Sweet Aviation has been selected to take over as the FBO operator at Indiana’s DeKalb County Airport (KGWB) effective November 1. The current service provider—Century Aviation, which has operated the sole FBO at the airport for more than a decade—decided not to pursue a lease renewal, leading the DeKalb Airport Authority to issue an RFP for the facility. Surack Enterprises subsidiary Sweet Aviation, which also provides aviation services at Indiana’s Fort Wayne International and Smith Field airports, was selected.
The FBO includes a 10,000-sq-ft terminal with passenger lobby, pilot lounge with shower facility and flight planning area, 16-seat conference room, kitchen, dishwashing and linen service, and crew car. It also offers nearly 33,000 sq ft of hangar space that can accommodate up to a Gulfstream G550-size airplane.
A company spokesman also noted KGWB’s current expansion project that will increase its runway from 5,000 feet to 7,100 feet by 2024.
“From a personal perspective, I am excited about the opportunity to continue to expand the aviation community in Northeast Indiana,” said Sweet owner and founder Chuck Surack, adding his father was a pilot and that he has always held a fascination for aviation. “In 2008, I obtained my certificate to fly a helicopter, and a few years later acquired Smith Field Air Service which we renamed and grew into Sweet Aviation. We have seen incredible growth over the past 10-plus years and look forward to continuing to develop and grow.”
Surack’s portfolio of aviation companies includes rotorcraft operator Sweet Helicopters, and Aviation Specialty Insurance, he also recently purchased bankrupt OEM Enstrom Helicopter.