What Aero Centers does

Aero Centers is a portfolio of full-service fixed base operations (FBOs) operated under SAR Trilogy Management, LLC, a privately held company majority owned by co-founders S. Michael Scheeringa and Sanjay Aggarwal and backed by RedBird Capital Partners since 2022. The company operates eight FBO locations across the United States — including flagship Aero Center Epps Atlanta at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK) and additional sites in Lakeland, Wilmington, Spokane (two locations), Tallahassee, and Casper, with Philadelphia under development. Each Aero Center delivers integrated services spanning aircraft fueling (Jet A and 100LL), hangar and office real estate, ground support, concierge, US Customs handling, and 24/7 surveillance-backed facilities with pilot/crew lounges and passenger amenities.

The underlying technology stack combines FAA-certified aviation operations with proprietary expertise in avionics. Aero Center Atlanta holds FAA Part 145 Repair Station certification (ESMR688D) covering Radio Class I-III and Instrument Class I-IV, Part 135 charter authority, and ARGUS Gold and Wyvern safety ratings. The company is an authorized dealer for Garmin, Honeywell, L3, BendixKing, Universal Avionics, PS-Engineering, Mid-Continent, Max-Viz, and Genesys Aerosystems, and has completed more than 170 Pilatus PC-12 Garmin G600/G600 TXi installations — the highest volume in the industry — including the first-ever STC-approved GFC600 autopilot installation on a legacy PC-12. Additional capabilities include a Cessna Authorized Independent NDI Facility for nondestructive testing (Ultrasonics, Eddy Current, Liquid Penetrant, etc.), tool calibration to ANSI/NCSL Z540.3 and ISO/IEC 17025 standards, and a Safety Management System designed for FBO operations.

Aero Centers generates revenue through a diversified mix: per-transaction FBO service fees (fueling, hangar, parking), Part 145 maintenance labor and parts, Part 135 usage-based charter (turboprop ~$2,000/hour through heavy jet ~$10,000+/hour), recurring aircraft management subscriptions, transaction-based aircraft brokerage and acquisition advisory, avionics installation labor and equipment sales, and recurring hangar and office real estate leases. The Fly Your Way prepaid charter program offers discounted hourly rates with no membership or peak-day restrictions. Pricing is quote-based for FBO services and varies by location and aircraft class for charter, with the company's FBO network providing customers reported savings of up to 40% on fuel, 20% on maintenance, and $500K+ annually on Part 135 supplemental charter. Customer segments span private jet owners and operators, corporate flight departments, charter travelers, government and military aircraft, and commercial airlines — with the Avfuel branded network partnership at Spokane locations adding fuel distribution and loyalty infrastructure.

Name

Aero Centers

Legal name

SAR Trilogy Management, LLC

Website

https://aerocenters.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Aero Centers operates a portfolio of eight full-service fixed base operations (FBOs) across the US, delivering fueling, hangar, Part 145 maintenance, avionics installation, Part 135 charter, and aircraft management to private jet owners, corporate flight departments, charter travelers, and government/military customers, backed by RedBird Capital Partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Fixed Base Operator (FBO) Services

NAICS

Airport Operations (48811), Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation (481219), Other Airport Operations (488119)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Aviation Terminals & FBO Services (THABAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Aircraft Management & Part 135/135-equivalent Operators (THABAFAD)

Keywords

• Fixed base operations
• Aviation fuel services
• Aircraft maintenance
• Private jet charter
• Avionics installation

Headquarters

HQ city

Lakeland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. FBO Services: Core FBO services including aircraft fueling (Jet A and 100LL), hangar storage, ramp/tie-down parking, ground support, and passenger/crew amenities. Revenue generated through per-service fees at each FBO location.
2. Aircraft Maintenance (Part 145): FAA Part 145 certified aircraft repair station providing maintenance services from piston to turbine aircraft, including avionics installations. Available at PDK and other locations. Revenue generated through service labor and parts sales.
3. Private Charter (Part 135): On-demand private jet charter flights from Aero Center Atlanta operating a fleet of Pilatus PC-12 turboprop aircraft. Also offers the Fly Your Way prepaid charter program with discounted hourly rates and no membership fees.
4. Aircraft Management: Comprehensive aircraft management services including crew management, dispatching, FAA compliance, security, maintenance, and training. Revenue generated through management fees and supplemental charter revenue.
5. Aircraft Brokerage and Acquisition: Aircraft sales brokerage and acquisition advisory services at Aero Center Epps Atlanta. Handles pricing, marketing, buyer communications, negotiation, and closing documentation.
6. Avionics Installation: Factory/Flight Safety trained avionics installation teams providing complete avionics upgrades including Garmin G600 TXi, GTN Xi series, GFC 600 autopilot, Citation panel upgrades, and in-flight connectivity (Gogo, Airtext). Revenue generated through installation labor and equipment sales.
7. Hangar and Office Real Estate: Hangar space and office space rental at FBO locations, with benefits including fuel discounts, preferential handling, and priority access for based aircraft owners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Aero Centers operates a portfolio of full-service, integrated Fixed Base Operator (FBO) terminals at airports across the United States, providing aircraft fueling (Jet A and 100LL), hangar and tie-down storage, ground support, passenger and crew amenities, FAA Part 145 aircraft maintenance, Garmin avionics installations, Part 135 on-demand private charter, comprehensive aircraft management, and aircraft brokerage and acquisition services. The company sells these services through direct on-site operations at each FBO location, a dedicated sales team for charter and management, and digital self-serve channels via aerocenters.com.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aircraft Fueling and FBO Line Services Core FBO service providing Jet A and 100LL into-plane fueling with preferred pricing and all contact fuel cards accepted, plus ground support services including de-icing, GPU, airstairs, belt loader, potable water, lavatory service, and gourmet catering. Targets private jet owners, operators, pilots, and crews transiting Aero Centers locations.
• Aircraft Maintenance (Part 145) FAA Part 145 certified aircraft repair station providing maintenance services from piston to turbine aircraft, including airframe, powerplant, and avionics work. Includes mobile NDT lab and calibration services (Ultrasonics, Magnetic Particle, Eddy Current, Liquid Penetrant, Thickness, Visual, Videoscope) and an aircraft parts store. Targets aircraft owners and operators requiring certified maintenance.
• Avionics Installation Factory/Flight Safety trained avionics installation teams performing complete avionics upgrades including Garmin G600 TXi, GTN Xi series, GFC 600 autopilot STC installations, Citation panel upgrades, and in-flight connectivity (Gogo, Airtext). Targets aircraft owners seeking avionics modernization. Aero Center Atlanta is the most experienced Garmin G600/G600 TXi installer on Pilatus PC-12 aircraft with 170+ installations.
• Private Jet Charter (Part 135) On-demand private jet charter service operating a fleet of Pilatus PC-12 turboprop aircraft from Aero Center Atlanta, with ARGUS Gold and Wyvern Registered Operator safety ratings. Includes the Fly Your Way prepaid charter program with discounted hourly rates and no membership fees. Targets executives, sports teams, specialty charter customers, and travelers needing on-demand private aviation.
• Aircraft Management Comprehensive aircraft management services including crew management, dispatching, FAA compliance, security, maintenance coordination, and training, plus supplemental charter revenue generation. Targets corporate flight departments and aircraft owners seeking turnkey management with cost optimization benefits of up to 40% fuel savings and up to 20% maintenance savings through the FBO network.
• Aircraft Brokerage and Acquisition Aircraft sales brokerage and acquisition advisory service handling pricing, marketing, buyer communications, negotiation, and closing documentation for buyers and sellers of business aircraft. Targets aircraft owners seeking to buy or sell aircraft and operators seeking acquisition advisory.
• NDT and Calibration Services Comprehensive mobile NDT lab providing Ultrasonics, Magnetic Particle, Eddy Current, Liquid Penetrant, Thickness Testing, Visual Testing, and Videoscope Inspections, plus tool calibration under ANSI/NCSL Z540.3-2006 and ISO/IEC 17025 guidelines. Targets aircraft operators requiring certified inspection and calibration services.
• Hangar and Office Real Estate Hangar space and office space rental at FBO locations, with benefits including fuel discounts, preferential handling, and priority access for based aircraft owners. Accommodates aircraft ranging from single-engine pistons to large business jets (Global 7000). Targets based aircraft owners seeking long-term tiedowns.
• Fly Your Way Prepaid Charter Program Prepaid charter program branded Fly Your Way® allowing customers to prepay for flight time at reduced hourly rates applied to select aircraft across the fleet, with no registration or membership fees, no peak day restrictions, and no long-term commitment. Targets frequent charter travelers seeking discounted rates without membership obligations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 40% lower fuel costs vs. market rate for managed aircraft through FBO network
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Skytech, Inc. (wholly owned subsidiary of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 October 2024Skytech, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd, acquired Aero Centers' Pilatus-focused maintenance operations at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK). Skytech operates from Aero Centers' existing hangar at PDK maintaining the same comprehensive range of services. Aero Centers continues to support non-Pilatus maintenance needs at PDK and focuses on FBO, aircraft management, and charter operations.
• Avfuel CorporationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 January 2024Avfuel Corporation, a leading independent supplier of aviation fuels and services, partnered with Aero Centers to add Aero Center Spokane (KGEG) and Aero Center Felts Field (KSFF) to its branded FBO network. Through this partnership, Aero Centers' Washington FBOs offer competitive rates via Avfuel Contract Fuel, loyalty rewards via AVTRIP, and staff training via the FAA-approved Avfuel Training System (ATS).
• Garmin (Authorized Dealer)coreTechnology or IntegrationAero Center Atlanta is an authorized dealer for Garmin avionics and performs the most Garmin G600/G600 TXi installations on Pilatus PC-12 aircraft in the industry (170+ installations). Also authorized for Citation panel upgrades and GFC 600 autopilot STC installations.
• Lydig Construction and Coffman EngineersminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAero Centers worked with Lydig Construction (Spokane Valley) and Coffman Engineers (Spokane) to build the $10 million Spokane International Airport FBO facility featuring 27,000 sq ft of hangar space and 6,000 sq ft of office space.
• Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAero Center Atlanta is a member of the Aircraft Electronics Association and authorized dealer for most major avionics manufacturers, participating in industry training excellence programs.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Signature Flight Support: Signature Flight Support is the largest FBO network globally with 200+ locations, offering fueling, hangar, maintenance, and ground support services. President/COO Geoff Heck spent 38 years at Signature overseeing global operations, and the company's aviation scale and infrastructure footprint make it the most directly comparable incumbent peer to Aero Centers' growth strategy.
• Jet Aviation: Jet Aviation (a General Dynamics subsidiary) operates a global network of FBOs, maintenance centers, and aircraft management services. Its integrated service model spanning FBO, MRO, and management directly mirrors Aero Centers' one-roof full-service strategy, with significantly greater scale and global reach.
• Atlantic Aviation: Atlantic Aviation operates a portfolio of 100+ FBOs across North America providing fueling, hangar, and aircraft services. CFO Sharyar Aziz previously led M&A at Atlantic Aviation, and the company's scale, network coverage, and corporate aviation focus make it a primary direct peer in the same FBO consolidation market.

Direct peers

• Million Air: Million Air is a global FBO network with locations across the US, Caribbean, and Latin America offering fueling, hangar, concierge, and ground support. The company's portfolio model and private aviation customer focus make it a directly comparable peer in the FBO roll-up space.
• TAC Air: TAC Air is a US-based FBO chain operating locations across multiple states, providing fueling, hangar, aircraft maintenance, and ground support services. Its regional portfolio model and private aviation customer base make it a directly comparable peer in mid-size markets.
• Avflight: Avflight operates a network of FBOs across the US focused on fueling, ground services, and hangar facilities, with a strong presence at regional and mid-size airports. Its multi-state FBO portfolio and aviation services overlap directly with Aero Centers' strategic footprint and target markets.
• Sheltair Aviation: Sheltair is a Florida-based FBO chain that recently sold its Lakeland FBO facility to Aero Centers (August 2025), directly validating both companies' competing strategies in the same markets. Sheltair operates competing FBOs at multiple Southeast US airports with comparable service offerings and customer segments.
• Ross Aviation: Ross Aviation operates a portfolio of FBO locations across the US with comparable full-service offerings including fueling, hangar, and line services. The company merged with Atlantic Aviation in 2022, where Aero Centers' CFO previously led M&A efforts, establishing it as a directly relevant peer.
• Banyan Air Service: Banyan Air Service is a full-service FBO at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE) offering fueling, maintenance, avionics, and aircraft management. Its integrated service portfolio and Florida market presence directly mirror Aero Centers' Lakeland and other Southeast US locations.

Emerging players

• JetLinx Global: JetLinx is a private aviation company in RedBird Capital's portfolio offering aircraft management, charter, and FBO services with a focus on the mid-market private jet segment. Its shared investor relationship and overlapping charter/management offering make it a relevant portfolio-adjacent peer.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AeroCenters
• Facebookfacebook.com/aerocenters
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aero-centers
• Instagraminstagram.com/aerocenters

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aero Centers