Story ID: 532DesertJetNBAA15
Desert Jet Joins the FBO Business
By: Curt Epstein
Caption: The company is building its own FBO at California’s Jacqueline Cochrane Regional Airport
Word Count: 289
California-based aircraft charter, management and maintenance provider Desert Jet will expand its operations at Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport (TRM) in the Palm Springs area, with the announcement that it is establishing its own FBO. Operations are slated to begin next month from a temporary structure, while the permanent $5 million, FBO is expected to be completed by the end of April.

“Desert Jet’s decision to invest in this aircraft hangar, terminal and office development project reflects our confidence in the role of the Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport as the center of business aviation operations in our region,” said company president and CEO Denise Wilson, who believes the new facility with its modern design and function will change the landscape at the Thermal airport, which has seen significant growth over the past decade.

Currently TRM is served by Signature Flight Support and Landmark Aviation FBOs, but with the recent news that Signature parent company BBA Aviation is attempting to acquire Landmark, it remains to be seen whether Signature will be allowed to combine the two locations into a single FBO. The five-acre Desert Jet Center will include 10,000 sq ft of terminal, office and maintenance space, along with a 22,500-sq-ft hangar that will accommodate the latest class of ultra-long-range business jets with its 130-foot wide, 28-foot-tall doors. The company signed on as an Epic-branded dealer and will be exhibiting here at NBAA as part of the fuel provider’s lineup of FBOs (Booth C6609). It is in the process of installing its tank farm, which when complete will hold 48,000 gallons of jet-A.

Established in 2007, Desert Jet’s charter/management and maintenance businesses will be exhibiting separately here at the show at Booth C13328.