In this compelling episode of Hangar X Studios, host John Ramstead sits down with Philippe Lubrano, the dynamic CEO of RotorTrade, a company revolutionizing the pre-owned helicopter market with a streamlined, customer-centric model. From launching in Southeast Asia to expanding globally across the U.S., Europe, and Latin America, Philippe shares how RotorTrade is redefining aircraft transactions through certified pre-owned solutions, trade-ins, leasing, and custom configurations.

He offers rare insight into the inner workings of the helicopter resale ecosystem, the impact of global demand on supply chains, and how their “one-stop-shop” approach—think Carvana for helicopters—is solving key pain points for clients. Philippe also outlines the company's growth pillars and makes a bold prediction: the helicopter industry will thrive through 2030.

Episode Highlights

• RotorTrade’s innovative business model, inspired by the automotive world
  
  


• How THC's investment helped scale RotorTrade’s global presence
  
  


• The newly launched leasing arm and its strategic impact
  
  


• Philippe’s bold forecast for the helicopter market through 2030
  
  


• Regional dynamics shaping helicopter demand in the U.S. and beyond
  
  


• How vertical lift is becoming critical in global emergency and infrastructure operations
  
  

Key Points with Timestamps

• [00:00:03 ] RotorTrade simplifies aircraft trade-ins with instant check settlements
  
  


• [00:01:41 ] RotorTrade's founding journey and global expansion from Asia to the Americas
  
  


• [00:02:45 ] Focus on certified pre-owned aircraft and collaboration with OEMs
  
  


• [00:03:49 ] RotorTrade's four core pillars: Saudi operations, certified dealerships, MROs, and leasing
  
  


• [00:04:26 ] One-stop-shop: from aircraft selection to delivery and customization
  
  


• [00:05:04 ] Solving traditional pain points in pre-owned aircraft purchases
  
  


• [00:06:02 ] U.S. expansion strategy: from East to West Coast with regional MROs
  
  


• [00:06:36 ] Market differences: single vs. twin engines, and region-specific aircraft needs
  
  


• [00:07:48 ] Trade-in model likened to Carvana’s simplicity
  
  


• [00:08:14 ] Outlook to 2030: Helicopter market poised for sustained growth
  
  


• [00:08:35 ] OEM backlog and increasing demand from geopolitical and environmental crises
  
  


• [00:09:54 ] Military modernization and emergency response fueling demand
  
  


• [00:10:30 ] Pre-owned market shrinkage and informal aircraft transactions
  
  


• [00:11:54 ] Philippe’s global travel and expansion plans across the U.S., Brazil, and Mexico
  
  

Guest Bio: Philippe Lubrano

Philippe Lubrano is the CEO of RotorTrade, a global pre-owned helicopter dealership known for its innovative, OEM-partnered business model. With over a decade of industry experience, Philippe has led RotorTrade’s expansion from Southeast Asia to Europe, the U.S., Latin America, and the Middle East. Under his leadership, RotorTrade offers certified pre-owned helicopters, bespoke aircraft configurations through MROs, and most recently, a leasing division. He’s a globe-trotting aviation entrepreneur deeply committed to making helicopter transactions transparent, accessible, and customer-focused.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/philippe-lubrano-22468635/ 

About Rotortrade

Rotortrade is a leading global helicopter dealership specializing in certified pre-owned aircraft. Founded over a decade ago, the company has built a reputation for trust, transparency, and customer-centric solutions. With operations spanning the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Rotortrade offers a one-stop-shop experience including sales, leasing, trade-ins, MRO services, and aircraft customization. By partnering directly with OEMs and adopting practices inspired by the automotive industry, Rotortrade delivers high-quality, ready-to-fly helicopters tailored to meet operational demands across the globe.

Notable Quotes

“We are just trying to make it easy for people… Why make it more complex when you can keep it simple?”
– Philippe Lubrano

“We’ve learned from bad experiences. We want to make sure our customers don’t go through that.”
– Philippe Lubrano

“Until 2030, the helicopter industry is going to do extremely well. All of us.”
– Philippe Lubrano

“When there’s a disaster—fires, floods, hurricanes—what you need is vertical lift, and you need it now.”
– Philippe Lubrano