The San Jose City Council has delayed until Tuesday night, 16 April, a vote on an $82 million proposed facility for corporate jets at San Jose International after local residents voiced concerns about how FBO expansion would influence the airport's quiet-time overnight curfew.
FBO specialist Signature Flight Support Corp. in Orlando, Fla., is proposing to develop and operate a 29-acre, $82 million FBO facility at San Jose International, in partnership with Blue City Holdings in San Jose, Calif., that represents the personal aircraft of the principals of Google in nearby Mountain View, Calif.
The Signature Flight Support plan, however, has been challenged by San Jose International's existing FBO services provider, Atlantic Aviation FBO Inc., headquartered in Plano, Texas.
Signature Flight Support has proposed a business jet center at San Jose International that will be larger than 270,000 square feet on 29 acres consisting of 240,000 square feet of hangar space, 24,000 square feet office and shops, a 10,000-square-foot executive terminal, a 3,600-square-foot ground support equipment (GSE) shop, a 7,500-square-foot technology garden, and 18.5 acres of ramp space.
Signature's plan has been endorsed by the airport's evaluating staff, but Atlantic Aviation has appealed that recommendation and has asked that the company's competing FBO-expansion proposal be reconsidered.
The San Jose City Council originally had scheduled 9 April for a vote on FBO expansion plans at the airport, but citizen concerns for an airport 11:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. curfew reportedly delayed the vote until this Tuesday. Signature Flight Support reportedly have not agreed to a specific curfew compliance provision.
San Jose International Airport staff are recommending that Signature Flight Support be awarded a 50-year lease on the airport’s west side to develop and operate the new FBO complex.
The new FBO complex at San Jose International would "support the private aviation needs of local high-tech companies, most notably the personal aircraft of the principals at Google,” says Bill Sherry, director of aviation at Signature Flight Support.
The adopted Airport Master Plan identifies the west side of the airport for development to accommodate projected growth in general aviation service demand, Signature Flight Support officials say.
Development areas include 44 acres north of the FAA airport traffic control tower, and 15 acres in the southwest area, which is the current tie-down area for general aviation aircraft and the former San Jose State University Aviation facility.
For more information contact Signature Flight Support online at www.signatureflight.com, Atlantic Aviation at www.atlanticaviation.com, or San Jose International Airport at paste link phrase here.
