Elegant Island Living Publisher David Butler recently had the opportunity to chat with Justin Smith, the president and founding partner of LIVT, an exclusive private turboprop aviation membership company. They discussed LIVT’s services and its mission, which is embodied in its name: Lifestyle, Innovation, Vision, and Time. Time is the precious commodity which LIVT provides. A veteran pilot and entrepreneur for over 26 years, Smith has more than 9000 hours flying all types of aircraft and running numerous different types of businesses. He has been in the Private Membership Service sector for more than 16 years.
DB: What sets LIVT apart from other private aviation options?
Justin Smith, President and Founding Partner of LIVT
JS: In business for over nine years, LIVT offers a unique service that distinguishes itself by focusing on regional private aviation for business and leisure travelers — a sharp contrast to the one-size-fits-all approach many in the industry have adopted. LIVT has carved a niche in a competitive market, setting new standards for what private aviation can deliver. I can break it down to these main points:
No Crowded Airports. LIVT doesn’t rely on major airports. LIVT’s choice of aircraft (Pilatus PC-12 and Citation XLS) can access 5000+ airports and land at regional airfields like KSSI, saving you time. No long security lines, no waiting for gates to open—just direct access where you need it most (closer to your home). For example, flying from KSSI to Atlanta will take approximately one hour or less with the Pilatus PC-12.
Regionally Focused, Exclusively Limited. Instead of flying everywhere, LIVT operates within a focused, 800-nautical-mile service area where each individual has the option to choose their one or multiple service areas, pending their demand, at different tiers of pricing. There are no hidden fees. You only pay for your time in the aircraft and there’s never a repositioning fee. LIVT is exclusive because they only offer a limited number of memberships per quarter and per year. This enables them to ensure accessibility for their members and maintain their high quality of service.
Freedom. LIVT gives you the freedom to buy more time and more frequent trips to enjoy your destination. We ensure that you can make the most of your time and money wherever it is you’re headed by getting you in the air faster, with a smoother experience. No wasted time—just efficient travel when you need it.
DB: How does LIVT's Pilatus PC-12 compare to faster competitors?
JS: If you’re asking why LIVT chose the Pilatus PC-12 when there are faster aircraft out there, it’s because while faster jets might get you to your destination quicker, that isn’t without trade-offs like fuel efficiency and flexibility.
The Pilatus PC-12 is designed for high-altitude flying, consuming less fuel than faster jets. While jets burn more gas, especially when climbing to higher altitudes, the PC-12’s fuel efficient design ensures a lower cost per mile flown, which ultimately benefits you.
With the Pilatus PC12, you may trade speed for cost, yet you do not trade, safety, capacity, flexibility, or performance. The Pilatus PC12 can land on 3000-ft. airstrips, where mid-size to light jets require 5000-ft. as a minimum and only on shorter runways in specific situations where temperature, load, etc. meet certain criteria
Here's the kicker—there are no minimums! With jets, you’ll often pay a 1-hour minimum charge, even if you’re only flying for 47 minutes. With LIVT, if your flight is 47 minutes, you only pay for 47 minutes (thanks to the PC-12). No extra charges. No hidden fees. You only pay for what you use, saving you money every time you fly.
DB: Many private charters pride themselves on luxury offerings, is this your focus or are you offering a niche for more affordable personal service tailored to a customer’s specific travel needs without the fancy bells and whistles?
Flying private is a luxury in itself, but we—and our members—look at it as a time machine, not a luxurious pampering spa day, a convenience. Our members desire to get to their destination as quickly and efficiently as possible. We stand out not because of luxurious travel, but due to our personalized customer service and membership design. Our members can have what they desire, yet they will not spend their money in senseless ways. The Pilatus PC-12 is still a $6 million (or more) aircraft new and the Citation XLS is over $8 million. Corners are not cut on these aircraft, and we’ve chosen them because they’re work horses that are the very best at what they do.
DB: How has your experience as a pilot informed your decisions in operating LIVT? Has it helped you to identify services that aren’t being supplied by other flight operators or areas that are being underserved?
JS: This aligns with flying myself and family and allows me to put myself in the shoes of the crew and passengers. It gives me true insight on what innovations in service we need to provide to meet vast demand, while also understanding the requirements of our crew, to make sure what we offer is realistic, safe, and the right decision.
DB: Who would be your ideal member?
JS: The ideal member for us is an individual who has done well in their business or career and needs to get more out of life, by buying more time to enjoy their success. Our members can afford a more expensive and faster means of travel, yet they are stewards of their money and understand that a saving a few minutes for each trip at the cost of an exorbitant price increase is not true value. Our members are humble with their success and understand that flying private does not mean you can buy away all issues.
If this sounds like you, LIVT might be a perfect fit for your private travel needs. For more information about LIVT, call 844.548.5488 or visit livt.life.
WHY I CHOSE LIVT TO FLY FROM ATLANTA TO ST. SIMONS
Before flying private, my family and I were all too familiar with the draining process of traveling to St Simons Island, GA. Every trip started with flying commercial from Atlanta International (KATL) to Jacksonville, FL, enduring hours of chaos at one of the major commercial airports—navigating long security lines, juggling restless kids, and waiting for boarding announcements. Even after landing at Jacksonville International, the journey was far from over. We’d have to deal with the rental car lines and the unpredictable city traffic just to finally reach our destination. By the time we arrived, we were completely drained, with little energy left to enjoy the day.
A few months ago, we decided to take the leap and try private aviation. I’ll admit, it felt like an indulgence at first, but with the mounting stress of commercial travel and our regular trips to St Simons, we decided it was worth exploring. Today, after booking our first flight with LIVT from Atlanta direct to St Simons, I can confidently say the experience has been a revelation.
We scheduled our flight for 10 a.m. and arrived at Peachtree-DeKalb Airport just 30 minutes before takeoff. There were no crowded terminals, no TSA lines, and no scrambling to keep the kids entertained. We simply pulled our car right up to the airplane, where the LIVT pilots greeted us warmly, loaded our bags, and ensured everything was ready. Within 15 minutes, we were airborne.
The flight itself was nothing short of amazing. The quiet cabin gave us space to relax, the kids were comfortable and happy, and the seating was so spacious that even I had room to stretch out. The personalized service added an extra layer of ease that I never thought possible when traveling. In just over an hour, we landed at St Simons (KSSI) minutes from our second home, and our car was waiting right next to the plane. It was seamless, efficient, and worlds apart from our usual travel experiences.
Yes, it’s pricier, but it’s an investment in time and quality of life. When we landed, we were mere minutes from our home. I was able to get in a half day at the beach with the kids and even squeezed in some shopping, while dad could enjoy a half day of golf without being exhausted. We were all together at dinner, refreshed, joyful, and enjoying the extra time we bought back by flying private. It’s no longer about enduring the journey—it’s about spending more time on our own terms and with the people we love.
If this trip had been on a commercial flight, things would’ve been very different. Even a short regional flight from Atlanta turns into a half-day ordeal that is compounded with stress making the trip exhausting and not fun. Instead, I was able to experience the freedom of controlling my time, with my schedule no longer dictated by commercial flights. I didn’t have to worry about leaving Jacksonville hours early just to make a flight. Instead, I could book a flight back to Atlanta when it suited me. This freedom is something I truly appreciated about LIVT because it gave me my most precious commodity: time.
