DAN DROHAN

 

Dan Drohan has fulfilled his dream of turning his lifelong love of aviation into a distinguished business career. As a pre-teen, Dan worked line service and office duties at a small Northern California airport. By age 17, he had attained his private pilot certificate, and by age 19, Dan launched Sunset Aviation, an air tour company operating flights over Wine Country and the San Francisco Bay Area in a Beechcraft Baron.   

Over the next 15 years, Sunset grew into a well-established regional Part 135 operator, eventually operating a small fleet of jet and turboprop aircraft from a network of bases throughout California. In 2007, seeking to evolve Sunset into a larger operation, Dan sold the company to JetDirect, a national “roll-up” of air charter companies.  

In 2009, Dan launched Solairus. The new venture married Dan’s passion for aviation, his entrepreneurial drive, and his industry experience with a resilient team of talented and renowned aviation leaders. Dan’s vision and commitment to building an enduring, best-in-class business quickly established Solairus as one of the industry’s most highly respected aircraft management firms. After 16 years under Dan’s leadership, Solairus today manages and operates one of the world’s largest fleets of business jets, supported by one of the most experienced and well-regarded teams in the industry. The company employs over 2,300 team members throughout the United States, overseeing over 360 Gulfstream, Bombardier, Dassault, Citation, Beech, Embraer, Airbus and Pilatus aircraft.  

Dan and his wife Cybelle have three sons and live in Northern California. He continues to fly both professionally and personally as an ATP-rated pilot with type ratings/qualifications in Gulfstream 550, Hawker 800, Citation 525 & 550, King Air 300/350 and Pilatus PC-9 aircraft. Aviation is a family passion for the Drohans, and all three of Dan’s sons are now pilots. Above all, his favorite hours are those spent flying with them.