Why airlines choose a Fractional CIO
Running an airline means managing 100+ applications and vendors — flight ops, maintenance, crew, finance, owner reporting. Most carriers can't justify a full-time CIO, but can't afford to go without senior technology leadership either.
That's our seat. We run your roadmap, manage your vendors, and ship AI-first software where the off-the-shelf answer doesn't exist — embedded with you, on a month-to-month retainer. CTO-side work (product engineering, platform builds) is part of the bundle when you need it; the leadership layer is the CIO.
- Currently embedded at Great North Airlines, Connect Airlines, and WM Aviation — Part 135, 121, and CAR 704/705
- 30% IT subscription cut at Great North · $20K+ saved through Microsoft Founders Hub
- First Transport Canada-approved MEL through our platform · FAA-reviewed safety pipeline called "best in class"
- Month-to-month, 30-day termination — no long-term lock-in
What the Fractional CIO retainer includes
- Technology Strategy
Develop and execute your technology roadmap aligned with business goals
- Vendor Management
Negotiate contracts and manage all technology vendor relationships
- System Integration
Connect disparate systems for seamless operations
- Digital Transformation
Modernize legacy systems without disrupting operations
- Team Leadership
Build and mentor your internal technology team
Fractional CIO vs full-time CIO/CTO
| Comparison | Fractional CIO (ForIT) | Full-time CIO/CTO |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Cost | From $5K/mo · $60K/yr | $300K - $500K+ |
| Aviation Experience | Deep Part 135/121 expertise | Varies, often limited |
| Flexibility | Scale up/down as needed | Fixed overhead |
| Network & Resources | Extensive aviation tech network | Individual connections only |
| Risk | Month-to-month, low risk | High hiring/severance risk |
Common technology challenges we solve for airlines
Disconnected Systems
Your flight ops, maintenance, crew scheduling, and passenger systems don't talk to each other, creating manual work and errors.
We integrate everything into a unified platform.
Vendor Overload
Managing 20+ technology vendors is expensive and inefficient. Each has their own contract, support, and integration requirements.
We consolidate and negotiate better terms.
Compliance Complexity
Part 135/121 compliance requires specific technology capabilities that generic IT providers don't understand.
We know aviation regulations inside and out.
How we de-risk the start
Two weeks. No retainer. You see the work first.
Application discovery and a high-level roadmap delivered before you commit to month one. You keep the roadmap whether you sign or not.
App + spend inventory
Every app, every contract, every invoice line. Mapped to the business function it serves. Shadow subscriptions surfaced. Renewal cliffs flagged.
Top-3 leverage points, ranked
Live workshop with your leads. Department-by-department wishlist intake. Three highest-ROI moves identified, validated against your stack reality, and scoped.
Roadmap, written, yours to keep
90-day quick-wins with cost + effort estimates. 12-month foundation plan. The decision-quality artefact you can take to the board, with or without us.
If you sign — first month starts immediately and the discovery rolls into the work. If you don't — you keep the roadmap. No tactical-pitch hostage situation. We've never had a discovery where the operator didn't continue, but if we're not the right fit you'll know in two weeks, not ninety days.
What we're cooking
Retainer operators get early access to the Collective.
SMS safety, Fueler AI, and an AI-native MRO — aviation platforms we're building with the operators who'll use them first. Code stays in your tenant.