By Amanda Raymond
amanda.raymond@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — About a year and a half ago, the Rowan County Board of Commissioners and Thad Howell, the Rowan County Airport manager, approached Steve Setzer about moving his company to Rowan County.

They told Setzer about all of the benefits the airport had to offer.

“Oh, by the way, we have this new hanger that’s dying to put your planes in it,” Setzer recalls them saying.

Setzer said he wasn’t looking for a new home for his business, but once the opportunity presented itself, he took advantage. Now he is ready to show the community what the business has to offer.

Strategic Moves Aircraft Management will be holding an open house on Nov. 10 from 4 to 7 p.m. at 3830 Airport Loop.

Strategic Moves has been in business since February of 2002. Before opening at the Rowan County Airport, Setzer set up his business at the Statesville Regional Airport.

The company specializes in managing privately owned airplanes. Strategic Moves provides things like pilots, concierge services, administrative record keeping and aircraft cleaning and detailing.

Setzer said many businesspeople from Charlotte and Salisbury who work in fields like real estate or construction and need to oversee projects at different locations find the service useful. They are able to fly to more rural areas that may not have commercial service.

Strategic Moves has “on-demand travel” for clients, allowing them to schedule flights whenever they need to and delay them if necessary without any major problems. And with private flights, the clients can be back at home for dinner.

“We make your schedule, our schedule,” Setzer said.

Setzer said clients can also use private flights for personal events like flying people in for weddings or funerals.

Most of the planes hold seven to eight passengers.

The company also mentors pilots and provides transition training for pilots who want to learn to fly planes of different sizes.

There are 13 planes that Strategic Moves manages, five based in Salisbury, six in the surrounding area and two in other areas.

Setzer said he was happy about the move to Salisbury. The facility provides space for the business’s offices and a foyer for clients to relax comfortably in before departure.

He is hoping business professionals who may want to use his service will attend the open house, but those who have a love of planes or just want to see the new facility are also welcome.

There will be a barbecue dinner and a drawing for a chance to win a free charter flight to a destination that is an hour away. The flight is valued at $3,000.

Four representative planes of Strategic Moves’ charter fleet will be on display, including a Pilatus PC-12 and a Cessna Citation CJ3.

Setzer said he hopes his business can increase economic growth in the area and bring in more jobs.

“I believe that aviation helps the community grow,” he said.

To RSVP for the open house, visit www.flystrategicmoves.com, email info@flystrategicmoves.com or call 704-873-5612.

Contact reporter Amanda Raymond at 704-797-4222.