Author Archives: Jon Robinson

Transport Canada initiates study for decision on new Southern Ontario airport

Omar Alghabra, Canada’s Minister of Transport, on April 18 made a somewhat quiet announcement, relative to its potential impact on Canadian aviation, that Transport Canada issued a Request for Proposals to hire an aviation professional services contractor to help the department analyze current and future airport supply and demand in Southern Ontario. This move is seen as a first step toward making a final decision about building an airport on the Pickering Lands, which has been under assessment since 1972.

Transport Canada (TC) will then post a second RFP to engage a third-party contractor to undertake the study and consultation. The government describes this analysis as a first step toward making a final decision to address the future of the Pickering Lands.

Southern Ontario is Canada’s most populous area, with Greater Toronto (GTA) alone home to more than 6.3 million people – “This is why the Government needs to assess the requirement for additional airport capacity in the region.”

Transport Canada added a disclaimer on April 18: “We have no intention to proceed with building an airport on the Pickering Lands in the near term and the conclusions of the study could lead, for example, to a determination that an airport on the Pickering Lands is not required.” But the process to arrive at a decision is underway.

“Today is the beginning of a process to analyze the future of the Southern Ontario airport system,” said Alghabra. “This work will also bring us closer to making a final decision on the Pickering Lands.”

One of the hurdles for building the Pickering Lands airport rests with dozens of agricultural leases in the area. In 1972, Ottawa acquired 75 km2 of land, 56 kilometers northeast of downtown Toronto to develop a new airport. In 1975, this plan was put on hold in favour of expanding existing airports. Properties on the Pickering Lands have been leased to residential, farm and commercial tenants since then. There are now around 172 agricultural, 64 residential and 48 commercial leases within the Pickering Lands.

The agricultural leases within the Pickering Lands are held at $120/year per workable acre. All agricultural leases effective April 1, 2018, have 10-year terms at the same leasing rate. A Needs Assessment Study released in 2011 predicted an additional airport would be needed in the GTA between 2027 and 2037 and confirmed that the Pickering Lands would be an ideal location. The data used for the 2011 study dates back to 2010 which is why Ottawa moved to update the information.

(Image: KPMG, Pickering Lands Aviation Sector)

RMC grad to be first Canadian in deep space

— By Owen Fullerton, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter (Photo: Robert Markowitz, NASA)

A former student at RMC will be part of the first crewed mission to the moon since the last of the Apollo ships launched in 1972.

The Artemis II Crew was unveiled on Monday morning and Colonel Jeremy Hansen was among those selected, making him set to be the first Canadian to ever encircle the moon on what will also be his first trip to space.

Hansen joined the 614 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron in his hometown of London in 1988 to set his career in aviation in motion.

The CF-18 pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force graduated from RMC in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in honours space science, later achieving a master of science in physics.

He was selected by the Canadian Space Agency in 2009 through the third Canadian Astronaut Recruitment Campaign and graduated Astronaut Candidate Training in 2011.

In 2017, he became the first Canadian to be entrusted with leading a NASA astronaut class.

After the announcement was made, Hansen said he was humbled, excited, and in awe of what “strong leadership, setting big goals, with a passion to collaborate and a can-do attitude can achieve”.

“Being part of the Artemis II crew is both exciting and humbling. I’m excited to leverage my experience, training, and knowledge to take on this challenging mission on behalf of Canada,” Hansen said.

“I’m humbled by the incredible contributions and hard work of so many Canadians that have made this opportunity a reality. I am proud and honoured to represent my country on this historic mission.”

RMC Vice-Principal of Academics and Professor of Physics Dr. Ribal Georges Sabat said it was a great honour for the school’s Department of Physics and Space Science to see one of their own grads get selected for the mission.

“The Royal Military College of Canada is extremely proud of ex-cadet Col. Jeremy Hansen for being selected to be a mission specialist for the Artemis II NASA mission,” said Sabat in a statement.

“The Space Science program at RMC is one of the very few university programs in Canada that provides specialized training in space-related physics, including orbital mechanics, space mission design and analysis, as well as satellite tracking, remote sensing and communications… It is a great honour for RMC, and particularly the Department of Physics and Space Science, to have one of our graduates be selected for such an amazing historical event.”

Artemis II will engage in up to a three week flyby trip in 2024, in a mission to make sure that everything is prepared for Artemis III where the aim is to once again put humans on the surface of the moon in 2025 and build a “long term presence on the moon” and ultimately to dispatch humans to Mars.

The other astronauts on the mission- Christina Hammock Koch, Victor Glover, and G. Reid Wiseman- are all American.

Artemis II is expected to launch in November 2024.

Close to 40 exhibitors set to inspire at Careers in Aviation Expo

Premier sponsor WestJet plans to tow a Boeing 737 Max into its South Bay Hangar at Toronto Pearson for Careers in Aviation Expo attendees to tour, subject to aircraft availability at the time of the event. (Photo: WestJet)

On May 6, 2023, the next generation of aviation leaders will experience a unique opportunity to learn about the industry from within one of the country’s busiest airline hangars. WestJet is opening its South Bay Hanger at Toronto Pearson International Airport, located at 6085 Midfield Road in Mississauga, ON, to host the one-day Careers in Aviation Expo.

In addition to Premier sponsor WestJet, the Mississauga event is also being sponsored by Porter Airlines (Platinum), CAE and Diamond (Silver), and Centennial College (Bronze). Attendees will be able tour one of WestJet’s Boeing 737 Max aircraft in the hangar, as well as a handful of smaller airplanes and helicopters (aircraft on display is still subject to availability with more details to come before the event).

Presented annually by Wings and Helicopters magazines, properties of Annex Business Media, the Careers in Aviation Expo is designed to connect aspiring aviators, graduating students and young professionals with leading companies, organizations and schools from the aviation and aerospace sectors. There are two such career expos held each year, with the second leg scheduled to take place October 24, 2023, in Calgary, Alberta.

This year, close to 40 exhibitors are set to inspire the next generation of Pilots, Aircraft Maintenance Engineers, Air Traffic Controllers, future leaders for airport and airline operations, aerospace engineering and design, and flight services, among a range of aviation career opportunities that will be discussed at the expo.

Exhibitors for the May 6 event at WestJet’s hangar include: Air Inuit, AirSprint, AME Association of Ontario, Avworld, Brampton Flight Centre, CAE, Canadian Armed Forces, Centennial College, Chartright Air Group, Confederation College, Cygnet Aviation, Diamond Aircraft, FL Technics (Wright International AMS), Flair Airlines, Georgian College, Harbour Air Aerospace Services (Harbour Air Group), HeavyAero Maintenance Centre, IMP Aerospace & Defence, Jazz Aviation, Journey Air Pilot Training, MFC Training, NAV Canada, Near North Aviation, Northern Lights Aero Foundation, Ornge, Porter Airlines, Select Aviation College, SkyCare Air Ambulance, Skyservice Business Aviation, Southern Interior Flight Centre, Spectrum Airways, Threshold Aviation, Transport Canada, Voyageur Aviation, Wasaya Airways, Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre, and WestJet.

In addition to the exhibitors on hand, the Careers in Aviation Expo includes an educational stream with four Main Stage Presentations by industry leaders discussing the challenges and opportunities within a range of aviation careers, as well as dozens of Breakout Sessions with smaller groups and mentors assigned to discuss specific career topics. Attendees can sign-up for individual Breakout Sessions before May 6.

SUN ‘n FUN Author’s Corner features Kevin Lacey of Aircraft Repo

Aircraft Repo cast member discusses his new book at SUN ’n FUN. (Photo: Phil Lightstone)

— By Phil Lightstone

Friday March 31st at SUN ‘n FUN featured Kevin Lacey discussing his new book “Fly It Like You Stole It – The Early Years” in the Authors Corner.  Kevin found his passion for aviation while attending high school in the south side of Dallas. Although his plans did not turn out exactly as he hoped, his life and career path took several unexpected turns. At 19 years old, Kevin sold his car and bought a wrecked airplane and a motorcycle. He earned a lot of his flight time repossessing airplanes. Kevin is a well-rounded accomplished aviator with nearly five decades of aviation experience. He holds an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate with multiple Jet Type Ratings, a Sea Plane rating and a Flight Instructor Certificate. In addition, he is a Certified Aircraft Mechanic with Inspection Authorization.

Kevin’s book recounts his experiences as a young inexperienced aviator looking for a pathway to becoming an airline pilot for United Airlines, or any other airline.  As with many things in life, his journey in aviation began with watching aircraft in the pattern at his local airport through the window of his high school classroom.  One day, while at the airport, he wandered through an airport day, with the ramp littered with brand new jet aircraft.  Wandering into a brand new United Airlines Boeing 707, he sat in the cockpit admiring all the flight instruments, controls, buttons and switches.  His time in the 707 was like turning on a light switch, beginning him down a lifetime career path.  With a lot of grit, determination and obstacles, Kevin’s life story embodies the passion and desire of a golden age of flying from years gone by.

With his advanced flight training out of the way, he had to struggle to earn credibility as a pilot. While seeking jobs as a pilot, he was often told that “we are not hiring mechanics to fly airplanes, we are hiring pilots!” Kevin became intimately familiar with the maintenance side of several types of corporate jets before he finally got the chance to fly one. It was not long before the naysayers would claim “he must not be much of a mechanic if he can fly a Learjet”.

With over 800 aircraft repossessed and from the television series “Airplane Repo”, Kevin brings a series of stories from the early days of his aviation career chasing his dreams to become an airline pilot and all the obstacles encountered along the way.  Although he signed up for flight school right out of high school, he ended up in an aircraft mechanic program. That lead to a deviation from his intended career path, but he used his newfound skills as an aircraft mechanic to pay for his advanced flight training.

Kevin is now training the next generation of mechanics and pilots, focusing on high school students in Texas.  Founded by Kevin, Lt. Col. Greg “Spanky” Barber, and Ret Delta Airlines Captain Ron Roland, Tango Thirty One Aero Clube, Inc. (https://www.t31aeroclube.com)  is a  non-profit organization founded in October 2016 as an idea to allow high school age people access to the world of aviation and enable them to explore career opportunities.  Tango 31 purchases barn find Cessna 150’s for the students to rebuild and fly while completing their flight training and ratings.  The students just pay for the fuel, but invest a lot of sweat equity to get the barn finds airworthy and safe.  All the students are FAA Licensed Student Pilots, one has earned his FAA Airframe Mechanic License, three Members have earned their FAA Private Pilots License, and several more have soloed.

You can purchase Kevin’s book on Amazon.ca: Kindle at CAD $9.99; Hardcopy at CAD $36.43; and Paperback at $26.02 (plus taxes). You can find more information about Kevin at https://www.texasairfleet.com.

Manitoba pegs $420M for transportation, infrastructure projects in the north

Thompson Mayor Colleen Smook said she has been impressed with the amount of money the province has been investing in northern Manitoba in recent months. (Photo: Dave Baxter, Winnipeg Sun)

— By Dave Baxter, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Winnipeg Sun

Cutline: Thompson Mayor Colleen Smook said she has been impressed with the amount of money the province has been investing in northern Manitoba in recent months. (Dave Baxter, Winnipeg Sun)

LJI- The province announced this week they plan to pump more than $400 million into transportation and infrastructure projects in northern Manitoba. “We are making strategic investments that strengthen northern Manitoba to create opportunities not only to compete today but to build on for generations to come,” Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Doyle Piwniuk said in a Tuesday news release announcing $420 million will be invested over five years into northern Manitoba. “We believe a stronger, more vibrant northern economy can help propel the provincial economy forward.”

According to the province, as part of their 2023 Multi-year Infrastructure Investment Strategy, the money will be spent on “strategic initiatives,” which include a plan to improve seven northern airports, with more than $75 million invested into two new airport terminal buildings and approximately 150,000 square metres of planned runway repairs.

The province will put $74 million towards the development of a “sustainable northern corridor” through the Port of Churchill and spend another nearly $250 million to improve five existing northern roadways. “We understand the importance of improving transportation linkages today to transport goods and services, promote tourism, mining exploration, and spur economic development,” Piwniuk said. “We are also committing to a bright future by making the Port of Churchill an inter-continental trade gateway.”

As part of the funding, the province said the Thompson Regional Airport Authority will receive $15 million to construct a new terminal building and to redevelop existing infrastructure. The new terminal will also offer a “culturally sensitive” air travel experience for Indigenous people, and include a dedicated area for Elders, the province said.

While speaking to the Winnipeg Sun earlier this year, Thompson Mayor Colleen Smook said she has been impressed with the amount of money the province has been investing in northern Manitoba in recent months. “More and more I believe the government is starting to recognize how important the north is, and that is why you see more investments, and you see more ministers coming to visit the north and acknowledging its importance,” Smook said.

“The province and the federal government are starting to understand the importance of investing in the north, and we will keep pushing and advocating for those investments.”

Huronia Airport land sale of 61.4 acres jointly approved

— By Derek Howard, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, MidlandToday.ca

It was unanimously approved that 61.4 acres of lands at the airport CYEE, known as the Huronia Airport in Tiny Township, would be approved for sale to support the airport’s capital needs. A joint meeting of three partnering North Simcoe municipalities – Midland, Penetanguishene, and Tiny Township – attended a hybrid presentation by the Huronia Airport Commission (HAC), followed by the three breaking off into their own special committees of the whole to discuss what they’d heard.

Within the partnership, Midland owns 50 per cent of the Huronia Airport with Penetanguishene owning 28 per cent and Tiny owning 22 per cent. As part of the agreement, all municipalities must be in agreement for decisions made to its operation. Roy Ellis, who’s the Huronia Airport Task Force’s outgoing chair, presented the information in person at the Midland chambers while the other joint partners joined virtually.

The airport is host to 350 acres of land in Tiny, servicing North Simcoe through emergency services, public and private business, flight training, and many other means. The 61.4 acres of land is located on the east side of the property adjacent to the 4,000-foot north-south runway.
“We actually have a letter of intent from a future investor who last fall – we (the HAC) have the ability and authority to lease land – we offered them a lease of six of those 7.6 acres,” said Ellis.

“I really appreciate… that in short order you were able to convene this meeting, because they were timed out on this. They’re doing operations already in Sudbury, they have got a base there. You’ve probably heard of the organization – we call it Geopark but it’s really the Ring of Fire, and it’s that whole electrification plate, minerals, et cetera. The principal owns about 62 per cent of the rights in the north for that whole plate, for that whole category,” Ellis explained.

The need for joint approval on the request was due to a deadline at the end of March, 2023. Other leads to establish businesses include a flight school, an aircraft mechanic, general aviation hangars, relocation of an HVAC business from the GTA, and others. “This is about selling land and putting a shovel in the ground – quickly,” added Ellis.

After the presentation and joint discussion, the municipalities separated. Members of the Penetanguishene committee of the whole swiftly approved the request within minutes and without further discussion.

Tiny Township committee of the whole members supported the HAC request with some concerns. Coun. Steffen Walma drilled down to ensure that as the municipality where CYEE is physically located, tax revenue sharing would come directly to Tiny Township and not to the other joint partners; this was confirmed by CAO Robert Lamb. “(If sold), they’re our lands; they’re no longer in the hands of the commission,” said Lamb. “They are within the Township of Tiny, and all the revenue associated would come to ourselves, the County of Simcoe, and the school board.

“Just to be clear,” Lamb reiterated, “none of the municipalities have the ability, if that land is sold, to come and ask for a percentage of that revenue. That is ultimately your – elected council for Tiny’s – decision, not anybody else. They can’t come and demand anything that’s our taxation base.”

Tiny Mayor David Evans called the proposal an investment to be managed: “This airport’s been here since 1965 and nobody’s thought to make a change until now, and I’m kind of proud we did.” Tiny Township approved the request in roughly ten minutes.

Midland, however, had things to say. At their meeting, nearly half an hour was spent addressing concerns, with Coun. Bill Meridis and Beth Prost requesting an option to reduce the sale land from 61.4 acres to roughly 20 acres as a way to see how it would impact taxpayers. Acting CAO Andy Campbell responded to the concerns by alluding to the recent withdrawal of a development company from Midland Bay Landing as a cautionary path for Midland council to be wary of retreading. “The goal here is to give the airport commission the ability to raise money to reduce property tax,” said Campbell. “I question: why would you give them less of an opportunity to raise money by reducing the opportunity to sell land?”

Mayor Bill Gordon sympathized with council members who were told that to propose a change to the HAC request would be to risk a “scuttle of the whole deal.” “I know this feels like the snowblower again,” said Gordon, referring to a forced agreement during budgets for a previously-purchased machine which caught the joint municipalities off guard. “This isn’t really a debatable thing about ‘we give them this but not that’; this is the ask that’s before us, all three partners. And that’s part of the joy of having a partnership that we can’t all go off on our own way. We need to sing together on the same sheet, in the same key and same cadence and make sure we’re singing the same verse, which feels limiting and frustrating. I get that.”

Gordon requested a recorded vote “in spirit” of Coun. Jim Downer who was unable to attend, and the motion was passed 6-2 with Meridis and Prost in opposition. All three municipalities carried their motions to approve of the joint land sale during their special committee of the whole meetings, to appear on their upcoming individual regular council meetings for formal ratification.

The 26-page report with slideshow presentation and Huronia Airport Commission request is available on the special meeting of council page on the Town of Midland website.  Archives of council meetings are available through Rogers TV and on the Town of Midland’s YouTube channel.

(Photo: Huronia Airport)

Town of Stettler council hear things are looking up at regional airport

— By Stu Salkeld, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, East Central Alberta Review

Town of Stettler council approved a flight plan into the future for the regional airport. The decision was made at the Feb. 21 regular meeting of council.

The 2022 to 2042 Stettler Airport Master Plan was presented by Director of Operations Melissa Robbins with comments from Coun. Wayne Smith, who was on the steering committee.

The introduction to the document spelled out how important the master plan was, as a clear flight plan is needed for the facility or its future plans may never get off the ground. “Building a master plan for the airport allows us to ensure we have a viable airport for emergency services, supporting aerodrome operations, and ensuring the economic viability of our community by identifying priorities and setting outcomes for the airport,” stated the master plan.

“Creating a master plan allows us opportunity to apply for provincial and federal funding for improvements and helps support decision making for the long term.”

The plan identified several important capital projects to keep the airport modern, safe and effective, including the primary project of a runway rehabilitation project priced at $1.6 million. The master plan noted the airport partners including the Town of Stettler and County of Stettler will apply every Nov. until successful at obtaining provincial funding of 75 per cent.

Also on the priority list is the establishment of a secondary safe landing area by re-establishing the north-south grass strip. Robbins stated during discussion that Stettler’s airport is orientated east to west which is not always ideal for certain winds and a secondary landing area would be a wise thing to have.

Robbins noted the master plan also includes several operational priorities, including terminal building repairs and renovations, security upgrades at the airport including a locking main gate and wifi availability for anyone visiting the airport. Robbins reported a new gate as already been installed and a locking pinpad system has been mentioned.

Robbins pointed out the airport is very well cared for by the Stettler Flying Club, which also did a lot of work on the master plan. The plan took several years to complete as the committee only met a few times a year.

Robbins reported an open house was recently held which attracted 25 participants who also contributed input into the master plan.

As well, the committee developing the master plan examined 25 other airports of similar size to Stettler’s and compared features and amenities.

Robbins noted the master plan’s focus was to have all stakeholders looking forward to common priorities instead of conflicting visions.

The master plan also included a detailed timeline of improvements and activities at the airport dating back to the 1950’s, adding that the Stettler Flying Club was instrumental in many of these improvements.

Coun. Smith noted the master plan was a three year project and he was happy to see it reach fruition.

Coun. Scott Pfeiffer asked how the fuel system at the airport is handled. Robbins responded that the Stettler Flying Club owns the fuel tank, that only aviation fuel is available and that she believed it was a self-pay system operated by credit card that’s been there for two years. She also added that there is a security camera at the airport but that more security features were being considered.

Councillors unanimously approved the Stettler Airport master plan as it was presented.

(Photo: Town of Stettler)

Air Canada, CAE name eight recipients of 2023 Captain Judy Cameron Scholarship

Air Canada and CAE joined forces to double the number of scholarship recipients to eight women from across Canada. (Image: CNW Group/Air Canada)

On International Women’s Day, March 8, Air Canada and CAE announced the recipients of the 2023 Captain Judy Cameron Scholarship, which provides financial assistance to Canadian women studying to become commercial pilots or aircraft maintenance engineers. Judy Cameron became the first female pilot hired by Air Canada, Canada’s largest airline, in April 1978 at the age of 23. She was the first woman to graduate from Selkirk College’s Aviation Technology Program in 1975. Throughout her flying career of 40 years and over 23,000 hours, she has flown the DC-3, Twin Otter, Hawker Siddeley 748, DC-9, Lockheed 1011, Airbus 320, Boeing 767, and Boeing 777.

This year, the two Montreal-based global aviation companies doubled the number of recipients, awarding scholarships to eight young women from across Canada. In addition to the $5,000 scholarship, CAE’s four recipients will become CAE Women in Flight – Air Canada Ambassadors and help inspire more women to become commercial pilots. The Captain Judy Cameron Scholarship was established in honour of Air Canada’s first female pilot to help foster the next generation of women following in her trailblazing footsteps and is awarded annually in conjunction with the Northern Lights Aero Foundation.

“On International Women’s Day, being able to provide support to these incredibly talented and driven young women through the Captain Judy Cameron Scholarship firmly demonstrates Air Canada and CAE’s work fostering the next generation of women in their pursuit of careers in this exciting industry,” said Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, Executive VP, Chief Human Resources Officer and Public Affairs at Air Canada. “We know how crucial this support is to young women seeking non-traditional aviation careers, and we have seen results first-hand from the success of past winners.”

Air Canada winners of the Captain Judy Cameron Scholarship include:

Amanda Tosto, Surrey, British Columbia
Hélène Trudeau, Beausejour, Manitoba
Charlotte Thorley, Grimsby, Ontario
Chanelle Wilson, Coldstream, British Columbia

CAE Women in Flight ambassadors include:

Meera Bissonauth, Mississauga, Ontario
Mia Cochran, North Bay, Ontario
Jaime Hanson, Rocky Mountain House, Alberta
Kyra Jarvis, Kingston, Nova Scotia

 

Flight Academy students fundraising hard for Washington trip

Grade 10 students Malakai Kurpjuweit and Lelin Anderson, co-lead of the Flight Academy Katelyn Rozdeba, Grade 12 students Trigger Ellis and Nicholas LeFebvre, and co-lead Dana Marshall standing in front of the Eagle Butte Talons mascot at the school. (Photo: Samantha Johnson)

— By Samantha Johnson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Medicine Hat News

Students in the South Alberta Flight Academy at Eagle Butte High School have been busy fundraising for their trip to Washington, D.C. in late June. They’ve had a few bottle drives and are currently selling Epicure door to door. Next month they will be selling Co-op gift cards to try to raise more funds.

Their big fundraising event is coming up March 25 where they will host an evening at Super T Aviation called Wings Over Southern Alberta Benefit Gala.

There will be a silent auction with lots of donated items, included a Tigers jersey signed by the entire team, MacKenzie Porter tickets for her upcoming show this summer, a private catered dinner for four and three aerobatic flights with the Northern Stars Aerobatic Team.

Trevor Moore will be the MC and provide entertainment with his comedy and magic routines. Christie Kurpjuweit will also be performing during the evening. A prime rib dinner by JF Catering will be served to all attendees.

Students in the Flight Academy are gearing up to sell tickets for the gala.

“As many as possible,” said Grade 12 student Trigger Ellis. “That’s about as good a goal as we have.”

Ellis has been in the academy for three years and will obtain his private pilot’s licence in the next few months.

“I haven’t sold any tickets yet but I’ve sold lots of Epicure things,” said Grade 10 student Lelin Anderson.

Grade 10 student Malakai Kurpjuweit hasn’t done much fundraising yet for the upcoming trip but is hoping to sell lots of tickets for the gala in the next few weeks.

Wings Over Southern Alberta Benefit Gala is March 25 from 5-11 p.m. There is seating for 200 guests, and tickets are still available. Tickets cost $129.13 each and are available on Eventbrite.

Skyservice Breaks Ground in Seattle

Skyservice Business Aviation on March 2 broke ground on a 71,000-square-foot Fixed Base Operation at King County International Airport, Boeing Field (BFI), near Seattle.

Skyservice explains the new FBO will include a generously sized lounge and relaxation areas, a two-story open reception area, and a 1,600-square-foot second-floor terrace overlooking Mount Rainier. The FBO will offer guests complimentary access to executive conference rooms and break-out areas.

“Seattle is a very important location for Skyservice as we expand our FBO, MRO, and industry-leading Aircraft Management company in the Pacific Northwest,” said Benjamin Murray, President and CEO, Skyservice. “We are committed to working with the airport to upgrade and expand its infrastructure, focus on sustainable operations, and provide greater choice in the marketplace.”

Part of the construction development also includes plans to increase the ramp footprint. Skyservice Seattle will operate from a temporary facility while the new FBO is being built. On its same leasehold, the company will continue to provide comprehensive FBO services, including ground handling, aircraft refueling, lounge amenities, flight crew lounges and sleep rooms, and ground transportation.

(Image: Skyservice)