SAN JOSÉ, CALIF. – The San José City Council today voted (10-1) to grant delegated authority to Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) staff to finalize negotiations and execute a 50-year lease for Signature Flight Support, a subsidiary of BBA Aviation and a global leader in corporate aviation, to build and operate a private development on 29 acres on the Airport’s West Side. Signature will service, most notably, the personal aircraft of the principals at Google, as well as other clients in the Silicon Valley business community.
The approval paves the way for Signature to construct a full-service, world-class fixed base operation (FBO) to support based and itinerant corporate and general aviation aircraft operations at Silicon Valley’s Airport.
Signature’s development at SJC is in partnership with Blue City Holdings, San José, LLC, a corporation representing the personal aircraft of the principals at Google, headquartered in Mountain View, Calif. The total investment by the partnership will be approximately $82 million.
“I am pleased that we are moving forward with development of the Airport’s West Side which will generate significant revenues to the Airport and the General Fund, and accommodate future growth in the demand for general aviation services in Silicon Valley,” said San José Mayor Chuck Reed. “Signature Flight Support’s development proposal will help the City of San José accomplish both of these goals. I thank Signature for its confidence in San José, its significant investments at SJC, and for the new jobs and revenues that this project will generate.”
“Signature is extraordinarily proud to expand our business to Mineta San José International Airport and create a positive economic impact in the Silicon Valley region,” said Maria Sastre, President and Chief Operating Officer, Signature Flight Support. “We’ve planned an accelerated timetable and are eager to get construction underway as quickly as possible. We look forward to working closely with the City Council, Airport Staff, and Silicon Valley business community as we build our state-of-the art FBO here at Mineta San José International Airport.” Ms. Sastre noted that Signature Flight Support has aspired to be in San José for several years and is delighted to see the project come to fruition.
In addition, Signature will relocate its West Coast headquarters to San José, bringing additional jobs to the community.
The total investment by the partnership is approximately $82 million in developing over 270,000 square feet of LEED Gold-certified facilities on approximately 29 acres with facility and service components containing:
- an executive terminal;
- hangars;
- ramp space accommodating large business jets (such as the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ 737) and Boeing B767; and
- aircraft servicing facilities.
“I’m confident the parties will reach agreement and, in very short order, we’ll be moving forward with design, permitting and construction of Signature’s private development at SJC,” said Bill Sherry, Director of Aviation for Mineta San José International Airport. “The redevelopment of the Airport’s West Side, and the added revenue and local jobs Signature will provide are a valuable asset to our community.”
“I’ am confident the parties will reach agreement and in very short order we’ll be moving forward with design, permitting, and constructionthat SJC will be successful in negotiating and executing a 50-year lease with Signature Flight Support, and look forward to the significant investment this award will bring to the Airport, the City of San José, and the region,” said Bill Sherry, Director of Aviation for Mineta San José International Airport. “The redevelopment of the Airport’s West Side, and the added revenue and local jobs Signature will provide are a valuable asset to our community.”Signature’s facility offers major economic benefits to SJC and the Silicon Valley region:
- $2.6 million in annual rent to the Airport;
- A minimum annual guarantee of $400,000 in annual fuel flowage fee revenues to the Airport;
- A minimum annual tax generation guarantee of $70,000 (first year) to $300,000 (year 5 and beyond);
- 150 to 200 on-Airport and regional construction jobs;
- 36 permanent on-Airport jobs; and
- 370 direct and indirect jobs generated.
Signature plans to begin construction in fall 2013.
As part of SJC’s $1.3 billion modernization program, acreage became available for development with the relocation of the Airport’s long-term parking lot to the east side of the Airport. In April 2012, the City Council authorized SJC staff to issue a Request for Proposals for development for any use allowed under the Airport Master Plan.
About Signature Flight Support
Signature Flight Support Corporation, a BBA Aviation plc company, is the world's largest fixed-base operation (FBO) and distribution network for business aviation services which include fueling, hangar and office rentals, ground handling, maintenance and a wide range of crew and passenger amenities at strategic domestic and international locations. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Signature Flight Support currently operates at more than 100 locations in the United States, Europe, South America, Africa and Asia. For more information, please visit www.signatureflight.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/signatureflightsupport. Follow Signature Flight Support on Twitter: @SignatureFBO.
About Mineta San José International Airport
Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) is Silicon Valley’s Airport, a self-supporting enterprise owned and operated by the City of San José. SJC served 8.3 million passengers in 2012, and offers approximately 120 daily flights on 13 domestic and international carriers to 30 nonstop destinations.
The Airport’s $1.3 billion comprehensive modernization project, completed in 2010, makes SJC the most technologically advanced airport in the nation and the first terminal awarded LEED Silver certification for environmental sustainability. Silicon Valley’s Airport is located in San José, California’s third largest city and the nation’s tenth largest city. For more Airport information, visit www.flysanJosé.com.
