Tag

FBO Archives - Regional Gateway

Work begins on Clay Lacy’s $20m development at Waterbury-Oxford Airport

By Airports, Business Aviation, Featured, NewsNo Comments

Private aviation operator Clay Lacy is expanding its presence at Waterbury-Oxford Airport in Connecticut having broken ground on its $20 million FBO facility.

“We’re breaking ground on what will be one of the finest FBOs and aviation facilities in the country,” said Brian Kirkdoffer, President and CEO of Clay Lacy Aviation. “It will expand and enhance all of the services that we provide. Oxford will be an incredible economic and employment engine, attracting and supporting the finest aircraft and flight operations in the world.”

The first 11-acre phase will feature a passenger terminal, executive offices and a 40,000 sq.ft. hangar. It will also result in 200 new high-paying jobs with an annual payroll in excess of $32 million and 420 indirect jobs during the construction process. The new full-service FBO and maintenance facility is expected to be completed in spring 2024.

Kevin Dillon, Executive Director, Connecticut Airport Authority, said: “Investments like this serve a very significant role in the overall economic development mission of the Connecticut Airport Authority. It elevates the stature and status of the airport and allows us to attract activity all over.”

All the facilities under construction will be built in accordance with Clay Lacy’s Sustainability Strategy and will be certified carbon neutral. The facilities include solar panel provisions, electric vehicle charging, electric aircraft charging, efficient building design and sustainable aviation fuel.

In addition to the construction of its new facility and to foster the next generation of aviation professionals, Clay Lacy Aviation has established an annual scholarship and internship programme with CT Aerotech, which operates a two-year Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology programme in Hartford, Connecticut.

As part of its commitment, Clay Lacy will provide $16,000 in annual scholarships and $10,500 in on-the-job internships.

“We’ve established a great pipeline to support Connecticut and its economy,” said John Ryan, Principal, CT Aerotech of the partnership and internships with Clay Lacy. “This scholarship programme just further strengthens that resolve to put people here in Connecticut to work and get these jobs.”

August 10, 2022

Huron Regional Airport welcomes Revv Aviation as FBO operator

By Airports, Business Aviation, FeaturedNo Comments

Huron Regional Airport in South Dakota is the latest location to be added to Revv Aviation’s FBO network. Huron is now the seventh FBO and the ninth operating location for the Revv family. Existing employees will be retained by Revv and additional staff will be added to the team as required.

“What Revv is doing in the Midwest is unique in that the company wants to revitalise small town airports and encourage people to visit and utilise their local air transportation centres,” said Larry Cooper, Huron Regional Airport Manager commenting on the new partnership. “Revv and CL Enterprises [Revv’s parent company] understand the economic vitality that local airports provide communities, and they plan to build upon that.”

Other FBOs in the Revv portfolio include: Aurora and Schaumburg in Illinois; Janesville in Wisonconsin; Muscatine, Davenport and Council Bluffs in Iowa. Revv also operates flight schools in Sioux City, Iowa and at Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Nebraska.

The operator’s CEO and President Guy Lieser sees great value at the Huron location. “It’s got a 7,200 ft by 100-ft wide runway with a 5,000-ft crosswind runway. Huron can handle any size aircraft,” he said. “We want to bring all of Revv’s services to Huron: maintenance, avionics, flight school and charter. Our PT-6 engine maintenance team is already expanding to Huron, which houses more than 30 crop dusters that require this type of service. There is also a good market for charter services in Huron, especially during the six-month pheasant hunting season.”

Lieser was joined by Peter Limberger, CEO and Chairman of CL Enterprises, who said: “As the new tenant of the FBO, we are encouraged by the warm welcome and are looking forward to many years of cooperation and being able to contribute to the economic development of the airport, the city and the region.”

July 13, 2022

Signature partners with PS to elevate airport experience at Hartsfield-Jackson

By Airports, Business Aviation, FeaturedNo Comments

Private terminal operator, Signature Aviation, is collaborating with PS, the private luxury terminal service for commercial clients to provide an enhanced airport experience at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport.

The long-term lease agreement will see PS establish a second purpose-built private terminal in one of Signature’s two buildings at the Atlanta hub. The new terminal will provide private aviation customers with privacy, security and luxury. The PS experience includes beautifully designed spaces to recharge and unwind, chauffeured transportation to and from the aircraft door, private TSA and customs screening, state-of-the-art amenities, and an extensive menu of cocktails and chef-prepared meals available for both departures and arrivals.

Derek DeCross, SVP for Global Customer Engagement at Signature Aviation commented on his excitement for the partnership saying the collaboration celebrates two companies committed to providing exceptional customer experiences for travellers. “We are excited to bring this unique experience to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Int’l Airport and continue our mission to leverage our world-class infrastructure to reimagine and reinvent the travel experience,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, Joshua Gausman, co-CEO of PS added: “The city of Atlanta is one of the few places where a PS terminal will be a perfect fit, and we’re excited to work closely with Signature here and in other key cities around the world. Our members often fly private and choose Signature, so creating ways to make commercial flight connections faster and easier makes sense.”

Gausman was joined by his co-CEO, Amina Belouizdad, who commented: “We have a lot of opportunity ahead to provide premium travellers from around the world with our unique PS experience and we are incredibly honoured to collaborate with Signature as PS continues to expand into other markets. With this joint effort, we have no doubt that we will continue to transform the industry through our unique value proposition and commitment to exceptional service, especially during a time when people are more attune to privacy and safety while travelling.”

June 29, 2022

Monterey Regional Airport strengthens SAF partnership with Avfuel

By Airports, Featured, NewsNo Comments

A year after Avfuel started a consistent supply of Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to Monterey Jet Center at Monterey Regional Airport, the fuel supplier is now doing the same for Del Monte at the California hub.

“Del Monte Aviation is pleased to offer aircraft owners and operators a low carbon alternative at the forefront of the shift toward a sustainable aviation industry,” said Matthew Wright, vice president of Del Monte Aviation. “We are the only FBO in the nation offering the highest available blend of SAF direct to customers because we store our Neste MY SAF in a dedicated tank. This pioneering approach is part of our commitment to help our customers achieve real, immediate, beneficial impacts related to their carbon footprint from air travel. With over 200,000 gallons of SAF delivered so far, Del Monte has proven to be one of the global leaders in our commitment to reducing the CO2 impact of aviation operations through offering sustainable fuels.”

Since Avfuel began supplying SAF to the airport last year, it has provided around 216,000 gallons of the fuel. For Monterey Regional Airport’s operations, this volume of fuel equates to reducing carbon emissions by an estimated 513 metric tonnes. That’s the same amount of carbon emitted from the energy use of nearly 65 homes in a year, or from 111 passenger vehicles.

Del Monte Aviation customer, Matthias Niederhäuser, partner of Diamondo Earthrounding, and consultant and data analyst of Niederhauser Solutions GmbH Aviation, commented: “Having a dedicated fuel truck supplying SAF to us and fellow aviators was a first on our Diamondo Earthrounding route around the globe. With our mission, we are linking and promoting ways to invest into sustainable aviation worldwide and we strongly believe more FBOs should follow Del Monte Aviation’s lead in making SAF physically available in high percentages.”

Meanwhile, Keith Sawyer, Avfuel’s Manager of Alternative Fuels, added: “The entire Monterey community—from the FBOs and the airport, to its businesses and citizens—have been champions for sustainability and a natural launching pad for SAF in the Avfuel Network. We are so pleased to increase SAF’s footprint with additional supply at KMRY through Del Monte Aviation and thankful for its team’s tireless efforts toward reaching sustainable goals.”

May 4, 2022

Schaumburg Regional Airport’s revv aviation joins Avfuel’s network

By Airports, Business Aviation, Featured, NewsNo Comments

Having assumed operation of the FBO at Schaumburg Regional Airport in Illinois, revv aviation has now also joined the Avfuel-branded network.

The addition of Schaumburg brings revv aviation’s Avfuel-branded locations to six, joining Chicago/ Aurora (also in Illlinois), Janesville in Wisconsin and three Iowa locations: Council Bluffs, Davenport and Muscatine.

Commenting on the addition of the FBO to its network, Avfuel’s Senior Vice President of Sales, Joel Hirst, said: “The Schaumburg airfield serves a burgeoning area and its addition to the Avfuel network will provide premier service options for Avfuel’s flight department customers.

Comprising 13,052 sq. ft, the Schaumburg facility offers a passenger terminal, an executive conference room and hangar space able to accommodate up to medium-sized aircraft, like a Citation Ultra.

Noting that the airfield is currently under-utilised, Guy Lieser, CEO of revv aviation said: “Schaumburg is the closest northern airport to the city of Chicago and its three-million people. We see tremendous opportunity to serve both the local community and Chicago’s business centre.”

revv aviation was chosen by the village of Schaumburg (formerly Carver Aero) to take over operations after the previous operator left the facility. “Our goal is to work with the village regarding additional hangar construction, as well as increasing our flight school, charter services and maintenance operations.”

In keeping with its foundational business strategy, revv aviation continues to expand its Midwest FbO footrpint, connecting small towns and providing a full offering of aviation services for student pilots, business and private aviation travellers and aviators.

April 26, 2022

Southern Sky Aviation celebrates reopening of Trent Lott Airport’s runway

By Airports, Business Aviation, FeaturedNo Comments

As the sole FBO at Trent Lott International Airport in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Southern Sky Aviation is all set to welcome traffic with the reopening of the runway. A grand reopening ceremony is planned for 13 April.

“Southern Sky Aviation is excited the runway at PQL has reopened,” said Darryl Brewer, Southern Sky Aviation’s president of its FBO division. “We look forward to sharing our freshly updated FBO with the aviation community and our team is ready to provide high quality services to all customers. We appreciate the efforts of Jackson County, the City of Moss Point and the airport authority in making this enhancement a reality.”

The FBO moved to the airfield in 2021, when the runway was under construction and closed to aircraft over 50 feet. Approximately four inches of surface asphalt have been added to the 6,500 ft by 150-ft runway and official ratings enable the runway to take any single-wheeled aircraft up to a C-130, double-wheel aircraft up to 196,000 pounds and double-wheel dual-axle aircraft up to 315,000 pounds.

Southern Sky Aviation can now accommodate aircraft up to a Gulfstream or any Global, in addition to military aircraft up to a C-130. While the runway was under construction, Southern Sky Aviation upgraded its FBO facilities, making improvements to the existing 4,300 sq. ft. terminal building, including new branding, furnishings, paint and lighting throughout the lobby, pilot’s lounge and restrooms for a fresh aesthetic and comfortable atmosphere. It has also added the Sky Cafe, offering customer a range of breakfast and lunch options.

The FBO also acquired a fleet of refuelling trucks to streamline fuelling services. This includes a 5,000 gallon jet fuel truck, a 3,000-gallon jet fuel truck, a new avgas truck and a self-serve avgas station. Southern Sky Aviation will also install a new 20,000 gallon jet fuel tank in mid-March.

In addition to its FBO at Trent Lott, Southern Sky Aviation also provides charter, maintenance, management and sales services out its Birmingham, Alabama headquarters and aviation charter services at at its Atlanta, Georgia locations.

March 15, 2022

Jet Linx acquires charter operator and opens Miami base

By Airports, Business Aviation, Featured, NewsNo Comments

Jet Linx is expanding its presence in Florida with the opening of its private terminal at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport and the acquisition of Boca Raton-based charter operator and aircraft management firm, Southern Jet.

The private terminal is Jet Linx’s second base in Florida and its 21st facility across its nation-wide network.

“We continue to see increasingly strong demand in Florida and have been focused on pursuing acquisition opportunities to expand our facilities and operations in the marketplace,” said Jamie Walker, President and CEO of Jet Linx Aviation.

“I am proud to introduce our first dedicated private terminal in Miami, and to establish Jet Linx Boca Raton, catering to the needs of local aircraft owners and Jet Card Members, as well as serving the demand to the region from our Jet Linx New York Teterboro, NJ (TEB) and other Northeastern locations. We look forward to providing in South Florida what Jet Linx has come to be known for throughout the country – the finest private aviation experience and incomparable standards of Five-Star service excellence.”

The acquisition of Southern Jet marks Jet Linx’s fifth acquisition since 2015 and will see the Southern Jet team join the company in line with its expansion plans. “They’re a top-notch team and organisation, and their approach to providing the very best in local customer service and commitment to safety makes for an easy integration,” added Walker.

March 9, 2022

US Trinity Aviation voted preferred FBO at Denton Enterprise Airport

By Airports, Featured, NewsNo Comments

Having established a reputation for a top-notch service and first-class amenities since it opened 18 months ago, US Trinity Aviation has been voted by Corporate Aircraft Association (CAA) as its preferred FBO at Denton Enterprise Airport in Texas.

“This vote of affirmation from CAA members reinforces our goal of being a premier FBO in north Texas and supporting all business aircraft operators,” said Damon Ward, senior member of the US Trinity Aviation leadership team. “As an Avfuel-branded FBO we provide quality fuel, streamlined payment processing with the Avfuel Pro Card, modern equipment, hangar space, ground handling services, and a full service concierge to all CAA members and every customer that lands on our ramp.”

Along with providing fuel and handling services through its partner Avfuel, US Trinity Aviation provides both transient and long-term hangar options with 65,000 sq. ft. of space to accommodate aircraft up to a Boeing BBJ. It also features a 26,300 sq. ft. luxury terminal featuring passenger and pilot lobbies, flight planning capabilities, a catering kitchen and two executive conference rooms complete with audio/ visual capabilities and seating for up to 12 people.

In addition to its proximity to downtown Denton, the FBO serves the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and is situated just 30 minutes from Fort Worth and 40 minutes from Dallas and Addison. It’s an ideal base for handling metroplex overflow, weather diversions and business on the north side of Dallas/ Fort Worth.

March 8, 2022

AMS appoints new manager for three US FBOs

By Airports, Business Aviation, FeaturedNo Comments

Tennessee-based Airport Management Solutions has promoted Kevin Williams to the position of regional FBO Manager.

Williams will be responsible for overseeing operations at AMS FBOs in both Tupelo Regional Airport in Mississippi and Greenville Airport in Mississippi, as well as a new location in Ohio to begin in April.

Williams was previously the quality control supervisor and training manager for AMS at its Tupelo facility. A former air force nuclear weapons maintenance officer and academic instructor, he is a graduate of Mississippi State University.

“We are excited to recognise the unique talents that Kevin brings to our company,” said Erick Larson, AMS Director of Business Development. “His talent as a teacher and mentor combined with his industry knowledge and hands-on experience with a wide range of FBO operations is exactly what we were seeking in creating this new role.”

February 14, 2022

Jet Aviation now IS-BAH certified for its Amsterdam and Rotterdam FBOs

By Airports, Business Aviation, FeaturedNo Comments

FBO operator Jet Aviation has received International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH) Stage II Safety Registration for its Amsterdam and Rotterdam FBOs in the Netherlands.

The company, which received this latest certification in January, currently operates 27 IS-BAH-registered FBOs around the world. It expects to gain further IS-BAH certifications in the coming months.

“Along with our commitment to safety and quality, these new IS-BAH certificates clearly demonstrate that challenges are also opportunities to shine,” said Edwin Niemöller, Jet Aviation’s senior director of FBO Operations in the Netherlands. “I couldn’t be prouder of our teams for their agility, professionalism, and unwavering adherence to the highest standards, particularly during these extraordinary times.”

He added that it is the “experience, dedication and passion of our handling teams that enables them to deliver incomparable service to our customers. We work to get the aircraft serviced for safe, timely departures – every time – and our [teams] continue to focus on our safety performance and sustainability goals.”

To underline its commitment to sustainability, Jet Aviation recently secured an ongoing supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at its FBO located at Amsterdam Schiphol. Meanwhile, its Rotterdam location remains the only airport in the Netherlands where night operations are permitted for business aviation.

January 31, 2022