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News Portside Acquires Professional Flight Management (PFM)

Portside Acquires Professional Flight Management (PFM) to Expand Its Portfolio of Technology Solutions for Private, Business & Government Aviation

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.-- Today, Portside announced it has acquired Professional Flight Management (PFM), a leading scheduling and dispatch software platform for corporate flight departments. The combination of Portside and PFM will provide an enhanced suite of software solutions for private, business and government flight departments.

Portside’s mission is to bring modern technology to business aviation. Today, the industry relies on many disconnected systems and manual processes. From streamlining operator communication with aircraft owners through the Portside Owner Portal; to allocating the fleet and crew effectively with Optimizer; to managing the backend expense and billing processes with ExpensePulseTM, Portside continues to provide its customers with innovative solutions addressing their key pain points.

PFM’s mission is to provide a comprehensive set of scheduling, record keeping and reporting applications for corporate, private, and government flight departments. Founded by Bill Figures in 1983, originally born out of a Fortune 100 Company’s flight department, PFM has been led by Bill and Julie Figures, serving customers for almost 40 years. Today, PFM supports hundreds of flight departments, including many of the largest Fortune 500 corporate fleets in the world. Customers choose PFM because they value the Company’s innovative and resilient solutions, 24/7 customer support, and the ability to meet challenging needs faced by complex flight departments operating globally.

Together, Portside and PFM will continue development of private, business and government aviation technology, advance software solutions available to the industry, and accelerate the process to upgrade software for the increasingly mobile-first and cloud-based business aviation ecosystem. The combined company will have a sizable, fast-growing market opportunity and capabilities to drive significant value for customers and the industry.

“Portside’s competitive advantage is our ability to focus on the customer experience and deliver cutting-edge technologies,” said Alek Vernitsky, CEO of Portside. “With PFM, we now gain a deeper understanding of the needs and expectations for the corporate flight departments which will accelerate our vision to support the broader private, business and government aviation industry.”

Continue development of private, business and government aviation technology

Portside and PFM are deeply committed to pushing the industry forward by developing innovative tools. With Portside’s and PFM’s extensive product set, customers will be able to access a greater set of robust capabilities to support the safety, efficiency and collaboration needed to manage a well-run flight department.

Advance software solutions available to the industry

Operators are challenged with the ever-changing requirements imposed on their operation impacting their ability to scale effectively. Whether it be staffing constraints, asset management, regulation, communication tools or mobile accessibility, there are many processes that are currently managed with excel sheets and phone calls that can easily be solved with the right technology. With PFM, Portside takes another step forward in assembling and creating a comprehensive business and government aviation platform.

Accelerate the process to upgrade software

Upgrading complex legacy systems is no easy feat. With Portside’s expertise, PFM products will have a clear path to cloud-based, mobile-first architecture. This will benefit all stakeholders, as upgraded technology will allow operators to maintain a modern operation, while having the flexibility to operate in a resilient way that’s critical for government and corporate customers alike.

“Portside has a bold vision of building an end-to-end technology ecosystem for corporate flight departments and we have seen them continue to grow their product suite at a fast pace focused on serving the end user,” said Bill Figures, Founder of PFM. “We always prided ourselves in treating our customers as family and are confident that our customers will be in good hands and will get added value as we join Portside,” added Julie Figures.

About PFM

Professional Flight Management, Inc. (PFM) provides the most comprehensive set of scheduling, record keeping and reporting applications for corporate, private and government flight departments. Their products include Corporate Flight Scheduling & Dispatch, Record-Keeping, Request & Corporate Shuttle Systems, Crew Apps, Lobby Flight Status Board, among others which are integrated into many third-party providers so customers can use the vendors of their choice. PFM has expanded to work with over 200 private, corporate and government flight departments worldwide. PFM is headquartered in Bala Cynwyd, PA with team members located within the US. More information about PFM can be found at www.pfmsys.com

About Portside

Portside is developing a modern, cloud-based operating system for business and government aviation: a set of integrated solutions addressing major industry pain points. The Portside platform supports over 150 operators of business jets, helicopters, industrial and government fleets, as well as fractional jet ownership programs in over 30 countries. Portside is headquartered in San Francisco with team members across the US, Europe and Asia. Learn more about Portside at www.portside.aero

Media Contact: media@portside.co

Oct 12, 2022

Latest news

News Portside Strengthens Leadership Team for Its Next Phase of Growth
Sep 08, 2026

Portside Strengthens Leadership Team for Its Next Phase of Growth

RALEIGH, N.C., September 8, 2026: Portside, a leading provider of AI-enabled, cloud-based software for global aviation, today announced four leadership appointments: David Kim joins as Chief Product Officer, Roman Mogylatov has been promoted to Chief Technology Officer, and the company has added Jon Ingram as Chief Financial Officer and Alexandra Davis as Director of Strategic Programs and Chief of Staff.

The moves build on Vista Equity Partners' investment in Portside and Brandon Holden's appointment as CEO. Together, the four leaders will anchor Portside's next phase: Kim the product direction, Mogylatov the technology foundation, Ingram the financial discipline, and Davis the execution that connects them.

Portside is unifying its aviation software into a single platform, advancing an AI-enabled roadmap, and expanding its global go-to-market reach. Kim, Mogylatov, Ingram, and Davis will turn those priorities into a coordinated operating plan.

"This next stage of Portside is about focus and scale," said Holden. "We're going after a significant market opportunity, and capturing it takes the right technology foundation, clear product choices, disciplined investment, and consistent execution across the business. David, Roman, Jon, and Alexandra bring a powerful combination of deep Portside knowledge and outside experience to help us deliver on that."

Product strategy grounded in aviation operations

As Chief Product Officer, Kim brings more than 15 years building and scaling enterprise software. He'll lead Portside's global product strategy, strengthening the core systems customers depend on, connecting products and data more effectively, and advancing practical AI capabilities within aviation workflows.

A CTO who helped build the company

Mogylatov has been with Portside since day one, growing alongside the company as its technology, product portfolio, and global footprint expanded. As CTO, he'll lead engineering and technology strategy, with a focus on the scalable foundation Portside's next phase requires. He has also spearheaded the company's AI infrastructure - the technical backbone for AI's growing role across the platform.

Financial discipline for durable growth

As CFO, Ingram will lead financial strategy, planning, and operations globally, aligning investment with Portside's product, customer, and growth priorities while strengthening the systems needed to scale.

Turning decisions into progress

As Director of Strategic Programs and Chief of Staff, Davis will work closely with Holden and the leadership team to advance Portside's highest-priority initiatives across product, go-to-market, customer experience, and operations - with a focus on the coordination that turns decisions into results.

The appointments are part of a broader set of investments across Portside's technology, product, customer experience, and go-to-market organization. The company will share additional updates ahead of the 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (BACE), October 20–22 in Las Vegas.

About Portside

Portside is a leading provider of advanced software solutions for the global aviation industry, serving business and corporate aviation, government operators, commercial airlines, and aircraft leasing and finance organizations. With more than 235 professionals, Portside serves over 1,100 enterprise customers worldwide. For more information, visit www.portside.co.

Media Contact: Lynn Moore

media@portside.co

843-342-3921

News Portside's Announces Vista Equity Partners as New Majority Investor
Mar 05, 2026

Portside Announces New Investment from Vista Equity Partners and Names Brandon Holden as Next Chief Executive Officer

SAN FRANCISCO, [March 05, 2026] – Portside, a leading provider of modern, cloud-based software solutions for global aviation, today announced a new investment from Vista Equity Partners ("Vista"), a global technology investor that specializes in enterprise software. The investment will accelerate platform integration, advance Portside's AI-enabled roadmap and further scale its global go-to-market capabilities. Current investor Insight Partners will remain a significant shareholder in Portside.

Portside simultaneously announced that Brandon Holden will be appointed Chief Executive Officer to lead the company’s next phase of growth. Holden succeeds Alek Vernitsky, Co-Founder of Portside, who will continue to serve Portside as a Strategic Advisor, focusing on product vision, AI innovation and customer engagement, as well as a member of the company’s Board of Directors.

Holden joins Portside with over two decades of experience leading and scaling high-growth businesses. He most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Eptura, where he led the integration of multiple acquisitions into a unified global platform, driving operational discipline and go-to-market transformation. He also previously held senior leadership roles at LogicMonitor, Accruent and Forcepoint.

“Portside powers some of the most critical workflows in global aviation, spanning scheduling, safety and compliance, owner support and leasing," said Holden. "Our opportunity now is to extend that leadership by delivering an even more unified and intelligent platform that connects the entire operational lifecycle. This next chapter is about scaling what we've built and elevating it to define the category globally."

"Building Portside alongside co-founder Alek Strygin from the ground up and watching it become the platform that the world's leading aviation operators depend on has been the privilege of my career," said Vernitsky. "Brandon’s experience and focus on operational rigor make him exactly the right leader to take the company to an even higher altitude at this important stage. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and excited to work with Brandon and our amazing team as we continue our efforts to provide our customers with the industry’s most modern and comprehensive platform across the full spectrum of aviation.”

Since Vista's initial investment in 2024, Portside has strengthened its position as a leading cloud-native platform for business aviation, regional commercial airlines and aircraft leasing and finance. Now, with deepened investment from Vista, the company is entering an ambitious next phase — one centered on defining the global standard for modern aviation software. This includes continued development of Portside Horizon, its cloud-based flight management system, as well as expanded customer success and go-to-market capabilities designed to deliver seamless efficiency, enhanced decision-making and broader operational control for operators, airlines and lessors worldwide.

"We’ve had a front-row seat to Portside's disciplined early growth and the burgeoning opportunity to scale its platform across every corner of aviation software, a market that is both large and underpenetrated," said Rachel Arnold, Co-Head of Vista's Endeavor Fund and Senior Managing Director. "We are pleased to deepen our partnership with Portside to build on this momentum and enable the company’s ambitious expansion strategy."

"Portside's platform has been purpose-built to meet the operational demands its customers face across many aspects of their business," said Ben Benson, Managing Director at Vista Equity Partners. "This investment is about deepening those capabilities and helping to accelerate an AI-enabled roadmap that reflects the real demands of global aviation."

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Lowenstein Sandler LLP served as legal counsel to Portside. Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel to Vista.

About Portside

Portside is a leading provider of advanced software solutions for the global aviation industry, supporting business and corporate aviation, government operators, commercial airlines, and aircraft leasing and finance organizations. With a team of more than 330 professionals across 40+ countries, Portside serves over 1,300 enterprise customers worldwide, helping modern aviation organizations operate more efficiently, securely, and intelligently. For more information, contact us at sales@portside.aero or visit www.portside.aero

About Vista Equity Partners

Vista is a global technology investor that specializes in enterprise software. Vista’s private market strategies seek to deliver differentiated returns through a proprietary and systematic approach to value creation developed and refined over the course of 25 years and 600+ transactions. Today, Vista manages a diversified portfolio of software companies that provide mission-critical solutions to millions of customers around the world. As of September 30, 2025, Vista had more than $107 billion in assets under management. Further information is available at vistaequitypartners.com. Follow Vista on LinkedIn, @Vista Equity Partners, and on YouTube, @Vista_Equity_Partners.

Media Contacts

For Portside

David Paredes

dparedes@portside.co

For Vista Equity Partners

Brian W. Steel

212-804-9170

Max Gross

347-267-3274

media@vistaequitypartners.com

Disclaimer

This document and any attachments hereto may contain proprietary and confidential information (“Confidential Information”) of Vista Equity Partners and its affiliated investment funds (collectively, “Vista”). Such Confidential Information is valuable, confidential and proprietary information of Vista, constitutes trade secrets of Vista and notwithstanding disclosure herein, such Confidential Information remains the exclusive property of Vista and should not be used or disclosed for any reason.

News Portside Expands Fatigue Risk Management Capabilities with Pulsar Integrations
Oct 10, 2025

Portside Expands Fatigue Risk Management Capabilities with Pulsar Integrations into Avianis and Baldwin Safety & Compliance

San Francisco, CA – 10/10/25 – Portside, a leading provider of modern, cloud-based software solutions for business aviation, announced expanded integrations with Pulsar Informatics, the industry leader in fatigue risk management solutions. Pulsar is now fully integrated into Avianis, Portside’s comprehensive flight operations platform, and Baldwin Safety & Compliance, the industry’s most scalable SMS solution.

These integrations build on Portside’s existing connections with Pulsar across BART, FOS, and PFM, further embedding fatigue risk insights into operators’ daily workflows. “By integrating further into Portside’s solutions, we’re empowering operators to address fatigue proactively during trip planning while embedding fatigue data into everyday safety practices.” said Dr. Daniel Mollicone, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder at Pulsar Informatics.

In Avianis, operators can now incorporate real-time fatigue risk insights directly into crew scheduling and trip planning. In Baldwin Safety & Compliance, pilots and safety managers see fatigue scores directly on their safety forms, enhancing visibility at each stage of a flight and strengthening overall risk management. “Bringing Pulsar into Avianis and Baldwin reflects our commitment to keeping the Portside Platform at the cutting edge of the industry with solutions that advance safety, efficiency, and compliance,” said Portia Corsetti, VP of Sales at Portside.

About Portside

Portside is a leading provider of cutting-edge software solutions for the global aviation industry, serving business aviation, regional commercial airlines, and aircraft leasing & finance. With a team of 330 professionals across 30+ countries, Portside supports over 1,300 enterprise customers, including 70 regional passenger and cargo airlines, worldwide. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Portside is dedicated to driving innovation and operational efficiency in aviation.

About Pulsar

Pulsar Informatics is an IS-BAO I3SA certified provider of fatigue risk management technology and professional services. Founder owned and operated since 2001, we have made seminal contributions to the scientific understanding of human fatigue and performance over the past two decades. We advise governments around the world on regulatory policy and serve customers in multiple industries including business and charter aviation, trucking, manufacturing, petrochemicals, defense, and space exploration. Our software tools help safety management teams identify fatigue risk in operations and adjust staffing and schedules to reduce risk, improve safety, and optimize performance.