Market Research

54 businesses in the target market were contacted by telephone, December 14, 2004.  10 of the businesses were considered a "control group" because we have a record of them using our airplane for charter in the last year.  Of these 10, only 8 agreed to do the survey, and because of the double blind nature of our process, it is unknown how many of the 8 returned the survey to us.  Of 14 which recieved a message on an answering machine, 0 responded.  4 did not answer the phone call, or the number had been disconnected.  4 chose not to take the survey, citing that time as an issue.  As of January 11, 2005, out of 32 people who agreed to take our survey, 22 have returned it to us.  The following is a compilation of the responses:

Air Charter Survey

 

1.  Do you understand what “air taxi” service is?              

(20)___yes        (2)*___no 

            *These understood after reading the brochure.

 

2.  Were you able to discern from the brochure what “air taxi” or “air charter” is?

 

                        (21)___yes        (1)**___no

 

            **This person wrote "already knew".

 

3.  Has your company ever used “air taxi” or “charter” service before?

 

                        (6)___yes                      (14)___no

 

4.  When you schedule travel 150 to 1000 miles, what means of transportation do you use?

 

                        (19)___Automobile

                       

                        (13)___Airline

 

                        (4)___Charter/Air Taxi

 

5.  How many times each month do you schedule travel over 150 miles?   

1) responded with zero

(3) wrote every other month

(3) wrote once each month

(6) wrote two to three times

(7) wrote five to ten times

(1) wrote 50 times and (1) wrote 100 times (DA Davidson Travel)

6.  Would your business utilize “air taxi” service, as described in this brochure?

 

                        (2)___yes          (16)___no          (3)___maybe

 

7.  Would this service replace your current means of travel?

 

            ___yes (19)___no

 

8.  If this service was available today, please estimate how many 150 to 1000 mile trips your business would schedule per month:

           

(7) wrote zero

 

(4) wrote one

 

(1) wrote two

 

(1) wrote 8 trips

 

(1) wrote "depends on the price"

 

(1) wrote "A lot of times they prefer car so they can stop at a couple of other prospective clients on the way."

 

9.  How do you feel about flying in a plane with 6-12 seats?

 

"Not a problem"

"Enjoy it"

"fine"

"Safer than large planes."

"Blood doesn't care - staff would be apprehensive."

"Not good"

"I feel fine-sounds more relaxing than travel with 50 -100 people"

"I personally am a horrible  flyer...the others on the staff don't have a problem."

"Some employees will only fly commercial.  Our company palne has 7 seats so management is comfortable."

"Plane size is only a concern because of parts (reels of cable and comm. room supplies) and tools our employees take with them."

"Not sure"

"Uneasy"

"My people don't like propeller airplanes."

 

10.  Do you or your company own an airplane for business use?

 

  (4)___yes        (18)___no

 

11.  Additional comments and questions:

 

"We use charter services to get blood to distant hospitals on an emergency basis."

 

"Our company is small.  Usually travel is only for one person.  When our firm grows it may become a more valuable service to us."

 

"We are a small firm and it would not be economical to fly.  Our destinations are small towns, so there would be an extra cost for car rental."

 

"Would be a great idea.  I can think of a few people who would rather not spend so much time on the road."

 

"We currently only use charter for South Dakota destinations.  We also only use it maybe 6-8 times a year.  We use Northern Skies."

 

"Good luck with your venture."

 

"We own two jets of six passengers."