KaiserAir upgrades aircraft services

Hoping to capitalize on a boom in business aviation, KaiserAir is spending more than $6 million to expand its aircraft service base at Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport.

KaiserAir is building a fuel depot, new hangars, private terminal, aircraft ramp and other improvements on 7 acres of leased land at its Santa Rosa Jet Center.

It's the largest private development in airport history, said Jon Stout, manager of the county-owned airport. The project will improve services for business aviation, Stout said.

"It brings them up to a better standard," he said.

As commercial airlines struggle with high fuel prices and the U.S. economic downturn -- cutting their schedules, hiking fares and canceling flights -- businesses are turning to private aviation.

Charter flights and company-owned jets make business travel fast and convenient, said Glenn Barrett, manager of KaiserAir's new Santa Rosa operation.

"It's much more within their control," he said. "They can leave when they want and come in when they want."

Private aircraft makers including Cessna and Bombardier are reporting record orders for business jets, according to Aviation.com, a Web site that tracks industry trends. Sonoma County's large wineries and technology companies are among the businesses turning to private aviation.

KaiserAir is one of two "fixed-base operators" at the airport, businesses that offer full maintenance and other services for general aviation. The other is Sonoma Jet Center, which opened in 2005.

Oakland-based KaiserAir bought its Santa Rosa facility earlier this year from the previous operator, Apex Aviation.

KaiserAir has the contract to provide ground crew for Horizon Air, which operates five flights a day from Santa Rosa to Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland and Las Vegas. The ground crew handles check-in, baggage, fueling and minor maintenance for Horizon's 76-passenger Bombardier Q400 turboprops.

Stout estimated the company will spend $6 million to $7 million to make the improvements, which are required under its lease with the county. KaiserAir would not disclose the cost of the expansion project.

KaiserAir has 2½ years to complete the improvements, under terms of the lease.

Last week, construction crews were removing 4 acres of old pavement, which will be replaced by a concrete surface strong enough to support jets as large as a Boeing 737, Barrett said.

KaiserAir has installed the first of two 20,000-gallon, above-ground jet fuel tanks. The company demolished an old hangar and is finishing a 30,000-square-foot hangar next door for aircraft storage.

KaiserAir plans to build a second, 20,000-square-foot hangar on the property for aircraft storage and maintenance.

The company also plans to remodel the old Apex terminal, creating 8,000 square feet of offices, passenger waiting area, a pilot lounge, conference room and other amenities. KaiserAir employees can arrange ground transportation, lodging, catering and other services for aircraft owners, pilots and passengers, Barrett said.

"We provide a concierge-type service," he said.

Santa Rosa Jet Center has 18 employees, but expects to add more staff with the expansion, Barrett said.

KaiserAir was founded in 1946 as the aviation arm of Henry J. Kaiser's industrial conglomerate. The company is headquartered at Oakland International Airport, where it offers charter flights, operates a private terminal and manages business jets for more than a dozen Bay Area corporations.

While KaiserAir doesn't have charter aircraft based at Santa Rosa, its charter business serves the airport, Barrett said.

You can reach Staff Writer Steve Hart at 521-5205 or steve.hart@pressdemocrat.com.