A Private Jet Saves The Day For This Proud Mom

20.05.2024 - 00:25 / forbes.com / Delta Air

Private aviation, despite its detractors, is the engine that drives business. In fact, Dublin Airport authorities recently dropped plans to limit private jets after corporate users said it would cause them to halt Irish expansion plans. Equally important, private aviation plays a critical role as a time machine for leisure flyers. UHNWs regularly jet between homes and vacation spots. However, flying privately also benefits occasional users.

With two children graduating from universities on consecutive mornings, corporate attorney Laura Brody Heltebran turned to private aviation after realizing there was no logical way to fly commercially and the eight-hour drive between schools would mean not being able to stay for all the festivities.

Industry advocacy group Climbing.Fast notes airlines serve less than 500 airports in the United States with scheduled flights while private jets can access over 5,000 airports.

“We faced the impossible dilemma of two kids graduating college 24 hours and 500 miles apart. I would have been heartbroken if we had to draw straws to see who attended which graduation. Flying Wheels Up allowed us to be there for Ava at The University of Georgia and John at James Madison University, neither of which are near commercial airports. One thousand miles total in 24 hours and a lifetime of memories. Very happy Mama here, thanks to Wheels Up!” Heltebran posted on social media a few days ago.

Heltebran is also Chief Legal Officer at the Delta Air Lines-backed provider of private jet memberships, where she is based in Washington D.C.

Her role at Wheels Up gives her a first-hand view of how customers use private aviation. However, she says that having grown up in a household that didn’t fly privately, even as part of the flight provider’s C-suite executives, she is more used to flying on the airlines or driving.

At one point, she says she discussed with her former husband, David Heltebran, whether they should draw straws and divide parental duties.

“We were trying to piece it together, airlines, driving, maybe we would just have to split it up,” she says.

In the end, her brother and sister-in-law were able to come along, which added to the family bonding.

By flying privately between Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport, 14 miles from James Madison University, where her son John was graduating, and Athens Regional Airport, where her daughter Ava was graduating, Heltebran says the family could enjoy the festivities for both of scions.

Flying time between the airports was just over an hour each way.

In fact, running behind in Georgia, she was able to take advantage of the one-hour grace period Wheels Up Core members are allowed to delay departures.

Although Heltebran is not a frequent private