Florida

Boca Raton Airport Breaks Ground on New Observation Area

Kim Stevens

Pictured above from left are BRAA staff; Christine Landers (Office Manager) Robert Abbott (Finance Director) Richard Gurzo (Accounting Coordinator) Clara Bennett (Executive Director) Leonel Romero (Operations Intern), Hannah Naveda (Operations Coordinator) Travis Bryan (Operations Director) Katy Guerra (Accounting Intern).

The Boca Raton Airport Authority (BRAA) held a groundbreaking ceremony on July 9 to mark the start of the construction of the new Observation Area. The Observation Area will provide the public with the opportunity to experience aircraft up close and photograph planes without hindrance.

Pictured from left are: House Rep Peggy Gossett-Seidman, Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer, Boca Raton Executive Director Clara Bennett, City Council Members Fran Nachlas and  Marc Wigder.

The upcoming Observation Area will feature a modern, circular design with shaded seating for the public as they watch planes arrive and depart the airport. The observation area will be on a four-foot-tall platform with ADA-accessible concrete ramps and aluminum handrails. It will also have bicycle parking that can house eight bicycles and ample parking spaces for motor vehicles including accessible parking.

Additionally, the Observation Area will have several educational features incorporated into its design to help guide guests as they view a variety of aircraft. One exciting educational feature will be signage displaying background information on several aircraft housed at the airport. The observation area will also include an anemometer that will allow guests to observe the wind speed at the airport and a compass explaining different departure paths. These educational elements will hopefully create a fun experience for children and adults alike!

“The observation area will be a place where people of all ages can come and enjoy seeing planes take off at a close, safe distance,” said Boca Raton Airport Authority Executive Director Clara Bennett. “The Airport understands the importance of community and that is why we are excited to provide this area that will educate, inspire, and create memorable experiences.”

The Airport awarded the contract to build the Observation Area to Recreational Design & Construction, Inc. (RDC) in Fort Lauderdale. RDC was selected due to its impressive portfolio and 29 years of experience in the South Florida community. The Boca Raton Airport Authority looks forward to working with RDC to complete the Observation Area by the end of the year.

Microdrones Welcomes Lengemann Corporation to Its Global Distribution Network

Kim Stevens

Microdrones has announced that Lengemann Corporation, a leading supplier of positioning solutions for Construction, Engineering, and Surveying Professionals, has joined the Microdrones distribution network. Lengemann Corporation is now authorized to sell the fully integrated EasyOne Drone LiDAR systems and LP360 3D Point Cloud Software, expanding their offerings in Florida and the Caribbean.

The EasyOne system from Microdrones includes a drone, perfectly integrated LiDAR sensors, LP360 software, workflow, training, and support. The equipment easily packs into a compact case that is easy to transport. All EasyOne systems are made in the U.S. and available in NDAA-compliant versions.

“Adding the Lengemann Corporation to our distribution chain will help expand our coverage and network throughout the state of Florida, ” said Aaron Beach, Western Regional Sales Manager for Microdrones. “Their extensive experience and dedication to customer service are a great match with our values. With their expertise, we are confident that Lengemann will effectively introduce our EasyOne solutions to a wider audience, benefiting surveying and engineering professionals throughout Florida and the Caribbean.”

Mike Woodley, Sales Manager at Lengemann Corporation, shared his enthusiasm for the partnership: ” The reputation of the Microdrones products and their fully integrated solutions speak for themselves. The EasyOne will help enable our customers to create powerful data deliverables like 3D point clouds and orthomosaics. These systems will help our clients collect data efficiently and safely while cutting costs and saving time.”

Lengemann Corporation has been in business for over 60 years and is known for its exceptional customer service and technical support. They are the only authorized Topcon and Sokkia master repair facility in Florida and operate one of the largest privately-owned GPS networks in the U.S., known as L-Net. Their new onsite training facility is equipped to meet all survey and machine control needs.

“The addition of LP360 software to our product lineup is a significant advantage for our customers,” added Woodley. “It’s one of the premier software solutions for analyzing and creating point clouds for LiDAR and photogrammetry. It’s intuitive and easy to use, which we believe will greatly enhance our customers’ workflows.”

The EasyOne systems from Microdrones are compact, optimized, lighter, safer, and more efficient. These fully integrated systems make it easier than ever for users to plan, fly, collect, process, and visualize geospatial data projects. Lengemann Corporation’s knowledgeable staff is committed to meeting and exceeding customer needs and expectations daily.

“We are excited about this new partnership,” said Woodley. “Combining Microdrones professionalism and cutting-edge technology with our customer service and expertise will create a tremendous opportunity for our clients.”

Southwest Florida International Airport Sees 11% Increase in May Traffic

Kim Stevens

During May, 843,270 passengers traveled through Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers. This was an increase of 11 percent compared to May 2023. It was also the second-best May reported in the 41-year history of the airport. Year-to-date, passenger traffic is up 21 percent.

The traffic leader in May was Delta with 192,204 passengers. Rounding out the top five airlines were Southwest (150,279), American (146,034), United (133,218) and JetBlue (71,519).

Southwest Florida International Airport had 6,945 aircraft operations; a decrease of 0.2 percent compared to May 2023. Page Field saw 16,861 operations, which was a 13 percent decrease compared to May 2023.

Southwest Florida International Airport served more than 10 million passengers in 2023 and is one of the top 50 U.S. airports for passenger traffic. No ad valorem (property) taxes are used for airport operation or construction. For more information, visit flylcpa.com or facebook.com/flyRSW.

Barrington Irving’s Academy Welcomes Grads to Bizav Careers During NBAA Forum

Kim Stevens

During the National Business Aviation Association’s (NBAA’s) 2024 NBAA White Plains Regional Forum, the Barrington Irving Technical Training School (BITTS) announced its first set of graduates from its local program, all of whom are ready to take positions at area facilities for two leading Fixed Base Operators (FBOs).

The announcement comes just months after the BITTS organization expanded from its Miami, FL base to an additional installation in New York’s Westchester County. Read more about the new BITTS location in New York.

Founded and led by Capt. Barrington Irving, a Guinness World Record-breaking pilot and NBAA American Spirit Award recipient, the organization provides technical training for students with diverse backgrounds, teaching them the hands-on skills needed to excel in aviation and other industries. NBAA is a supporting partner of the training school.

In his remarks at today’s NBAA White Plains Regional Forum, Irving noted that the first group of five student graduates at the school’s Mt. Vernon, NY, facility are preparing for interviews with Atlantic Aviation and Signature Flight Support, having completed a 12-week workforce development program focused on FBO training.

The announcement was met with applause from local civic officials, including Mount Vernon, NY, Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard and Thom Kleiner, the executive director of the Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Board.

Mt. Vernon’s Management Services Commissioner Juan Perez and Youth Bureau Deputy Director Dena Williams, Westchester County Youth Program Director Liz Oliveto and Ranell Ogilvie from State Sen. Jamaal Bailey’s office were also on hand to congratulate the graduates.

“With our partners and our team, we have created something that is helping more people achieve their professional dreams through business aviation,” Irving said. “I couldn’t be more proud to see our goal come to life through these students.”

“The business aviation community understands the pressing need to attract, develop, retain and promote the next generation of industry professionals,” NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said. “Barrington Irving’s pioneering program was once a dream, but it is now inspiring young people to be a part of an exciting industry with boundless opportunities. We applaud Barrington for his leadership of this one-of-a-kind training school, and we are honored to support its mission.”

The Barrington Irving Technical Training School was opened at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport in 2023 with the support of Bombardier, Miami-Dade County, NBAA and other organizations. It is part of Irving’s Flying Classroom, a pre-K-12 STEM+ program.

Last December, BITTS graduated its first 15 students and landed them careers worth almost $1 million in salaries. The school has quickly added three new training centers – two in Florida at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and Pompano Beach Airpark, and the Mt. Vernon, NY, operation announced in late February 2024.

Key West Airport Celebrates Topping Off

Kim Stevens

A major milestone for a new terminal at the Key West International Airport was completed Wednesday, June 5 at a “Topping Off” ceremony attended by Monroe County Commissioners, Key West International Airport executives and staff along with consultants, McFarland Johnson and Mead & Hunt, representing the design teams. A symbolic steel plaque, signed by key team members will serve as permanent art in the new Concourse A to commemorate the project’s milestone.

The 48,802 square-foot structure, scheduled to open in Spring 2025, is the largest capital project in Monroe County government history. The Concourse A addition will usher in a new way of travel as the days of walking the airport’s apron will end. “It takes major collaborative effort to pull a project like Concourse A together, and witnessing it come to life has been a thrill,” said Mayor Holly Raschein. “Not only is it a symbol of our commitment to growth and innovation – it is a major part of our diligence in maintaining the Florida Keys as a first-class travel destination. I commend the team involved in bringing the project to where it is today, and I look forward to its success as a transportation hub for many years to come,” Raschein added.

McFarland Johnson is the lead consultant providing planning, programming, engineering design and permitting services for Key West Airport’s terminal expansion. “We are excited and honored to be part of this generational project for Monroe County that will drive economic growth and deliver an improved customer experience at Key West International Airport,” said John Mafera, Vice President and Regional Director of Aviation for McFarland Johnson.

Passenger traffic surpassed 1.4 million in 2023 and 2024 is off to a record start for the airport serving the Keys with direct service to 21 cities across the U.S. “The Topping Off Ceremony is a celebration of Key West International Airport reaching new heights,” noted Richard Strickland, Key West International Airport Director. “Years of planning have culminated in this moment, and this milestone would not be possible without the dedication of countless individuals. With the help of our design teams from McFarland Johnson and Mead & Hunt, we are building on a legacy, and I could not be more optimistic about the future of travel and the countless passengers Concourse A will serve.”

Concourse A Project Details:

  • 48,802-foot, single-story concrete structure supported by piers to align with the second story of the existing airport terminal
  • Boasting eight glass jet bridges, Concourse A will include space for gates, hold rooms, circulation, new concessions, restrooms, expanded TSA lines, state-of-the-art baggage carousels and support areas
  • New extended passenger bridge located post-security will connect existing landside terminal building with new Concourse A
  • New concourse will remain above storm surge and flood elevations
  • New concourse is designed to withstand 200 mph winds

Southwest Florida Int’l Airport Reports Increase in March Traffic

Kim Stevens

During March, 1,509,777 passengers traveled through Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers. This was an increase of 29 percent compared to March 2023. It was also the second-best March reported in the 41-year history of the airport. Year-to-date, passenger traffic is up 25 percent.

The traffic leader in March was Southwest with 278,639 passengers. Rounding out the top five airlines were Delta (260,718), United (195,560), American (180,831) and Spirit (140,160).

Southwest Florida International Airport had 11,621 aircraft operations; an increase of 25 percent compared to March 2023. Page Field saw 15,610 operations, which was a 19 percent decrease compared to March 2023.

Southwest Florida International Airport served more than 10 million passengers in 2023 and is one of the top 50 U.S. airports for passenger traffic.

Sustainable Skylines and USI Develop Commercial Aviation Career Tracks for Drone Advertising

Kim Stevens

Sustainable Skylines, the aerial drone advertising and data analytics company, and USI have partnered to create a training and certification program enabling aviators to operate within the Sustainable Skylines’ infrastructure.

Sustainable Skylines is the first drone banner towing company in the U.S. to receive Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval for commercial operations. Their Section 44807 exemption approval, combined with a banner towing authorization, will allow Sustainable Skylines to launch full-size banner advertisements towed by a drone along Miami Beach in 2024.  

Aerial drone advertising offers a number of advantages over traditional aircraft towing. Beyond providing safer and greener operations, drones boost greater maneuverability, operate at slower speeds and lower altitudes, and don’t need a runway as they are capable of a vertical take-off and landing. Furthermore, drones introduce precise attention analytics to banner advertising, which removes a significant barrier to widespread brand adoption.

“As we continue to refine our drone technology, we’ve also been diligently building the infrastructure needed for scalable drone advertising operations. This effort extends to partnering with USI so we can train pilots and flight staff to safely operate our drones,” said Jacob Stonecipher, the founder and CEO of Sustainable Skylines. “While we are launching operations in Miami Beach, we are poised for rapid expansion to new locations as we partner with new brands and showcase the advantages of aerial banner towing.”

Utilizing decades of experience in aviation, commercial drones, and Department of Defense operations, USI has developed a structured training program to develop aviators that is specific to remotely piloted technology and equivalent to traditional aviation training standards under FAR Part 141. Now, this same process will be available to pilots and flight staff looking to join the Sustainable Skylines team and become a certified-aerial drone advertising operator.

“Sustainable Skylines has pioneered a novel application for uncrewed aircraft systems, paving the way for yet another high-skill, high-wage career field that doesn’t necessitate a commercial pilot license,” explained Joshua Olds, CEO, president, and co-founder of USI. “We look forward to collaborating with those who already have a private pilot license, as well as aspiring aviators through our partnerships with secondary and post-secondary academic institutions.”

To learn more about the training and certification program or explore careers with Sustainable Skylines, please visit: https://www.sustainableskylines.com/about/join-our-team/

Elixir Aircraft to Open New U.S. Facility in Sarasota

Kim Stevens

Elixir Aircraft has announced a new site in the United States. Situated at Sarasota Bradenton Airport (SRQ) in Florida, this facility will focus on the reassembly of aircraft intended for delivery to clients in the U.S. The demand for Elixir aircraft in the American market is substantial, with over 200 units already pre-ordered. This expansion will result in the employment of approximately 200 new staff members at the Sarasota location, in addition to the existing 200 staff members in France.

The 4th generation aircraft manufacturer has marked the next phase of their growth by signing a long-term lease for their new, main U.S. assembly and support facility located on the flight line at SRQ. The facility will consist of two custom and modern buildings. Elixir Aircraft will take occupation of the first 12,500 square feet fully renovated hangar in Q4 2024, mainly for initial re-assembly of aircraft delivered to U.S. clients.

Then a new second building of 6,000 square feet adjacent to the first shall be taken on by Elixir Aircraft in August of 2025, to continue with re-assembly and hold spare parts stock for the east coast of the USA.

Both buildings will support Elixir Aircraft’s long-term growth and talent recruitment in America.

Elixir Aircraft envisions employing around 200 staff at Sarasota Bradenton Airport by 2027. These men and women will provide numerous services to Elixir Aircraft’s North American clients including administration, aircraft assembly and deliveries, maintaining stock of spare parts and providing any support needed.

In addition to Sarasota, Elixir is currently putting in place additional support facilities in Arizona and the Midwest USA.

The company’s CEO, Arthur Léopold-Léger, explains: “When we started Elixir, we knew the American market will be key to the future success of the company. After years of looking for the right U.S. location, and many trips to the area, we are excited to tell the world we will be in Sarasota, Florida. We at Elixir Aircraft would like to thank the management team of Sarasota Airport specifically Rick Piccolo Airport CEO, Joseph Filippelli SVP Real Estate and Lionel Guilbert SVP Operations, for making this decision and whole process both easy and enjoyable.”

Cyril Champenois, Elixir Aircraft Co-Founder, further explains: “With over 200 aircraft already on order and pre-order in the U.S., our new Sarasota facility is crucial to our growth globally. Sarasota located on the East coast, with a passionate aviation and sailing community, is similar to our home city of La Rochelle France. We look forward to the future from an office that feels like home. We have also factored in room to grow in the SRQ area, so the Elixir team and I envision many happy years ahead of us.”

In February 2024, Elixir announced an expansion of their headquarters in La Rochelle, France to 14,000 m² (150,000 sq ft). This highly energy-efficient and environmentally friendly industrial site will house all production activities. Elixir Aircraft aims to produce more than 300 aircraft a year. To meet demand, Elixir HQ is expected to employ over a thousand people by 2033.

AOPA Members Bring Aviation License Plate to Florida Drivers to Support AVED

Kim Stevens

A general aviation license plate will soon be available for purchase in Florida because of the passionate efforts of three aviators with support from the AOPA advocacy team. 

Local Florida pilots Joseph Hurtuk, Dr. Ian Goldbaum, and Richard Golightly bonded over their shared interest in aviation and determination to give back to the industry. They designed a Support General Aviation specialty license plate to reflect the economic impact aviation has on the state—which is ranked third in the U.S. for the total number of pilots, aircraft, and airports. 

Proceeds from the sale of the specialty plate will help fund aviation education scholarships for Floridians managed through the Aerospace Center for Excellence in Lakeland, Florida.

The three pilots worked with AOPA Southern Regional Manager Stacey Heaton to collaborate with elected officials to promote the plate. Integral to legislative efforts to pass the plate through the House and Senate were state Rep. Doug Bankson (R-District 39) and his office, and state Sen. Gayle Harrell (R-District 83) and her office. Thanks to ongoing collaboration, the plate has passed through the Florida legislature and is headed to the governor’s desk for signature—which is eagerly anticipated by the end of the month.

“Special thanks go to Representative Bankson and Senator Harrell,” said Heaton. “The representative’s own passion for aviation and the senator’s recognition of our members’ passion for aviation made this effort possible.”

Once signed, coordination with the state to get these plates to the public begins. Pre-sales for the plate are slated to begin October 1 and 3,000 sales are required before a single unit can be produced.

Fin Bonset Joins McFarland Johnson as National Planning Director

Kim Stevens

McFarland Johnson (MJ), a leading planning and engineering consulting firm in the aviation industry, has announced the appointment of Fin Bonset as the National Planning Director. Based in Melbourne, FL, Fin will oversee the company’s continued growth nationally, managing a team of multi-disciplined planning professionals delivering successful aviation, sustainability, and economic development planning projects across the United States.

Fin Bonset

With over 25 years of experience in aviation development consulting, Fin brings a wealth of technical expertise, practice building, and managerial acumen to his new role. His background includes work on both domestic and international projects with a focus on delivering successful master planning and infrastructure development needs.

In addition to his consulting work, Fin is deeply committed to promoting aviation education. He has served as an adjunct professor at the Florida Institute of Technology, College of Aeronautics for the past 15 years and still enjoys providing mentorship to industry young professionals through various industry trade associations.

Fin’s industry leadership has been extensive, and he has been a chair, panelist, and speaker for several prominent aviation organizations, including TRB-ACRP, AAAE, ACC, FAC, ACI, and the Tony Jannus Distinguished Aviation Society. He is also an authority on CAD-based aviation modeling software as he has been involved in the development of various projects including the development of Transoft’s Aviplan software and having set up curriculums for teaching AutoCAD for airport environments and ALP development.

“I look forward to continuing to build MJ’s aviation planning and aviation business including contributing to the strategic growth and future success of the firm,” said Bonset. “Leveraging my diverse experiences, MJ’s technologies, and collaborating with McFarland Johnson’s diverse team of professionals will be a winning combination, expanding our services to new and existing clients throughout the country.”

“Fin’s multi-disciplined technical capabilities and team leadership combined with his industry affiliations will be an asset to McFarland Johnson and all our clients.” said Chad Nixon, President McFarland Johnson. “We are elated to have Fin as a member of MJ’s growing team and excited to be working with him as we expand our clientele. Please join me in welcoming Fin Bonset to McFarland Johnson!”