Page 30 - March 2016

When your company is expanding and you need a plane with more range to keep up with its needs, maintaining family ties is a logical option. Now that Textron Aviation supports both the former Beech Aircraft and Cessna Citation lines, an upgrade from a Premier 1 jet to a Citation CJ4 makes a lot of sense.
Bob Norton, president of BioZyme, Inc. in St. Joseph, Missouri, has long understood the value of his company’s aircraft, which he characterizes as a valuable tool for the business. Norton got into flying in mid-life, rather than as an aviation dreamer during childhood. He was in the food processing business and had to travel a lot, and he grew weary of spending an untoward portion of his time sitting around airline terminals and driving to the final destination.
In short order, Norton bought a Piper Archer and obtained his private license. The ability to hop in the little Piper and fly to a convenient general aviation airport opened up a great travel option for him. One of his good friends was president of BioZyme, Inc. and, in conversation with his friend, the subject of retirement came up. Norton eventually found himself at the helm of a major livestock nutrition company, one that had a Beech Bonanza available as a company plane and a CFI full-time pilot on staff.
Norton earned his instrument rating in that Bonanza, and when
28 • TWIN & TURBINE
it grew into a Baron his multi-engine rating followed in due course. Before long, a King Air B100 replaced the Baron, to get him up and out of the weather, and a King Air 200 was the B100’s replacement. The Premier 1 jet logically replaced the Super King Air, and it served well until last year, when a larger, longer-range aircraft was needed.
“We started out working with dealers and staff over a 300-mile radius, then that expanded to 600 miles and then 1,200 miles, so our choice of an airplane has had to accommodate those changing needs,” Norton said. Single- pilot certification was a plus, for
repositioning convenience. BioZyme occasionally ferries the aircraft with a single pilot, but current company policy is to always have two pilots on the flight deck with passengers in the back.
Improving Nutrition
BioZyme Incorporated is a privately-held company with a long history in nutrition research. Its livestock feed supplements help animals break down the forage and feed in their stomachs more efficiently, getting more nutrition from those inputs and reducing feeding expense. Its custom-tailored products are sold largely through
MARCH 2016
Upgrading
SPECIAL CITATION JET OWNERS SECTION!