What AvCenter does

AvCenter, Inc. is a privately held, full-service aviation services company founded in 1979 and headquartered at Pocatello Regional Airport in Idaho. The company operates four fixed base operator (FBO) locations across Idaho (Pocatello, Nampa, Idaho Falls, and McCall/Salmon) and is the only full-service FBO in Southeast Idaho, providing fueling, ground handling, hangar storage, and aircraft maintenance. Its service portfolio spans six integrated lines: private jet charter (Cessna Citation XLS, Citation Ultra, Citation CJ, B200 King Air, and Rockwell Aero Commander 690B), FBO services, aircraft maintenance for over 60 privately owned aircraft, flight instruction from private pilot through ATP, hangar leasing (including a 30,000 sq ft heated facility built in 2022), and aerial firefighting coordination (Air Attack) supported for over 30 years across the U.S.

AvCenter's business model is multi-stream and transaction-based, with pricing largely quote-driven rather than publicly disclosed. Revenue derives from charter flight fees (transaction), FBO fuel sales, ground handling, and facility rental (transaction and recurring), maintenance billings for third-party aircraft owners (transaction), flight school tuition and aircraft rental (recurring), and government contracts for Air Attack wildfire supervision. Go-to-market is sales-led and direct, primarily through a website with quote-request CTAs, a 24-hour phone line (800) 350-0737, and four physical FBO locations; brand credibility is reinforced by ARG/US Gold, Wyvern Wingman, and Argus Gold Plus safety certifications and a partnership with Avfuel Corporation.

The company is owner-operated by three shareholder-managers (Melvin Wagoner, John Blakley, and Shane Palagi), each qualified as aviation professionals with college degrees and/or terminal FAA ratings, with no institutional or private equity backing identified. Customer segments include business and individual travelers, regional hospitals (medical transport), federal and state agencies (Air Attack), and general aviation aircraft owners. Operationally, AvCenter holds Commercial Air Carrier Certificate GAYA110E and operates under an FAA Approved Drug and Alcohol Program, providing regulated authority for its charter and government coordination work.

Name

AvCenter

Legal name

Avcenter, Inc.

Website

https://avcenter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AvCenter is a privately held Idaho-based aviation services company operating four FBOs and offering private jet charter, aircraft maintenance, flight instruction, hangar leasing, and aerial firefighting coordination across the U.S. and Canada. Founded 1979.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Aviation Services

NAICS

Nonscheduled Air Transportation (48121), Flight Training (611512)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Aviation Terminals & FBO Services (THABAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Private jet charter
• Fixed base operations
• Aircraft maintenance services
• Aviation fuel services
• Flight instruction

Headquarters

HQ city

Pocatello

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Private Jet Charter Services: Revenue generated from on-demand private jet charter flights for business and leisure travelers. The company provides charter services across North America using their fleet of Cessna Citation jets and King Air aircraft.
2. FBO Services: Fixed Base Operation services including fueling, ground handling, and hangar space at multiple Idaho locations. Revenue comes from fuel sales, maintenance services, and facility rental.
3. Aircraft Maintenance: Maintenance services for over sixty privately owned aircraft in addition to their own fleet, making them one of the largest maintenance facilities in the northwest.
4. Flight Instruction: Flight school operations providing training from private pilot to ATP (Airline Transport Pilot) ratings, including aircraft rental services.
5. Air Attack Services: Aerial supervision of firefighting aircraft and coordination with ground firefighters. AvCenter has been fighting wildfires throughout the US for over 30 years.
6. Hangar Leasing: State-of-the-art hangar space available for long and short-term leases at Pocatello location. 30,000 square feet facility built in 2022, with over 70,000 square feet total available.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

AvCenter is a premium private jet charter and full-service Fixed Base Operator (FBO) founded in 1979 in Pocatello, Idaho. It sells on-demand charter flights using its fleet of Cessna Citation jets and King Air turboprops across North America, alongside ground-based aviation services — fueling, aircraft maintenance, hangar storage, flight instruction, aircraft rental, and aerial firefighting coordination. Operations span four Idaho FBO locations (Pocatello, Nampa, Idaho Falls, McCall/Salmon) with 24-hour availability and door-to-door executive service.

Product overview

AvCenter is a premium aviation services company offering a unified portfolio of private jet charter, fixed base operations (FBO), aircraft maintenance, flight instruction, aircraft rental, and specialized air attack/firefighting coordination services. The company operates across four Idaho locations (Pocatello, Nampa, McCall, Idaho Falls) with a diverse fleet including Cessna Citation jets (XLS, Ultra, CJ), B200 King Air turboprop, and Rockwell Aero Commander. Core services integrate to provide end-to-end aviation solutions: charter flights leverage the owned fleet while FBO services handle ground operations, fueling, and hangar storage for both company and third-party aircraft, with maintenance capabilities supporting operations to air charter standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Private Jet Charter On-demand premium private jet charter service using Cessna Citation jets and King Air turboprops, with door-to-door executive service, 24-hour availability, and operations across Idaho and North America (continental US, Alaska, and Canada) for business and leisure travelers.
• Fixed Base Operation (FBO) Services Full-service fixed base operator providing fueling, aircraft maintenance, ground handling, and crew car services at four Idaho locations — Pocatello headquarters, Nampa, Idaho Falls, and McCall — serving as the only full-service FBO in Southeast Idaho.
• Aircraft Maintenance Aircraft maintenance and repair services maintaining over sixty privately owned aircraft, making AvCenter one of the largest maintenance facilities in the Northwest, with the capability to meet complex schedules and maintain aircraft to air charter standards.
• Air Attack Aerial supervision and coordination service for firefighting aircraft and ground firefighters during wildfire suppression operations; AvCenter has been performing this mission for federal and state agencies for over 30 years.
• Hangar Leasing State-of-the-art hangar space available for long- and short-term leases at the Pocatello location, including a 30,000 sq ft heated facility (built 2022) that accommodates large business jets, with fuel discounts offered to hangar customers via Avfuel.
• Flight School High-quality one-on-one flight instruction from private pilot through Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) rating, delivered by qualified instructors using multiple training aircraft at the Idaho Falls flight school location, with aircraft rental available as part of the program.
• Aircraft Rental Rental of general aviation aircraft for licensed pilots, offered alongside flight training, aircraft maintenance, and fuel services as part of AvCenter's general aviation offering.

Quantifiable outcome

• One of the largest maintenance facilities in the northwest
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Avfuel CorporationcoreOthersAvfuel Corporation is the nation's leading independent supplier of aviation fuels and services. AvCenter sources fuel through Avfuel, with Avfuel Contract fuel available at their facilities and fuel discounts offered to hangar customers.
• McCall AviationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMcCall Aviation is an FBO partner location operated separately but associated with AvCenter's network. Located at 300 Deinhard Ln, McCall, ID 83638, accessible through AvCenter's 24-hour line.
• McCall Aviation SalmonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdditional FBO partner location in Salmon area. Located at 29 Hamner Drive, McCall, ID 83467. Part of AvCenter's expanded FBO network.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Signature Aviation: Largest global FBO network serving business aviation. Competes with AvCenter on FBO services (fuel, hangar, ground handling) but at vastly greater scale and geographic breadth across hundreds of locations.
• Wheels Up: Membership-based private aviation company offering charter across North America. Competes with AvCenter for on-demand charter customers, particularly corporate and high-net-worth travelers in the same addressable market.
• Atlantic Aviation: Major US FBO chain offering fueling, hangar, and aircraft services nationwide. Overlaps with AvCenter's FBO, fueling, and hangar service lines at a significantly larger scale.
• JetSuite (JSX): Semi-private charter operator using light jets for scheduled and on-demand service. Competitor in the private aviation charter space, particularly for premium light-jet customers similar to AvCenter's Citation CJ/Ultra base.
• Million Air: Network of FBOs offering fueling, hangar, and charter services across North America. Comparable to AvCenter's FBO offering with broader geographic reach and similar customer base.

Direct peers

• PlaneSense: Fractional and charter operator using a fleet of Pilatus PC-12 turboprops and light jets. Closely comparable to AvCenter's mix of light Citation and King Air turboprop charter.
• Teton Aviation Center: FBO and charter operator in Jackson, Wyoming offering private charter, maintenance, fueling, and flight school. Closely comparable to AvCenter's multi-service Idaho operation in a similar regional market.
• Jackson Hole Aviation: Regional FBO and charter operator serving Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Comparable to AvCenter in offering premium private charter, FBO services, and aircraft management in a regional mountain-resort market with similar customer profile.
• Hawthorne Global Aviation Services: FBO chain operating across multiple US locations offering fueling, hangar, maintenance, and charter support. Directly comparable to AvCenter's multi-service FBO and maintenance offering at similar scale.

Regional players

• McCall Aviation: Partner FBO located in McCall, Idaho, integrated into AvCenter's network. Operates a similar regional FBO and charter model in the same Idaho geography, making it a close operational analog and partner rather than pure competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/avcenterinc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about AvCenter