Clay Lacy Aviation has been awarded a 35-year lease at John Wayne Airport in California, US. The lease, which was awarded by the Orange County Board of Supervisors, is to build and operate a fixed base operation (FBO) to serve as a business gateway for Orange County.
Described as one of the most experienced and respected business aviation firms in the US, Clay Lacy was awarded the 15-acre leasehold to design, build and operate a full service FBO. The facility will feature more than 110,000 sq. ft. of hangarage, 42,000 sq. ft. of office space and a private terminal that incorporates the latest in sustainable design. The development will also include new facilities for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Air support Bureau and the Orange Coast College Aviation Science Department.
Having engaged with the local community and stakeholders, Scott Cutshall, SVP Business Operations at Clay Lacy Aviation explained that, “As a direct result of those conversations, we incorporated many features into our development that will be appreciated by airport users and the community,” he added.
Boosting employment for the local community the new FBO is expected to provide 180 high-paying jobs including openings for pilots, maintenance technicians, finance and accounting professionals, sales and marketing experts, hum resources and IT specialists.
Brian Kirkdoffer, President and CEO of Clay Lacy Aviation concluded: “As Orange County’s newest FBO, Clay Lacy Aviation will build world-class facilities, provide award-winning FBO services, created good-paying jobs, and will always be a good neighbour to the local community. This partnership will benefit the County, its residents and airport customers for decades to come.”
