Story ID: 
New FBO Opens on Alabama's Gulf Coast
By: Curt Epstein
Caption: Platinum Jet Center is the first of what its owners hope will become an FBO Chain.
Word Count: 210
Platinum Air Center, a new FBO at Jack Edwards Airport (JKA) in Gulf Shores, Ala., began operations this week. One of three service providers at the airport, the facility is based out of a 3,500-sq-ft temporary modular complex—featuring a pilot lounge, flight planning room and work stations with high-speed Wi-Fi—on the southeast side of the nearly 7,000-foot main Runway 9/27.

A new fuel tank farm, holding 20,000 gallons of jet-A and 12,000 gallons of avgas supplied by World Fuels, has been installed. Meanwhile, construction of a $5 million permanent FBO terminal with an adjoining 22,400-sq-ft hangar, capable of sheltering ultra-long-range business jets, is scheduled to start early next year, with a mid-2019 expected completion date.

The location, owned by FBO industry veterans Arve and Emily Henriksen, is the cornerstone of what they expect to grow into an FBO chain. In support of the new development, the airport recently completed a new, more-than-five-acre strengthened ramp to accommodate large corporate and commercial aircraft, along with two taxiway entrances leading to the new FBO, which is a member of the Paragon Aviation Group. JKA averages approximately 290 operations a day, 95 percent of which are general aviation. To attract business the Henriksens said they will initially sell fuel at below-margin prices.