on the Cutter-ing edge

The Cutter family has been in aviation for nearly as long as there has been aviation and is the oldest family owned and operated fixed base operator (FBO) in the world. William P. Cutter founded the company in Albuquerque in 1928 to help ranchers, farmers, and business owners get there faster. They have since expanded into sales and charters and are one of the most well-known and respected names in the business.

As the only Texas-based Cutter FBO, the Georgetown base is in good hands with fourth-generation director Will D. Cutter (facing page). His father, CEO William Cutter, chose Georgetown for the company's sixth FBO after looking at the number of corporate entities moving north in the Austin metro area and the explosive growth in Williamson County.

The Georgetown base has 18 employees currently and Will already has plans to build large corporate hangars, provide over-the-top customer service to pilots and owners, and be a strategic partner to the City of Georgetown.

From The Ground Up

Will and his siblings grew up in Arizona and discovered their love of flying during Sunday trips with their grandfather in his Beech Staggerwing. He and his sister, Anna (pictured), trained for and earned their pilot licenses as

At Georgetown Executive Airport

quickly as they could and are excited about the possibility of running the company together someday.

Anna began working for her father in fourth grade. She worked the line1 and front desk and was expert at customer service even at a young age. She attended the University of Alabama and worked for Cutter selling Piper aircraft and charter services. Now a Georgetown resident, she manages and is growing Cutter's local charter service.

She says, "Right now I am learning all sides of the business; sales and charters primarily, but it is exciting to move around and learn it all from the ground up. I think it would be fun to run the company alongside my brother someday." When not hard at work or in the pilot's seat herself, she enjoys spending time with her bloodhounds, particularly her pup, Blake, who goes to work with her dad once a week. "He is also featured in some of our promotional videos to show that we're pet friendly and that when you charter with us, it's your airplane so your pets are welcome too."

Will also worked the line every summer from a young age; "The ramps in Phoenix get up to about 150° so a lot of it was about trying to stay cool and wearing shoes that wouldn't melt."

After earning his economics degree, he helped build schools in Africa and went on safari. He says, "It was fulfilling but it was truly a graduation trip that lasted a long time. When I came home, I went to work for Piper Aircraft in sales and marketing. I delivered planes, and on weekends went to the paint shop to finish planes and clean acid from the metal; also learning aviation and all about our company from the ground up."

After working in maintenance and customer service in Dallas, the Georgetown opportunity came up and he says he just had to do it. "I've been in love with FBOs since I was a kid and Georgetown is my first little baby. We are glad to be part of this amazing history but we are also grateful to the city and airport for all their help getting us off the ground, so to speak. We could not have done it without them."

Future Plans

Texas rancher, Citation owner, and pilot Jim Schwertner says, “What’s really exciting for me is that we’ve not had young aggressive people to help promote aviation at this airport for a long time. The history of the Cutter name in this business and the continuity of success in their family will all but guarantee growth in Georgetown.”

Will and Anna agree the market is growing for these services. "We work closely with the city and we're here to support that large chip maker and other companies coming to the area. It is a great benefit to be able to land corporate or private planes in Georgetown and drive just a few miles to survey a local site or have meetings. They appreciate the safety and security we provide for their multi-million-dollar assets and we also promote safety and discretion for their passengers. The planes are ours when they are on the ground and we take good care of them."

Aviation For All

What sets Cutter apart in aviation, aside from their decades of experience and institutional knowledge, is their superlative commitment to customer service and safety. While most FBOs provide maintenance, fuel, and other care services, the Georgetown FBO has added personal travel to its offerings.

This year, Cutter will take delivery of a new Honda jet that fits five people plus pilot and a Pilatus that fits nine with pilot, and Anna says chartering is as simple as a phone call. "If you're going on a trip, you just tell me where and when you need to be there. I will set up the flight, the rental car or hotel, and essentially be your travel agent for the trip. We provide concierge level service and take care of the details for you down to personalized napkins if you like. If you're flying to New York for a meeting, and want to come back later in the day, or the next morning, we will also wait and fly you back."

Anna says their charter service is designed to make air travel as convenient as possible. "Making your own schedule means you don't lose a moment of productivity—or, depending on your travel needs, time with your family driving in traffic, looking for parking, or waiting in long lines at a commercial airport."

Will adds, "Charter flights experienced huge increases during and after COVID. While masks are no longer a thing, the air travel paradigm has shifted slightly in that no one wants to spend a day in different confined spaces with large crowds of people if they don't have to."

Cutter also represents four general aviation aircraft brands and supports them much like automobile dealers do. "We sell and provide maintenance and care for Piper, Pilatus, Honda Jet, and TBM lines. We have regional sales and service centers for those brands."

Anna adds, "If you own a plane, you can come to us and we will perform all the maintenance on those aircraft. We also have a step up program in which you can purchase a smaller plane and we will introduce the next level, and on up to the largest aircraft."

Scan the code to contact Cutter about sales or charters.

by Ann Marie Kennon images courtesy Celebration Church