A ground-breaking ceremony held yesterday under blue skies at New York’s Westchester County Airport signaled the start of construction of Million Air's new $70 million FBO complex at the metro New York City airfield. The first phase of the 23-acre project consists of a 54,000-sq-ft hangar with heated floor, expected to be completed by mid-2017. According to the company, the structure, which will be able to accommodate ultra-long-range or smaller business jets, is already more than half pre-sold.

Before year-end, Million Air expects to begin building a new 20,000-sq-ft terminal to LEED specifications, with an enclosed climate-controlled four-lane porte cochere. Designed in the Adirondack style, the building will feature stone, timber and fireplaces, and among its amenities will be a full-time coffee barista.

In May, the Houston-based FBO network received unanimous approval for the plan from the county’s Board of Legislators, including a new 30-year lease. “There has not been any new construction at the nation’s second-busiest corporate airport in more than 20 years,” company CEO Roger Woolsey told AIN. “The new Million Air expansion is designed to truly be one of the first six-star FBOs in the country.”

For an FBO, providing good customer service is second only to safety when it comes to building a successful business with return customers, and to that end the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) recently unveiled a Certified CSR Program, which held its first training course in September. This program, held at the Airflite FBO in Long Beach, Calif., marked the first time the organization has held a live customer service training course. NATA has offered an online customer service, safety and security course, similar in format to the Safety 1st Professional Line Service Training course, for the past five years.

“We believe there was a void in the industry for CSR training and it’s a natural place for NATA to expand and continue to evolve our product,” said NATA president Martin Hiller. “NATA members have requested to have in-house, in-person workshops.”

The sold-out event, which cost $275 for NATA members and $400 for non-members, attracted representatives from 23 companies, some from as far away as the Bahamas and Jamaica. Among the presenters were industry consultants John Enticknap and Ron Jackson from the Aviation Business Strategies Group, as well as NATA’s Elizabeth Nicholson and Rebecca Mulholland.

“There’s value for customers to hear from industry experts on customer service skills and best practices and it’s all wrapped up in the envelope of safe operations,” Hiller told AIN. “Everyone benefits when airplanes are taken care of safely and in a good environment.”

During the session, interactive exercises with role playing helped engage the audience. “There was a time when you would go to workshops, either NATA or otherwise, and you would sit there for two days and it would be all lecture,” said Michael France, NATA’s managing director for safety and training. “People tend to learn best when they are doing things, not just listening.” He noted the organization has radically changed the way it provides workshops these days, with interactivity and discussion group work integral components.

All 40 candidates for the certified customer service representative program had to complete an online module, said France. The live program consisted of four more modules, each with its own practical exam, covering topics such as interpersonal skills, operational familiarity and logistics, and customer relations.

At the completion, attendees were awarded certificates and the designation of CCSR. “We wanted to provide an opportunity for folks who invested the time and effort in completing both the online course and then this in-person workshop to show off the fact that they have received extra training and gone above and beyond, and are now Safety 1st certified customer service representatives,” France explained. “Creating an accreditation that you can use after your name on a business card or the logo that goes with it is just a way to market the investment that individuals and companies are making in ensuring they are providing the best in service.”

With the first course under its belt, NATA plans to schedule at least two more next year. “FBOs need to get a reasonable return on their business, and that is driven in part by making sure their customers’ experience is positive,” said Hiller. “Training and education are always critically important to any business, and having the customer service focus truly does make the end user’s experience better at an FBO.”

With its new $22-million FBO expansion slated to open this month at Florida’s Opa-Locka Executive Airport, Fontainebleau Aviation is here as part of the Phillips 66 contingent (Booth 4639) to give showgoers a preview. Its original facility was completed in 2007 as the flight department for parent company Turnberry Associates, and it became a full service FBO in 2012.

The new project, which took two years to build, includes a 15,000-sq-ft terminal with a 1,000-sq-ft pilot’s lounge and four private crew lounges, gym with shower facility, two a/v-equipped conference rooms seating eight and 16 respectively, a 50-person capacity training room, kitchen, package storage room, onsite car rental, crew cars, valet and concierge, along with 30,000 sq ft of office space. An additional pair of 35,000-sq-ft hangars, capable of sheltering aircraft up to a BBJ, were built, bringing the location’s aircraft storage to 235,000 sq ft. Also newly-added was a 12,000-sq-ft arrivals canopy with a 150-foot span capable of protecting a BBJ-size airplane. In all, the new development brings the complex to more than seven acres, with plenty of room left for any future expansion.

According to the company, one of three service providers at the Miami-area airport, it will retain its current 2,000-sq-ft terminal for the exclusive use of its based customers, providing more intimate service and “creating a country club experience” while at the FBO.

Fontainebleau also offers maintenance at a Part 145 repair station through sister company Precision Aircraft Maintenance, as well as aircraft detailing.

Charleston, S.C.-based Hawthorne Global Aviation Services has expanded its FBO network with the announcement that it has acquired Bama Air, one of two service providers at Alabama’s Tuscaloosa Regional Airport. The facility, which specializes in quick turns, includes a 5,000-sq-ft terminal with a fireplace, crew cars, concierge, flight planning and briefing rooms, 10-seat conference room, pilots' lounge with shower facilities, on-site car rental, widescreen televisions and Wi-Fi. Its 75,000 sq ft of hangar space can accommodate midsize jets such as the Citation XLS.

The acquisition marks the fifth location for the chain,which also has facilities at New York’s Long Island MacArthur, Chicago Executive, Atlanta Cobb County and Wisconsin’s Chippewa Valley Regional Airports.

“This location is a full-service FBO with a wide range of amenities including aircraft management and aircraft maintenance along with warm hospitality you’d expect from any of the five Hawthorne FBOs nationwide,” said company president and CEO Bryon Burbage. “We are very pleased to be a part of the Tuscaloosa community and look forward to a long and productive relationship with the airport and the city.”

According to the company, the location sees a lot of demand from supporters of the nearby University of Alabama. Hawthorne expects to embark on a major renovation of the three-decade old facility in the first quarter of 2017, after the conclusion of this year's college football championship.

Jetex Flight Support is poised for further expansion through the potential acquisition of another FBO at an undisclosed location in South America. The Dubai-based group has grown fast in recent years, with a new FBO at Marseille in the south of France being the latest addition to its global network in May.

“We are still seeing being demand, and this is why we are expanding our network worldwide,” Jetex president and CEO Adel Mardini told AIN. “We see continued growth in the Latin American market, stability in the Middle East and Europe, and a drop in the Russian market. Overall growth [in business aviation traffic] has been around 5 to 10 percent so far this year.”

Two years on from the opening of its U.S. operations center at Miami International Airport in 2014, North America remains a major focal point for Jetex’s ambitions in this continent. Together with its operations centers in Dubai and Beijing, the group provides trip support worldwide around the clock. Mardini indicated that it might be pursuing ambitions to add an FBO to its chain in the U.S.

In November 2015, Jetex expanded farther south through a partnership with local FBO Eolo at Toluca International Airport, which is Mexico’s main business aviation gateway. Around the same time, Jetex also signed a licensing agreement with Japan’s Air Contrail to provide ground handling services at Tokyo’s Narita and Haneda Airports, where access restrictions for business aircraft have been partially lifted in recent years.

In early 2014, Jetex made its first direct move into the Latin America market with the opening of an FBO at the Chilean capital Santiago. Combined with the new Mexican facility, the company achieved annual growth in traffic of around 36 percent in 2015, which it argued was well ahead of industry-wide growth rates for the region last year. It also has a presence in São Paulo, Brazil.

In Europe, Jetex also has facilities at Paris Le Bourget Airport, Shannon in Ireland, Minsk in Belarus, and the Ukrainian capital Kiev. Its network now extends throughout Africa, the Middle East (including at the new Dubai World Central Airport), Central Asia and the Far East. Mardini claimed that the company’s market share of flights handled at locations rapidly increases when it establishes new bases and offices.

“Customers now look forward to expanding their [operational] network around the world with us,” Mardini stated. “They prefer our one-stop shop with account managers who know all their needs and who know the owners, managers, pilots and passengers personally.”

Also in the U.S., Jetex has a new partnership with private charter membership program JetSmarter. This involves access to its network of FBOs and lounges for operators carrying JetSmarter members. According to Mardini, companies like JetSmarter, which promise significant discounts compared with traditional charter services, are forcing handling providers to be more competitive as well.

The past few years also have seen Jetex step up investment in training and quality standards as it seeks to earn the IS-BAH handling standards certificate that the International Business Aviation Council awards to qualifying FBOs. This year has seen the group rolling out its new global trip management operating system developed in-house by its own IT team.

In its first purchase after the initial six FBOs that make up the reconstituted Ross Aviation, the Colorado-based service provider chain has made a splash, with an agreement in place to acquire AirFlite, the top-scoring FBO in AIN’s Annual FBO Survey for the past three years, and a perennial top finisher for much of its nearly quarter century of existence.

Owned by auto manufacturer Toyota, AirFlite was once intended to be the cornerstone of a planned nationwide FBO network, which never came to fruition. The stylish, modern facility was immaculately maintained by the company throughout its 24-year existence and garnered praise from customers at a time when other FBO terminals of its age are torn down and replaced.

“We started out with a fantastic physical facility; it is really one of the nicest physical FBOs I’ve ever seen,” Ross Aviation CEO Jeff Ross told AIN. “Toyota has run that facility in an absolutely first-class fashion for nearly 25 years and we are honored and respectful that they are willing to pass on that legacy to us. It is an important opportunity, and we are going to do our best to continue where Toyota has left off.”

Speculation about the fate of the location, one of four FBOs at Los Angeles-area Long Beach Airport/Daugherty Field, had swirled since 2014, when Toyota announced it was relocating its North American headquarters from the Los Angeles area to Plano, Texas. The automaker’s North American flight department was one of the major tenants at the FBO.

The new Ross Aviation, which is exhibiting here in Orlando as part of the Avfuel contingent (Booth 2207), is backed by private-equity firm KSC Capital Partners. It was formed from the six FBOs that Signature Flight Support was required to divest as a condition of its purchase of Landmark Aviation earlier this year, and includes an FBO at Washington Dulles International Airport and two at New York-area Westchester County Airport among others. The previous Ross Aviation chain of 19 FBOs was itself sold to Landmark in 2014, and the new Ross Aviation reacquired some of those locations in this latest transaction.

Ross looks forward to using the Long Beach location’s sterling reputation to make it even better. “We think there is an opportunity to seek out more business on the airport, and hopefully even attract more customers to the airport,” he told AIN. “That is a crowded neck of the woods, and unlike most FBOs you have an opportunity at Long Beach to move people from other airports to Long Beach. Usually the other airports are too far away and there’s no way that people will consider relocating. But I don’t think that’s the case in Long Beach.”

The transaction, pending regulatory approval, is expected to close by the end of November, at which time the location will be renamed Ross Aviation-Long Beach, as Toyota will retain the AirFlite name.

With the recent major consolidation in the FBO industry, one consequence is pilots are now finding themselves with fewer options, particularly at major airports, and those non-chain FBOs are facing increasing pressure. This is causing an evolution in the relationship between fuel distributors and their independent FBO customers. “The pilot community is starting to look for alternatives,” said Marci Ammerman, Avfuel’s vice president for marketing. “The alternatives seem to be that some of the major [fuel] supply groups are banding together in a much stronger way, their group of FBOs that have existed for years.”

As a result, the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based fuel supplier has begun to consider itself, in the words of president and CEO Craig Sincock, “the chain of independent FBOs.” “I think what you see is you have fewer choices, but a more consistent experience, especially at the top 100 [U.S.] airport markets,” he told AIN. “FBOs in general, if you talk about the whole population, they are looking for strength in numbers and that’s what we’ve been focusing on this year.” As part of that focus, the company has developed an online “marketing toolbox” for its members, with tips on public relations, social media and branding. “Our internal marketing department is always available to support our branded FBOs with the marketing solutions they need to attain and retain more business,” said Ammerman. “Part of that support, now, is providing more informational resources to help these FBOs succeed.”

One of the strengths of a chain lies in its ability to refer traffic to its sibling locations, and Avfuel is introducing that capability among its nearly 650-member network. Using a new online system, Avfuel-branded FBOs can refer customers to fellow Avfuel dealers in other cities. As part of that initiative, FBO staff can register as Network members and earn rewards points, for each referral they make.

The company has also continued to expand its Online Rampside Training Course, available to its branded network, now with six new modules covering de-ice and anti-ice procedures, aircraft marshaling, towing, radio etiquette, record keeping and tips for trainers. These are in addition to the previous 10 courses on fuel handling, testing and storage. Additional modules dealing with security, operations, sales and customer service will debut next year. “For those who want to participate and take advantage of NATA’s Safety 1st program, we highly recommend it and think it’s a quality program,” said Ammerman. “What we wanted to do is provide a very affordable way for FBOs to get access to training. What we found is with NATA, you have to buy the program per seat, and that’s challenging for some FBOs that have a little more [staff] turnover on a regular basis, so with our program, you are able to have as many seats as you want throughout the time period.”

Another key component to strengthening Avfuel’s “chain” appeal to its members is in the changes to its Avtrip customer loyalty program that are being introduced here in Orlando. They should make the already popular plan even more attractive to customers. Starting at the beginning of 2017, program users will be grouped into three tiers based on historic data of their fuel purchased and network FBOs visited. At the base Silver level, pilots will earn rewards at the level they had been previously - two points per gallon. Based on increased fuel purchases or by visiting more unique Avtrip program participants, users can advance to Gold and Platinum levels, with their standings evaluated each calendar year. With 50,000 pilots participating in the program, the company awards more than $1 million in rewards each year.

Here at the show, Avfuel (Booth 2207) will be demonstrating that branded dealer network with its members Sheltair, Ross Aviation, and affiliated company Avflight, along with FBOs from 25 additional locations. Also, as part of its rollout of the new Avtrip program, it will be giving away prizes themed to the silver, gold and platinum tiers. Depending on the number of FBOs visited at the booth, conference attendees will earn a number of game pieces, which they can use for a chance to win one of several prizes.

The London City Airport Jet Centre (Booth 3919) has received IS-BAH approval from IBAC, covering its ground-handling operation, and will soon begin construction on a long-awaited parallel taxiway.

London City Airport (LCY) is only four miles from Canary Wharf, seven miles from The City of London (the “Square Mile”), and nine miles from Mayfair in the West End. Meanwhile the Jet Centre also provides passenger handling and security for Royal Air Force (RAF) Northolt Airport.

“At both London City and RAF Northolt we’re expecting a very busy end to the year, as activity is at an all-time high,” said Nick Rose, LCY director of business aviation, “predominately driven by both airports’ superior access to London and the competitive pricing introduced at London City Airport. We recently reduced our pricing at LCY due to the higher demand and are very pleased to pass this saving on to customers.”

The airport has approvals for most major manufactures with the Global 6000, Falcon 7X, Embraer 550 and Phenom 300 all regular visitors. Approvals are also in progress for the Falcon 8X, Gulfstream 280, Citation Latitude and Challenger 350, added Rose, who is inviting NBAA visitors to the company’s booth to discuss its “90-second experience” from aircraft to car.

Some airlines operate regional aircraft from London City, so The Jet Centre now offers passengers using the airline route network the opportunity and convenience of using the Jet Centre facilities to both check-in and board the aircraft “with a personal service providing transportation from car park to the aircraft steps.”

Rose commented, “The Jet Centre at LCY has airline check-in, with full-time security and immigration control. This services allows passengers to take advantage of the privacy and excellent facilities the Jet Centre offers whether departing or arriving on commercial airlines.”

The 10 commercial airlines that operate from LCY serve nearly 50 domestic, European and U.S. destinations, with the most popular routes by passenger numbers including Edinburgh, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Zurich, Rotterdam and Dublin.

During 2016 the airport added several new destinations to its route map including Bergerac, Alicante, Berlin, Bremen, Cardiff, Paris Charles De Gaulle and Rennes.

In 2015 the airport welcomed 4.3 million passengers, with around 52 percent travelling on business. “LCY offers a unique rapid transit proposition,” said the airport in a release, “a short and efficient check in, door to lounge, of around 20 minutes; and a speedy arrival, tarmac to train, of around 15 minutes.

The airport recently received long-awaited planning permission including for the addition of seven new aircraft stands, a parallel taxiway to maximise runway capacity and a terminal extension to accommodate increasing passenger numbers. Construction will begin on the City Airport Development Programme (CADP) in 2017. The airport estimates that it will mean an increase in passenger numbers to 6.5 million a year by 2025, by adding “32,000 additional flights per year.” CADP is a £344 million privately funded investment. 

Those flying to the Aloha State, can expect to find more hangar space, as FBO operator Air Service Hawaii (Booth 3882) has acquired a 24,000-sq-ft hangar at its flagship location at Honolulu International Airport. The $3 million structure, which can accommodate multiple aircraft up to a Gulfstream G650, features a 28-foot high door, full fire suppression and secure street side parking.

Since taking over the hangar last month, the company has also installed a new security system with electronic access control and motion-sensing cameras. The new hangar adds to the 17,000 sq ft of aircraft storage space the company already owns. “Hangar space is always in short supply during our peak seasons, and now for the first time in its 68-year history, Air Service Hawaii can offer secure aircraft storage to clients operating large business jets,” said Mi Kosasa, the company’s vice president of marketing.

“Having the ability to accommodate our clients’ hangar requests more frequently further cements our position as a premier FBO in Hawaii,” added Air Service Hawaii president and CEO Shaen Tarter. “We are very fortunate to have a client base that values service and personal relationships so highly, which makes this investment possible.”

The company also announced that it has significantly expanded its capabilities at Lanai Airport, where it is one of two service providers. It now offers jet fuel, full ground handling, USDA-approved catering and planeside access to ground transportation.

“Having jet fuel and USDA catering inspection available at Lanai makes direct departures to the mainland available for large business jets,” Tarter noted. The location accepts all major contract fuel programs, but limited fuel supply necessitates advanced notice to ensure fuel is available for planned departures.

Along with Honolulu and Lanai, the company also provides aviation support at Kauai, Maui, Kona and Hilo.

Jet Aviation has begun aircraft servicing operations at California’s Van Nuys Airport. In January, the General Dynamics subsidiary was awarded a 30-year lease for a 17-acre site at the Los Angeles-area business aviation hub. Operating from the former Pentastar/Basenet facility on the north side of the airport, the company is now providing line services and 24/7 guarded entry to the airport and ramp.

By 2018, that should be replaced by a 20,000-sq-ft environmentally friendly Leed Silver-certified passenger terminal along with a pair of 40,000-sq-ft hangars with accompanying shops and offices. The new-build facility will offer domestic and international handling, conference rooms, a crew lounge, flight planning room and a business center. The location is Jet Aviation's eighth in the U.S. and its first west of Texas.

“We are delighted to be moving forward with operations at Van Nuys Airport,” said John Langevin, the service provider’s vice president of North American FBO operations. “We look forward to helping strengthen our role in the local community as we create jobs for the region.”

TAG Farnborough Airport (Booth 1867) is ready to welcome more U.S. visitors. While the airport’s overall aircraft movements for 2016, up to the end of September (the end of the third quarter), showed only a modest increase over 2015, the number of visitors from the U.S. was up by 6.7 percent. According to Brandon O’Reilly, chief executive of TAG Farnborough, “The statistics show an interesting story, and corporate America is most certainly traveling.” However, this still only represents 4 percent of total movements at Farnborough, and is up from 3.8 percent in 2015. In absolute numbers the U.S. launched 730 movements last year and 779 this year, both through the end of September.

The other news for TAG Farnborough is that the proportion of heavy jets landing there continues to increase, and was “up 7.4 percent over the same period last year,” O’Reilly told AIN. Also, based on statistics provided by the UKCAA, Farnborough accounts for 33 to 35 percent of all business aircraft movements into the London area, which is significant, given that there are many other options. However, apart from London Biggin Hill, the UK capital’s other airports competing with Farnborough are increasingly congested with low-cost airlines and other airline traffic.

O’Reilly said that continuous investment in TAG Farnborough has seen it steadily improve its already well reviewed facilities, including a new lounge. “The new facilities have really taken off,” he said. “The number of people using the new lounge dovetails to those larger aircraft.” While the airport is handling more music groups, sports teams and other specialist groups traveling by private aircraft, it has also been able to continue a high-quality, discreet level of service for other customers.

Somewhat surprisingly given the steady growth, Farnborough is by no means busy. “We’re operating at around 25,000 to 25,500 movements a year, and we can go up to 50,000,” said O’Reilly. This is the movement cap set by the local government, and Farnborough is not allowed to have scheduled services.

At one time, the airport was limited to 28,000 and it almost reached the limit around 2008, said O’Reilly, before the financial crisis hit. “So we are growing back toward the numbers we saw before the crisis started. We also have plenty of hangar and ramp space.”

 TAG Farnborough is here at the NBAA show asking more U.S. aircraft owners and operators to think of it as a gateway to London, and beyond. O’Reilly said that U.S. visitors come “from all over the country. Many arrive from California, LAX and Van Nuys, for example, and also from the East Coast, from White Plains, for example. Many stop off here for customs and immigration purposes, and we don’t know their final destinations. Predominantly, aircraft are from the two [U.S.] coasts, though we do get quite a lot from Chicago, too. Overall, we get more corporate than private [traffic] from the U.S.,” he said.

According to O’Reilly, the NBAA show has been “extremely important” in putting the airport on the business aviation map over the past 10 years. Otherwise, Farnborough would only be known for its biennial international airshow. “I’ve been [to NBAA] every year since I joined [the airport] in 2006,” said O’Reilly. “It’s one of the most important events we go to, as the U.S. market is extremely important to us. We are now seen as a brand in our own right and important in business aviation as an entry point to London.”

NBAA 2016 attendees who visit the Harrods Aviation booth (1412) will receive a Golden Ticket worth 5,000 FlyBuys points when presented at the company’s FBO at London Stansted airport before May 21, 2017. Conventioneers can also collect an extra 1,000 points by signing up for the FlyBuys program at its booth. FlyBuys points can be redeemed for items such as fashion accessories, travel, technology and gift cards.

Harrods Aviation offers FBO services at London Luton and Stansted Airports. Recently, Harrods renewed its authorized service facility agreement with Bombardier and is thus authorized to perform maintenance on Challenger 300/350 and 605/650 models, as well as the Global jet family. This includes interior cabin repair capabilities.

Harrods Aviation has also seen a sharp increase in large-cabin movements, which have risen more than 20 percent since 2013. The company has handled more than 250 large-cabin business jets and bizliners in the last 12 months alone.

Connecticut-based aviation services provider APP Jet Center (Booth 4655) will be opening its new FBO facility at California’s Hayward Executive Airport (HWD) next month. The $5 million project includes a new 20,000-sq-ft hangar capable of sheltering the latest long-range business jets, which will bring the facility’s aircraft storage space to 86,000 sq ft. It will be attached to an existing 12,000-sq-ft hangar, which will provide 32,000 sq ft of contiguous hangar space. In addition, a new 3,000-sq-ft terminal designed by San Francisco’s Niche Interiors, will aesthetically reflect the style of Silicon Valley. It will offer a pilot lounge, snooze rooms, shower facilities, concierge service, Wi-Fi, private meeting rooms, dishwasher and linen service, and rampside vehicle access.

“This is a bold achievement for APP,” said Chris Hambleton, vice president of APP Properties, which also operates FBOs in Manassas, Va., Fort Pierce, Fla., and Denver, Colo. “We are increasing our aircraft storage and client services while developing the most distinguished facility at Hayward Executive Airport. We have planned on this for many years and are very excited for our clients to share our enjoyment of this upscale, modern property.”

Tom Panico, the location’s general manager, added: “It’s an honor to offer this top-notch facility to our loyal clients and to our growing list of new clients, as well.”

The San Francisco-area airport has seen more than its share of development of late. Last month, Meridian opened its FBO at HWD, giving the New Jersey-based company its first presence on the West Coast.

Signature Flight Support has launched a mobile application that will allow its customers to monitor their TailWins loyalty program accounts more easily. Signature iFBO allows the aircraft service provider’s pilot customers to manage their TailWins profile, opt in to promotions and track and redeem their points for gift cards that can be spent immediately on goods and services.

Redemption options include a virtual Visa card, as well as cards to 30 retailers, restaurants and service providers such as Amazon, Best Buy and Home Depot. Members can also use the app to donate their earned points to business aviation charities such as the Corporate Angel Network and Veterans Airlift Command.

The new app provides a directory of all Signature and Signature Select FBO locations worldwide, complete with contact details and Google Maps, and allows users to make reservations at any of them. An upgrade scheduled for January will add discounted hotel rooms, along with car rentals through National Car Rental. The app is available for download from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Wisconsin Aviation (Booth 2207) is celebrating its 35th year in operation this year. The company began in 1981 with an FBO at Watertown Municipal Airport, which still serves as its corporate headquarters. It later added two more Wisconsin locations at Dodge County Airport in Juneau and Dane County Regional Airport in Madison. It is the lone service provider at all of its locations.

Today, the company has become one of the Midwest’s most progressive aviation service centers, offering aircraft charter/management with a fleet of more than 50 aircraft, as well as rental, sales and flight instruction for private pilot up to airline transport certificates. It also offers a full range of aircraft maintenance services, including avionics and interior work.

“We want to thank our employees, loyal customers and local communities for their support over the past 35 years,” said company founder and CEO Jeff Baum, who also serves as a charter pilot on many of the company’s aircraft. “Wisconsin Aviation is committed to the communities we serve, and we look forward to continued growth.”

With several hundred thousand square feet of hangar projects coming online soon at several of its locations, FBO operator Sheltair (Booth 2207) is offering customers “early bird” priority reservations this week at NBAA 2016.

“We have said all along that while the industry forecast might call for new aircraft production to continue, no one is creating new airport property, and the new large-sized hangar supply is in demand,” said Todd Anderson, the Florida-based service provider’s vice president for real estate and development. “Sheltair has secured the approvals to expand and build on that most precious of real estate—airport property. That allows us to offer preferred customers new facilities that meet their needs today and far into the future.”

Indeed, those flying into Orlando Executive Airport for the NBAA show can see one of the construction projects adjacent to the service provider’s terminal. “A strong general aviation industry is critical to the continued success of Central Florida’s economic growth,” stated Phil Brown, executive director of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. “Sheltair’s long-term commitment to Orlando Executive, along with our $3 billion investment into Orlando International Airport, builds a strong foundation for Central Florida’s aviation future.”

Other locations set to receive new hangars include Fort Lauderdale and Tampa, also in Florida, along with Savannah, Ga., and New York’s Republic and Westhampton airports.

The company’s message is direct: “Those with operational/management responsibilities have the opportunity to secure priority positions now before Sheltair officially opens its hangar doors.”

Cooke Aviation (booth 3700), an FBO network with locations in California, Hawaii and Washington, has enhanced its management team. Tony Marlow, who has been with the company since 2008, has been appointed vice president of aviation operations and business development. Marlow will oversee and direct all activities of the division, including operations, business development, expansion and future growth.

Cooke’s headquarters in Van Nuys, Calif., its largest FBO. Additionally, Candace Schroeder has been newly hired as business development and marketing manager for the organization. Schroeder brings 10 years of experience in the aviation industry, having previously served as a customer service manager at several other California-based FBOs.

Global contract jet fuel, flight-support and fuel-management services company AEG Fuels, which has largely focused on airline and military customers since it started in the early 1980s, now sees business aviation as a growth area. Since then, the Miami-based company has had only a “small focus on business aviation,” providing contract fuel. But in August, it brought business aviation veteran Greg Cox on board to expand its presence in this segment.

Cox, who holds the newly created position of executive vice president of business aviation is aiming for the company to be a one-stop shop for trip-support services, aircraft handling, contract fuel, credit and other related services. He said the company already provides trip-support services, including obtaining overflight permits and contract fuel to business aviation clients.

His first initiative is to roll out AEG’s credit card to the business aviation segment—something it is emphasizing at its booth (1979) this week at NBAA 2016, where attendees can sign up for the card. “We are going after the market that needs credit or more personalized planning services,” Cox told AIN.

Over the past three months, Cox has also been working on getting the card integrated with FBO platforms so it can be accepted at facilities. The card is already compatible with TotalFBO software, he said, and AEG is working with the FBO chains to get it assimilated in their systems.

AEG also plans to develop a global network of aircraft handling agents and, eventually, a customer loyalty program. In addition, the company currently provides unbranded fuel to FBOs but is considering offering branded fuel at some point, Cox said.

Zetta Jet inked maintenance and service agreements with Jet Aviation (Booth 265) on Tuesday at NBAA 2016. Jet Aviation has been appointed to provide MRO and FBO services for the charter company’s growing fleet of 20 business aircraft based across the Pacific Rim and in Southern California. Geoffery Cassidy, managing director of Zetta Jet, believes Jet Aviation is a good fit because it understands the specific needs of his company and clients. “Jet Aviation has an excellent reputation for customer orientation and service excellence, and their scope and scale of service offerings is second to none,” he said.

In addition to providing large-cabin maintenance services from four MRO hubs in Basel, Switzerland, Dubai, Singapore and St. Louis, Jet Aviation currently manages 20 FBO facilities around the globe and has partnership agreements with several more.

“We appreciate and share Zetta Jet’s commitment to the highest industry standards and look forward to supporting their fleet throughout our network,” said Stefan Benz, Jet Aviation senior vice president and general manager for MROs and FBOs in EMEA and Asia.

Zetta Jet made news earlier in the show when it added four Challenger 650s, worth an estimated $129.4 million, to its all-Bombardier fleet.

A year after opening its new FBO at Milano Linate Airport, and a subsequent joint venture with Signature Flight Support, Italian service provider Sea Prime noted it will continue to invest in improving facilities there and at its new location currently under construction at Milano Malpensa Airport.

The company plans to spend more than $22 million (€20 million) by 2020 on infrastructure improvements, including new hangars at the two facilities. At Linate it expects to complete 38,750 sq ft (3,600 sq m) of hangar space, large enough to accommodate ultra-long range business jets, by year-end.

According to a recent MasterCard survey, Milan is among the top-five European destinations, with nearly eight million visitors expected this year. “Milano has always been an important center for business, but we believe it still has to deploy its full potential, not only in terms of number of visitors, but also in terms of quality,” said Sea Prime general manager Chiara Dorigotti. “This has convinced us from the outset of the opportunity to invest in restyling and repositioning of Milano Linate Prime.”