B/CA Show News - NBAA 2007 Day 2 - (Page 14)

FBOS N BA A 2007 Salinas Jet Center to Build Service Center Five Years On, OneSky Prepares for Major Growth OneSky Jets started out as a charter broker five years ago and has enjoyed double digit, annual revenue growth ever since, but now it aims to become a much larger operation. The company, based in Manchester, N.H., handles charters of everything from light jets like the Citation V to Boeing Business jets for its individual and corporate clientele. And it relies on a heavy use of technology to organize and track flights and personal contact to make sure suppliers deliver and customers get the most reliable type of service. Greg Johnson, the young president and CEO of the company, says his background as an Embry Riddle graduate, FedEx employee and commercial pilot gives him all the tools he needs to make sure suppliers are providing jet service that is safe and reliable. And a third of the employees of OneSky have backgrounds as pilots or aviation degrees from universities. A key thing that is different in how OneSky conducts its charter broker business versus other companies in this field is how it tracks information. Johnson says that one of the great lessons he learned from working at FedEx was taught by founder Fred Smith. “The information about the package is as important as the package.” For example, if a package is late, the company can tell a customer where it is located. OneSky’s motto is: “The information about a charter trip is as important as the trip.” Some of the OneSky’s clients are members of fractional jet programs who need supplemental lift. But it is also structured to handle a one-off charter if that is what the customer wants and the trip makes good financial sense to the client. But if a client comes in for the first charter with flying requirements that fit a fractional program better than the OneSky model, the company will not hesitate to recommend the client go to a fractional program, Johnson says. —David Hughes Ground will be broken in 2008 for a new service center for the business aircraft community in Salinas, Calif. Central Coast Aviation operates the center, Salinas Jet Center. The 140,000-sq ft facility has 10 acres of parking. Among amenities offered is complimentary limousine service for passengers wishing to stay in Salinas and gourmet catering for the next leg of the flight. For pilots, the center will lend a car, give discounts on hotels and even a free bottle of Monterey County Wine for every 100 gallons of fuel purchased, presumably not to be consumed during refueling. Championship Aviation Signs Chevron Championship Aviation of Chino, Calif., has signed with a new partner for aviation fuel, Chevron with Air Petro. Chino has a 7,000-foot runway, which can accommodate all types of business aircraft and, unlike other nearby airports, has no noise restrictions, curfews or landing/parking fees, and offers a free overnight ramp service. Championship’s amenities include a lounge, WiFi internet access and a complimentary crew car. “We also offer on-site full maintenance, an FAA-authorized repair station, oxygen, nitrogen, GPU, in-flight catering, hotel accommodations and rental cars,” says CEO Rhoda Kohl. 10 Years for Love Field’s Business Jet Center Business Jet Center (BJC), the only family owned FBO at Dallas Love Field, is celebrating 10 years of continuous service. From humble beginnings in aircraft sales, BJC became the dominant FBO at Love Field. It has a general aviation fuel sales market share of nearly 30 percent among the seven competing FBOs there and is home to many of Dallas’ marquee flight departments and professional sports teams. After a $20 million rebuilding investment, BJC now occupies 24 acres with 200,000 sq ft of hangar, terminal and office space, 13 acres of reinforced concrete ramp and an underground fuel farm. Business Jet Center is at Booth 4301. Capital City Jet Center Named Avfuel Dealer Capital City Jet Center at Bolton Field (TZR), Columbus, Ohio, has been appointed a premier Avfuel-branded dealer; a move that the FBO's management hopes will attract business to the airport. Capital City Jet Center recently renovated its terminal and offers passengers and pilots communications and entertainment including WSI weather, DirecTV and wireless Internet. Capital City participates in the Avfuel Contract Fuel program and AVTRIP pilot incentive programs. Avfuel also helped Capital City recondition its jet fuel trucks, and provided fuel-quality-control training. New Lineup for Hill Aircraft Hill Aircraft & Leasing (Booth 1907), the Atlanta area’s leading FBO, has announced the promotion of Larry Westbrook to president and Mark Fields to vp. Previous president Guy Hill Jr. will assume the role of CEO and chairman of the board. “This represents a significant positive move for Hill Aircraft that will help us continue to expand and grow the excellent service we provide our customers,” says Guy Hill Jr. Swiss FBOs to Cooperate During WEF2008 ExecuJet's Zürich International Airport FBO and Airport St.Gallen-Altenrhein have agreed to cooperate during the World Economic Forum, which takes place in Davos, Switzerland from January 23-27, 2008. The prominent visitors include leaders of industry, high-ranking members of society, the media, academics, scientists and policy-makers. “Our two locations have different qualities and benefits. Through our cooperation, we are able to offer WEF participants more quality options to meet their individual requirements,” notes Graham Stephenson, manager of ExecuJet's European FBOs. “Working together makes a lot of sense and the visitors to the event in Davos will benefit,” commented Cdr. Bud Slabbaert, who is in charge of business aviation development at Airport St.Gallen-Altenrhein. 14 September 26, 2007 www.aviationweek.com/shownews http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of B/CA Show News - NBAA 2007 Day 2

Contents Spectrum Stresses Freedom Adam Shows A700 Cabin User Fee War of Words Execujet Boosts Services Saab's Got Your Back CAE Covers the Field London Airports Roundup Pratt & Whitney Canada Another Show! A More Digital Jeppesen CMC Rides Bizjet Wave Thales Weighs In We Fly the Eclipse 500

B/CA Show News - NBAA 2007 Day 2

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