QUEEN OF THE SKIES
Aero Queen has been providing the latest technology in helicopters and private jets for its clients since 2015. The Singapore-based company is led by dr. natasha Vinski, who expanded the company’s business by introducing Skyte, an Indonesian-based aircraft rental venture. Most impressively, she accomplished this at the tender age of 26. She took charge of the business after the death of her father, the entrepreneur Ivek Vinski
Aero Queen Pte Ltd is a specialist in the aeronautics business for business players, selling and renting them 5-seater, VIP configuration, double-engine helicopters and also private jets, such as the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ737), Legacy 600, Hawker 900 XP, Legacy 650, and Gulfstream 550. Dassault Falcon 8X and Dassault Falcon 2000LX Private Jet. Skyte, the aforementioned subsidiary handling rentals of aircraft, was launched in 2018.
Natasha is a charismatic young woman of many talents. She gained a Bachelor’s degree in Medical Science from the Christian University of Indonesia, and she has just earned an MBA from International University of Monaco. In addition to these achievements, she is CEO of Vinski Tower, a medical centre for antiaging, regenerative medicine, stem cell and plastic surgery founded by her mother, dr. Deby Vinski, in Pondok Pinang, South Jakarta.
Determined to become an entrepreneur like her father, Natasha launched Foxxy, a fashion brand, at a very young age. She used this venture to fund her charity Love Humanity NCV, which she founded when she was only 18. Love Humanity provides free medical check-ups, medicines and educational assistance for orphans.
Prestige interviewed Natasha to find out more about her various projects, especially where and how Aero Queen will next spread its wings. But first this extraordinary young doctor and businesswoman wanted to tell us about an exciting milestone in her private life. Highlights:
What are you up to at the moment, Natasha?
Something very exciting! I’m getting married to the love of my life, Jery Borneo Putra. I’m so glad I found a man like him. Of course, my businesses - Vinski Tower, as well as Aero Queen and Skyte - are all running normally even as I’m planning my wedding day.
You’re a medical doctor by training and the CEO of Vinski Tower. How on earth did you get into the aeronautics business as well?
Aero Queen became my responsibility after my father passed away. I’m very passionate about it. I love airplanes and flying. Of course, I have a professional team by my side, my father’s directors. We started by selling aircraft as an agent for Dassault Falcon, a French private jet company. And then we created Skyte, which is a private jet and helicopter rental company, last year. The expansion is pretty exciting.
Congratulations on what you’ve achieved so far. But it must be a challenge for you?
The challenge is that I’m in a men’s world and, of course, I’m a doctor. Not having a background in aviation might seem like a drawback, but it’s actually more of a benefit in my opinion. Because I am used to and good at memorising things, learning about aeronautics was quick work for me.
It’s a serious business, of course. In selling an aircraft, you work closely on safety. You have to make sure that the equipment is always safe. We have to follow and maintain many SOPs for the security and comfort of our clients. To gain trust when you’re a newcomer to this business is challenging, I admit. But it’s doable as long as we are consistent and persistent. As I said, safety is the primary factor. We cannot compromise in this area.
Who are the customers of Aero Queen?
Aero Queen is for everyone in the world. At this time, our clients come mostly from Southeast Asian countries and Monaco. The reasons why clients use our services vary, but often it is for reaching remote areas.
For helicopters, the 5-seater VIP configuration, double engine is most popular as it can land on many available helipads in the city, which may be more difficult for larger 8-seater helicopters. Our jets are very popular at Aero Queen because of their quiet cabins, long range, fuel efficiency and gorgeous aesthetics. We also provide very good after-sales service.
Tell us more about Skyte.
Basically, Aero Queen is a business that sells aircraft and is based in Singapore. Skyte is a rental service for helicopters and private jets based in Indonesia. Our mission at Skyte is to upgrade people’s mobility and to support the development of alternative transportation in Indonesia. We want to enable clients to avoid traffic jams in the cities and to gain access to remote areas in Indonesia and around the world.
You are the CEO of Vinski Tower. How do you manage being in the two industries?
For Vinski Tower, you can say that it’s something that’s instinctual to me because I am a doctor to begin with. I guess everything is just about time and prioritising. Of course, both business are important. But there are some times of the year when that one of the businesses needs more attention. And I guess being young makes me more ambitious as well. But it is also because of the help of a good team. We cannot do everything ourselves, no matter how good we might think we are.
What’s the plan for Aero Queen?
Aero Queen will soon merge with a German aviation company to develop a new private jet. We are also going to build a new maintenance centre for the aircraft of our partners. And we are going to have our own hangar and lounge in Indonesia. The location is still under wraps, but it’s progressing and will be launched next year.
And what about your other ventures?
To put it simply, I would like to build an empire for both business and medicine. My next medical venture is to build a bigger, international-standard medical centre and spa in Indonesia. For my charity organisation, I would love to help more and more people with healthcare and education. Love Humanity will have some new projects, such as building a hospital and free schools in Kalimantan. My husband and I want also to help save the orangutan and build the economy of Kalimantan. Finally, I would love to start a family!