustainable industry. By promoting shared expertise and best practices, we contribute to the overall efficiency of aviation asset management in India.

Innovation and Sustainable Expansion – As aircraft fleets grow, so do the challenges related to maintenance, lease returns & transitions, and asset lifecycle optimization. Our approach leverages cutting-edge technology, data-driven decision-making, and industry insights to offer solutions that not only maximize returns for our clients but also enhance the long-term sustainability of Indian aviation.

By fostering healthy competition, we encourage continuous improvement across the industry, ensuring that airlines and asset owners receive the best possible services. This benefits not just individual companies but also passengers, investors, and stakeholders who rely on a strong and well-managed aviation infrastructure.

In summary, AirFleet Managers aims to be a driving force in shaping the future of Indian aviation—not through exclusivity, but through excellence, collaboration, and a commitment to advancing the industry as a whole.

Q: As we talked about branching out into various aviation-related fields, would you like to expand on your latest venture?

A: We’re excited to announce the launch of Aviatrics Global, a new venture designed to support our clients with component sourcing, import/export assistance, and other specialized services.

Our team at Aviatrics Global has already demonstrated exceptional capabilities in distressed asset recovery, as evidenced by our recent success with GoFirst:
Key Achievements:
– Exported 8 aircraft with minimum downtime
-Imported over 20 aircraft engines
– Exported over 15 aircraft engines
– Imported 4 APUs
– Sourced over 4,000 various aircraft components
Our inventory is constantly expanding, and we’re engaged in discussions with multiple asset management companies worldwide to further broaden our network.

With Aviatrics Global, our clients can rely on:
– Efficient component sourcing
– Expert import/export assistance
– Specialized distressed asset recovery services
We’re committed to delivering exceptional support to our clients and solidifying our position as a trusted partner in the aviation industry. With the inception of Aviatrics Global we aim to take care of all the hustle and muscle work, essentially providing end-to-end ancillary support.

Q: What is your leadership philosophy, and how do you implement it in your company?

A: At AirFleet Managers, our leadership philosophy is rooted in empowerment, independence, and responsibility. We believe that a truly successful organization is built not by controlling every decision from the top, but by enabling every team member to think, act, and contribute as a leader in their own capacity. That’s why we encourage decision-making at all levels, allowing individuals to take ownership of their work rather than simply following instructions. This freedom is not just about autonomy, it’s about fostering a deeper understanding of one’s role and its impact on the company as a whole.

However, independence without responsibility can be counterproductive, which is why we emphasize accountability alongside autonomy. When people are entrusted with decision-making, they develop a greater sense of purpose and become more invested in the success of the organisation. We want our team to feel that their contributions matter and that their actions drive real outcomes. This not only enhances motivation but also nurtures an environment where innovation and initiative thrive.

We also reject the notion that employees should be confined to performing the same tasks for their entire careers. Growth is at the heart of our philosophy, and we encourage our team members to expand their skill sets, explore new areas of expertise, and challenge themselves in ways that push both personal and professional boundaries. Rather than training individuals to fit into a rigid structure, we provide opportunities for them to evolve, take on new challenges, and redefine their roles as they gain experience.

At its core, our leadership approach is about trust. We trust our people to make meaningful decisions, to learn from their experiences, and to contribute in ways that go beyond routine tasks. In return, we provide them with the support, mentorship, and opportunities needed to thrive. This culture of empowerment ensures that AirFleet Managers remain an agile, innovative, and forward-thinking company, where every individual is not just an employee but an integral part of our shared vision for success.