Jet Aviation Continues Westward U.S. Expansion to Ogden, UT

May 21, 2008
Jet Aviation announced during EBACE 2008 that it has signed a letter of intent with Kemp Development, Inc. of Ogden, Utah to open a new Midcoast Aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility along with a state-of-the-art Jet Aviation FBO at Ogden-Hinckley Airport.

Geneva, Switzerland, May 21, 2008 – Jet Aviation announced during EBACE 2008 that it has signed a letter of intent with Kemp Development, Inc. of Ogden, Utah to open a new Midcoast Aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility along with a state-of-the-art Jet Aviation FBO at Ogden-Hinckley Airport. Jet Aviation Ogden is expected to commence operations in fall 2008.

With this step, Jet Aviation continues to pursue its growth strategy of adding a western U.S. facility to its world-wide portfolio. Jet Aviation Ogden would augment the company’s Midcoast Aviation facility in Cahokia, IL and the newly-acquired Savannah Air Center in Savannah, GA. Jet Aviation expects to receive the full support of the state of Utah, the city of Ogden and local economic development offices. Jet Aviation Ogden plans to add up to 200 new employment positions over the next two years.

“We are pleased to have advanced this agreement with Kemp Development, and this brand new Jet Aviation facility would allow us to offer complete coast to coast MRO coverage for the U.S. market,” states Jim Ziegler, Jet Aviation’s COO for the Americas. “This facility is ideally located to serve western U.S. business aircraft operators with premium MRO and FBO services,” adds Ziegler.

Jet Aviation Ogden’s MRO facility plan consists of 70,000 sq ft (6,500 sq m) of maintenance hangars and workshops. Its capabilities will be focused on mid to large cabin business aircraft and provide heavy maintenance, component repair, refurbishment and paint. Discussions with major OEMs to obtain service center designations are currently underway and approvals are expected by the end of 2008.

Under this agreement, Jet Aviation would assume the existing FBO operations of Kemp Jet Services. The facility offers a complete suite of both pilot and passenger amenities such as an executive terminal, fueling, pilot snooze room, pilot lounge, weather and flight planning and an on-site restaurant. The FBO executive terminal, hangars and offices consist of 51,000 sq ft (4,739 sq m). The facility is strategically located 30 miles from Salt Lake City, UT and is within 30-45 minutes of major ski resorts such as Park City.

“Jet Aviation brings the resources, global coverage and its 40 years of experience to Ogden. We are pleased to have reached an understanding and look forward to a long business relationship,” stated Bryce Gibby, director of business development for Kemp Development, Inc.

Jet Aviation was founded in Switzerland in 1967 and is one of the leading business aviation services companies in the world. Close to 5,100 employees cater to client needs from over 20 airport facilities throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North and South America. The company provides maintenance, completions and refurbishment, engineering, fixed base operations, along with aircraft management, charter services, aircraft sales and personnel services. Jet Aviation's European and U.S. aircraft management and charter divisions jointly operate a fleet of more than 200 aircraft and provided over 65,000 hours in global flight operations in 2007.