Story ID: 
Ross Aviation Adds To Florida Footprint
By: Curt Epstein
Caption: Ross Aviation has expanded its network in the booming Florida market with the acquisition of Stuart Jet Center, at Witham Field Airport.
Word Count: 352
Ross Aviation has expanded its network in the booming Florida market with the acquisition of Stuart Jet Center, one of two service providers at Witham Field Airport (KSUA). Rebranded as Ross Aviation at Stuart Jet Center, the location marks a change in Ross’ long-held strategy of maintaining the names of FBOs whenever possible.
“We recognize the history of the Stuart Jet Center name and it is highly descriptive so there’s a lot of brand equity in it, but we are one network and one company and we’re building the brand around Ross Aviation flight hospitality,” Ross CEO Brian Corbett told AIN, adding that the discussions to acquire the location have been ongoing for more than a decade.
The 53-acre leasehold features 15 acres of lighted, secure ramp, and more than 340,000 sq ft of hangar space that can accommodate the latest ultra-long-range business jets. A new 30,000-sq-ft hangar with an adjoining 6,000 sq ft of office space is slated to open next month.
Additionally, the facility has a 7,000-sq-ft, two-story terminal with a passenger lounge and refreshment bar, pilot lounge, showers, concierge, valet parking, crew car, and on-site car rental. A recently launched interior upgrade on the crew and passenger areas is expected to be completed within six months. KSUA, with its 5,828-foot main runway, has had U.S. Customs service since 2019.
The staff, including the members of the Capen family who formerly owned the location, will remain. Dan Capen will continue as v-p and general manager of the facility, while his brothers Doug and Jeff will stay on as assistant general managers. "Dan and his family values and standards align well with our flight hospitality promise to customers, and together we're committed to making a great facility even stronger," said Corbett.
The move brings Ross to 19 FBOs at 16 airports, mainly in the U.S. “It is our second in Florida, and really important to us from a city-pair perspective because we are very prominent in the Northeast and even the Cayman Islands and out to the West Coast,” said Corbett.