WLFC

Willis Lease Finance Corporation

A maker of leased jet engines, Willis Lease Finance owns one of the world's largest fleets of spare commercial aircraft engines and rents them out to airlines, engine makers, and maintenance shops when a plane is grounded and needs a quick swap. It was founded in 1985 by Charles F. Willis IV, who grew up in aviation and named the firm after his family. The company built its niche around "Aircraft on Ground" emergencies, promising around-the-clock response so an airline can get a replacement engine and a grounded plane back in the air fast.