Clay Lacy Aviation has begun a new era of investment, service and commitment to Orange County aviation and the communities it serves. The 57-year-old private aviation services provider has broken ground on a sustainability-focused FBO development at John Wayne airport in Santa Ana, California.

The FBO, aircraft management, maintenance and charter services provider will redevelop its existing 14 acres on the airfield and establish the world's first ISI Envision Gold Certified FBO by the Institute of Sustainable Infrastructure, creating 180 jobs, investing in the local economy and workforce, as well as constructing a new purpose-built home for the Orange County Sheriff's Department Air Support Unit.

“I'm so honoured today to be standing here to break ground and celebrate what will be one of the finest FBOs and aviation facilities in the world,” says Brian Kirkdoffer, owner and chairman of Clay Lacy Aviation. “This development is an investment in the future of Orange County, making it stronger and more competitive on the world stage, attracting and retaining great businesses.

“It will enhance and support the entire aviation ecosystem and pay it forward to the next generation of aviators and aviation professionals to live, to work and to thrive here in Orange County. This development is an investment in new and emerging air mobility technologies that will put Orange County at the forefront of the aviation industry with thoughtfully better, sustainable facilities.”

The development includes 41,800 sq ft of offices and a passenger terminal, four hangars totalling 145,000 sq ft and a 6.7 acre ramp area. Like all other Clay Lacy facilities, the Gensler-designed development will be certified carbon neutral, focusing on sustainable features and operations, including solar panel provisions, EV charging and efficient building design to reduce its environmental footprint. It will include high-capacity electric aircraft charging to support ultra-quiet, emissions-free flight on all-electric and hybrid electric aircraft, while also continuing to supply a steady stream of SAF for conventional aircraft.

“Clay Lacy is the first of three fixed-based-operators at the airport that will help us transform the entire landscape of John Wayne Airport,” remarks Charlene Reynolds, airport director. The large public-private “collective investment not only helps our community, but our regional economy, as well. That means jobs and opportunities for our communities.”

An active participant in educational and career development programmes in all of its communities, Clay Lacy Aviation has further supported the next generation of aviators in southern California. It presented a $15,000 annual scholarship to Orange Coast College's school of aviation science for students pursuing their flying certificates. It has contributed more than $90,000 since the partnership began in 2018.

“I'm especially excited about the partnership that Clay Lacy has with the expansion of our scholarships for aviators of the future,” says Katrina Foley, Orange County supervisor, Fifth District. “We're so grateful that we have OCC right in our backyard … and that Clay Lacy is taking a leadership position to make sure we have future pilots that are trained with exceptional skills.”

Another highlight will be the first purpose-built home for the OCSD Air Support Unit's fleet of helicopters, department personnel and maintenance operations. The new facility will make it easier for the air support unit to respond to more than 2,000 service calls each year.

The Orange County groundbreaking follows the recent completion of 120,000 sq ft of hangar space at Clay Lacy's Northeast Regional Operation Center in Waterbury-Oxford airport in Connecticut. Like Oxford, the John Wayne airport development will ensure that the hangars are designed for today's newest and largest business aircraft, and help alleviate space demands in the region. Clay Lacy Aviation was also recently awarded an FBO lease at Friedman Memorial airport in Sun Valley, Idaho to build a nature-influenced, sustainable general aviation facility.