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TLC Jet Integrates Privaira to Become FAA Part 135 Operator

TLC Jet completes Privaira acquisition, gaining FAA Part 135 certification and expanding into aircraft management and maintenance.

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This article summarizes reporting by Business Air News.

Florida-based TLC Jet has officially integrated Privaira Private Aviation into its brand, transitioning the company from a charter brokerage into a fully integrated operator with in-house aircraft management and an active Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 135 certificate.

The consolidation, announced in August 2026, finalizes an acquisitions process that began in November 2025, according to Business Air News. Under the new structure, Privaira’s charter services will operate under the TLC Jet banner, while the underlying flight operations will continue to be conducted by Sky One Holdings, LLC, doing business as Privaira.

Transitioning to an integrated operator model

The integration marks a structural shift for TLC Jet. By absorbing Privaira, the company gains direct control over aircraft management and maintenance services rather than relying solely on third-party operators to fulfill client charter requests.

Justin Firestone, founder and president of TLC Jet, highlighted the operational expansion in a company statement.

“Where TLC Jet was previously a charter-focused entity, we now inherit Privaira’s aircraft management and FAA Part 135 charter and brokerage certificate, allowing us to fully support our clientele in charter, management, maintenance, and beyond,” Firestone stated.

Maintaining Sky One Holdings as the official certificate holder ensures regulatory and operational continuity for existing flights. This structure allows the consumer-facing brand to unify under TLC Jet without disrupting ongoing charter operations.

Expanding client loyalty programs

The rebranding extends TLC Jet’s existing corporate partnerships to the newly integrated Privaira client base. In April 2026, TLC Jet established a strategic partnership with American Airlines (AA).

Business Air News reported that this arrangement allows clients to earn AAdvantage rewards on their private-jets charter bookings. The integration ensures that former Privaira customers now have access to these loyalty benefits under the unified TLC Aviation umbrella.

AirPro News analysis

We view TLC Jet’s integration of Privaira as a standard vertical integration play within the business aviation sector. By moving from a brokerage model to holding an FAA Part 135 certificate through Sky One Holdings, TLC Jet captures more of the value chain and reduces reliance on third-party operators. The retention of the existing operating certificate under a doing-business-as structure is a common regulatory strategy to avoid the lengthy FAA recertification process while achieving brand consolidation.

Sources: Business Air News, TLC Jet Press Room

Photo Credit: TLC Jet

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Business Aviation

Infinity Aviation Group Acquires FBO at Trenton-Mercer Airport

Infinity Aviation Group expands into the NYC metro area with the acquisition of the FlightServ FBO at Trenton-Mercer Airport, NJ.

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Infinity Aviation Group has expanded its fixed base operations (FBO) network into the New York metropolitan area with the acquisition of the FlightServ facility at Trenton-Mercer Airports (TTN) in New Jersey.

Announced in an August 19, 2026, press release, the acquisition marks the third location for Infinity Aviation Group. The Trenton facility joins the company’s existing operations in Nashua, New Hampshire, and Vero Beach, Florida. The move positions the company to capture business aviation traffic seeking uncongested alternatives to Teterboro and Morristown airports.

Facility specifications and capabilities

The FlightServ facility at Trenton-Mercer Airport was completed in 2023. The complex features a 30,000-square-foot FBO terminal and 80,000 square feet of climate-controlled hangar space. The hangars are equipped with 28-foot doors, allowing the facility to accommodate the largest business aviation aircraft currently in service.

Trenton-Mercer Airport features a 6,000-foot primary runway and operates without slot restrictions. The airport also maintains on-site U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) capabilities for international arrivals.

“Trenton sits in one of the busiest business aviation markets in the country, and with the addition of this site, Infinity will be able to better serve the New York metropolitan business aviation community,” said Steven Levesque, CEO of Infinity Aviation Group.

Levesque noted that the company plans to invest further in the Trenton operation by adding hangar capacity and expanding ramp capabilities.

Continuity for charter and maintenance operations

While Infinity Aviation Group has acquired the FBO business, the founding ownership of FlightServ will maintain a presence at the airport. Aviation Charters, a Part 135 charter and aircraft management business operated by the founders, will remain on-site to provide charter, management, and maintenance services.

The existing FlightServ FBO staff will transition to Infinity Aviation Group. According to Levesque, the retention of the local team is part of a broader strategy to maintain service continuity while integrating the location into the company’s East Coast network.

AirPro News analysis

We view Infinity Aviation Group’s acquisition at Trenton-Mercer Airport as a strategic play for the congested Northeast corridor. As Teterboro Airport and Westchester County Airport continue to face capacity constraints, slot restrictions, and noise abatement pressures, satellite airports like TTN become increasingly valuable for business aircraft operators. By securing a recently built facility with large-cabin hangar capacity and on-site customs, Infinity establishes a highly capable relief valve for New York and Philadelphia traffic. Linking New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Florida also aligns directly with the dominant North-South corporate and private travel patterns on the Eastern Seaboard.

Sources: Infinity Aviation Group

Photo Credit: FlightServ

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Business Aviation

FTAI Aviation Closes $2B Warehouse Financing for 2026 SPV

FTAI Aviation secures $2B warehouse facility for mid-life 737NG and A320ceo acquisitions, reaching $5.5B in total Strategic Capital financing.

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FTAI Aviation Ltd. has secured a $2.0 billion warehouse financing facility to fund the acquisition of mid-life Boeing 737NG and Airbus A320ceo aircraft through its second Strategic Capital investment vehicle. The transaction closed on August 14, 2026, bringing the company’s total warehouse financing for its Strategic Capital business to $5.5 billion in under two years.

Announced in a press release on August 17, 2026, the financing supports the newly launched 2026 Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). The facility includes a $1.0 billion accordion feature, providing a potential total capacity of $3.0 billion. A syndicate of 13 financial institutions participated in the transaction, highlighting market support for FTAI’s strategy of pairing asset ownership with in-house engine maintenance capabilities.

Expanding the Strategic Capital portfolio

The 2026 SPV follows the deployment of FTAI’s inaugural vehicle, the 2025 SPV, which launched in October 2025. That initial vehicle raised $2.0 billion in equity commitments and has since committed approximately $6.0 billion across more than 300 aircraft.

Kallie Steffes, Head of Strategic Capital at FTAI Aviation, noted that the inaugural vehicle is now in its harvest phase and described the new financing as a continued execution of the company’s business plan.

“We are grateful to our lending partners, whose support reflects growing confidence in our platform as we carry this momentum and a robust pipeline of new acquisitions into the 2026 SPV,” Steffes stated in the release.

Financial performance and syndicate details

The launch of the 2026 SPV aligns with a period of revenue growth for the New York-based lessor. On July 29, 2026, FTAI reported second-quarter Aerospace Products revenue of $875.0 million, representing a 78 percent year-over-year increase. During that earnings report, the company confirmed the 2026 SPV had already begun making aircraft acquisition commitments.

The $2.0 billion facility was supported by a diverse banking syndicate. Participating institutions include ATLAS SP Partners, Deutsche Bank, Apple Bank, BNP Paribas, Citibank, Citizens Bank, Goldman Sachs, MUFG Bank, PNC Bank, Royal Bank of Canada, Standard Chartered, Truist Bank, and U.S. Bank.

AirPro News analysis

We view FTAI Aviation’s rapid scaling of its Strategic Capital vehicles as a direct response to the sustained industry demand for mid-life narrowbody Commercial-Aircraft. With ongoing Supply-Chain constraints and Deliveries delays affecting new-generation Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320neo family aircraft, operators are extending the lives of their existing Boeing 737NG and Airbus A320ceo fleets. FTAI’s model of combining aircraft leasing with internal engine maintenance capabilities positions the company to capitalize on the high utilization rates of these mature platforms. Securing $5.5 billion in warehouse financing across two vehicles in less than 24 months underscores strong institutional confidence in this integrated aftermarket strategy.

Sources: FTAI Aviation Ltd. Press Release (August 17, 2026)

Photo Credit: FTAI Aviation

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Business Aviation

StandardAero Adds Bombardier Global MRO at Van Nuys Airport

StandardAero expands Van Nuys MRO capabilities to include Bombardier Global aircraft, covering airframe, avionics, engine, and structures services.

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StandardAero has expanded its maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities at Van Nuys Airport (VNY) to include the Bombardier Global aircraft family, establishing a new comprehensive service hub for West Coast business aviation operators.

Announced in a press release on August 20, 2026, the expansion marks a diversification for the California facility, which has specialized in Gulfstream airframes for over 25 years. The addition targets a growing market segment, with StandardAero noting that more than 600 of the 1,200 delivered Bombardier Global aircraft currently operate in North-America.

Expanding capabilities at Van Nuys

The VNY facility is now equipped to support multiple variants within the Bombardier Global family, including the Bombardier Global Express, Bombardier Global Express XRS, Bombardier Global 5000, Bombardier Global 6000, and Bombardier Global 7500. Services offered encompass airframe, avionics, structures, and engine maintenance.

Prior to the official announcement, StandardAero had already commenced support for Bombardier Global operators at the location. Initial work scopes have included routine inspections, repair events, and the installation of SpaceX Starlink satellite communications systems on Bombardier Global 5000 aircraft.

“Our customers want a trusted maintenance partner that can support the entire aircraft. With airframe, avionics, engine, structures and interior capabilities all under one roof and across our network, we’re continuing to build that CompleteCare, comprehensive support solution for Global operators,” said Roland Scensnovic, Vice President and General Manager of StandardAero’s Van Nuys facility.

Engine support and network integration

A critical component of the expanded service offering is engine maintenance. As an authorized service center for Rolls-Royce, StandardAero is leveraging its VNY location to perform line maintenance on Rolls-Royce BR710 engines, which power the majority of the Bombardier Global fleet. This engine support is available both on-site at the airport and through the company’s Mobile Service Team (MST).

“Our Van Nuys site has decades of Gulfstream MRO experience, and we’re excited to enhance our service offering by adding another large cabin aircraft with the Global family by investing further in our current team and in tooling to support these aircraft,” stated Giovanni Spitale, President of StandardAero Business Aviation.

The Van Nuys expansion integrates with StandardAero’s broader network of business aviation facilities. The company also supports Bombardier Global aircraft at its Springfield, Illinois (SPI) location, which provides Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) and dedicated engineering services. The VNY facility itself holds certifications from the FAA, the EASA, the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) of Mexico, and Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA).

AirPro News analysis

The integration of Bombardier Global services at Van Nuys represents a logical maturation of StandardAero’s West Coast strategy following its 2023 acquisition of Western Jet Aviation. Western Jet Aviation, founded at VNY in 1999, built its reputation almost exclusively on Gulfstream maintenance. By injecting capital into tooling and personnel to support the Bombardier Global family, StandardAero is maximizing the utility of its footprint at one of the busiest business aviation airports in the world.

For StandardAero, which began trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: SARO) in October 2024, expanding capabilities at existing facilities provides a clear path to revenue growth. Capturing maintenance events for ultra-long-range aircraft like the Bombardier Global 7500 requires significant technical investment, but it secures access to a high-margin operator base that demands comprehensive, single-stop service solutions.

Sources: StandardAero

Photo Credit: StandardAero

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