In a move approved earlier this month by the Clemson University Board of Trustees, the athletic department has begun the process of selling the two jets it uses for recruiting and other events — such as last week's ACC Football Kickoff in Charlotte, N.C. — as it looks to move exclusively to a third-party vendor for its flight needs.
As reported by The Journal of Seneca, S.C., the jets — a 1998 Beechcraft King Air C90B, and a 2008 Cessna Citation CJ3 — are also used by the university for various fundraising purposes. According to an action-item document and July 18 presentation by athletic director Graham Neff to the finance and facilities committee of the board of trustees, the demand for flight hours is up, which has already required the use of third-part charter services.
According to The Journal sports editor Eric Sprott, the documents noted the school’s fundraising has increased from $115 million in the 2014 fiscal year to $175 million in the 2024 fiscal year, while the school’s endowment has increased from $623 million to $1.13 billion over the same timeframe.
With permission granted from the board of trustees, the athletic department will look to enter into an aviation services agreement that will last four years and be expandable to seven years, with the average annual cost not to exceed $5 million, Sprott reported.
The costs will be partially covered by the sale of the two jets, which could fetch a combined an estimated $5.6 to $8.2 million on the open market based on current available prices found online. The athletic department — which lists a captain/building-hanger manager and a pilot on its athletic staff directory — currently spends between $3 million to $5 million annually on in-house aviation — including scheduling, maintenance, compliance and flight operations, according to Sprott.
The athletic department cited numerous factors, including risk mitigation, for a full-time move to a third-party vendor.
According to the document, the to-be-announced vendor would provide the aircraft for “exclusive use to serve Clemson University’s needs.” It will have university branding and be based at the Oconee County Airport under a property license for the school’s hanger.
Additionally, the vendor “would be responsible for all operations including maintenance, regularly requirements, liability and property insurance, qualified staffing and scheduling,” according to the document, as reported by The Journal.
