At Jet OUT, our commitment to personalized service extends to the very heart of our fleet. We believe that every aircraft tells a story, and often, those stories come from the lives and interests of our team. It’s a special tradition here: when a new plane joins our fleet, our employees have the unique opportunity to select its tail number. This gives it meaning beyond a simple registered code. Our tail numbers are tied to cherished memories and personal milestones.
Today, we share the first story in our Stories in the Sky series. It’s about N417NE, a 2022 Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen 2. The tail number was chosen by Ryan Keehan, one of our first team members at Jet OUT.
The Story Behind N417NE
For Ryan, the choice for this aircraft’s tail number was a deeply personal, heartfelt tribute to a foundational figure in his life. The numbers 4/17 hold a profound significance:
“4/17 was my grandfather’s birthdate,” Ryan shares. “My grandparents were incredibly supportive of everything I wanted to do in life. After I became a pilot, my grandfather’s first question for me, every single time I saw him, was always ‘Have you flown a jet yet?’”
That question was encouraging. This aircraft, N417NE, marks a key point in Ryan’s aviation journey. “This airplane happens to be the first jet I got the opportunity to fly,” he reveals. The tail number, therefore, is a beautiful convergence of personal history, familial support, and the realization of a long-held dream, all tied to the very aircraft that now carries Jet OUT Co-Owners and clients to their destinations.
About Ryan
Ryan, Jet OUT’s VP of Procurement, has been on our team for eight years. His interest in aviation began with studying WWII history, especially Pearl Harbor. His involvement in the Badger Aviators Club at UW–Madison also furthered his career in aviation.
What drew Ryan to Jet OUT was the schedule that allowed pilots to return home most evenings, coupled with the exciting variety in flight destinations that offered a welcome change from repetitive routes. Beyond the logistics, what attracted Ryan to the Jet OUT team are the people. He genuinely enjoys working alongside his friendly and helpful co-workers and finds joy in his interactions with our valued passengers.
Outside of work, Ryan lives an active lifestyle and embraces the outdoors. He’s often found running, cycling, or exploring national parks. He’s also a dedicated sports fan, cheering on Wisconsin’s beloved teams: the Badgers, Packers, Bucks, and Brewers. When it comes to personal travel, his favorite destinations include Sun Valley, Idaho and Door County, Wisconsin.