Private and business aviation pilots can now pay for fueling and services directly from their phones with a new app from U.S. Bank. MSA Pay, which went live this week, is the first mobile payment app in the general aviation space designed specifically for the ordering, payment and backoffice needs of pilots, according to a press release about the announcement.

With MSA Pay, pilots can notify a fixed base operator of their arrival details, special needs and service requests prior to landing. The operator performs the requested services, notifies the pilot when the plane is ready and sends the pilot an invoice to review and approve. Once approved, the app automatically emails a copy of the invoice to the pilot and to the pilot’s backoffice for final payment processing.  

"Electronic invoicing via mobile device frees pilots to focus on clients rather than paperwork," said John Hardin, general manager of global transportation at U.S. Bank. "The 'quick turns' so vital to a pilot's schedule become even quicker with MSA Pay. It's a giant step forward for business aviation efficiency."

The MSA Pay app provides both an automated reservation confirmation and the option for an FBO to add a personalized note for pilots before they arrive, according to the announcement. The app also may be used for comprehensive flight planning and scheduling. 

Pilots and their support teams can use MSA Pay to select destination FBOs; make, confirm, modify and cancel reservations; create pilot profiles; and review, approve, reject and pay invoices.  U.S. Bank said it will continue to enhance MSA Pay over the next six to 12 months.