WM Aviation came to me with a problem that makes me laugh every time I think about it: their Microsoft Power Pages site was garbage. This is a Microsoft Partner we're talking about. Running on Microsoft's own website platform. And it was slow, ugly, and impossible to update.
The irony is not lost on me.
What actually happened
Waltzing Matilda Aviation operates charter flights AND scheduled service for Connect Airlines. Two completely different audiences. One website that needs to serve both without confusing anyone.
Their Power Pages site was doing none of that well.
The damage report:
- Mobile load times that would make a dial-up modem feel nostalgic
- Design flexibility of a Portable Document Format (PDF) from 2003
- Content updates required a developer or a prayer
- Zero visual distinction between "I want to charter a private jet" and "I need to check my Connect Airlines flight"
Full disclosure: Power Pages can work fine for certain use cases. But for a premium aviation brand trying to impress charter clients while also serving airline passengers, it was the wrong tool. Nobody had told them.
The 4-week build
I built the entire site using Claude Code because it's faster.
What the AI actually did:
- Generated service descriptions and fleet specs (then I edited them because AI still writes like a press release sometimes)
- Built every responsive component and page layout
- Created search engine optimization (SEO) content targeting aviation keywords
- Iterated on designs in real time during client calls
What I did:
- Architecture decisions
- Aviation industry context the AI doesn't have
- Quality control on everything
- Client communication and strategy
Traditional agency quote for this project: 3+ months. I shipped in 4 weeks.
AI handles the repetitive stuff that used to eat 60% of development time. I spend my time on the parts that actually require a brain.
What we actually built
Next.js on Azure. Clean separation between the two audiences.
Charter side:
- Premium visual design (because people chartering jets expect premium)
- Fleet showcase with actual specifications
- Quote request forms that don't feel like filling out a tax return
Connect Airlines side:
- Route and schedule info
- Clear service details
- Contact access that doesn't require a treasure map
The site loads quickly, works on mobile, and lets the team update content themselves without calling me to change a phone number.
The rough edges
I'm not going to pretend this was perfect.
The AI-generated content needed significant editing. Claude writes competent prose but it doesn't know that aviation people say "aircraft" not "airplane" in certain contexts. It doesn't know the subtle differences in how you talk to a charter client versus an airline passenger.
I also made some design decisions early that I'd do differently now. The homepage hero could be stronger. Some of the section transitions are a little abrupt.
We shipped something good in 4 weeks. They can iterate from there. The alternative was waiting 3+ months for something "perfect" that would still need changes anyway.
Why this matters
Aviation companies get ripped off on technology projects constantly. Six-month timelines. Massive budgets. Consultants who've never stepped foot near a fixed-base operator (FBO).
AI-assisted development changes the math:
- The build took 4 weeks instead of 4 months
- Lower cost because AI handles the boilerplate code
- I can often make requested changes during the client call
- I know aviation, so I catch details AI misses
I rebuilt my development process around AI tools, which shortened the timeline.
The result
WM Aviation went from a sluggish Power Pages site to a fast, modern platform that actually serves their business. In 4 weeks. For probably a third of what a traditional agency would have charged.
Microsoft's own website product failed a Microsoft Partner. I fixed it with AI tools that Microsoft didn't build.
The irony still makes me smile.
See the result at wmaviation.com. If you're an aviation company stuck with bad technology, let's talk.
Benjamin Thomas
ForIT Team
