Clay Lacy breaks ground on John Wayne FBO facility
Clay Lacy Aviation has begun development of a “sustainability focused” fixed-base operations (FBO) development facility at John Wayne Airport.
The firm is redeveloping its existing 14 acres on the airfield to establish the world’s first ISI Envision Gold Certified FBO by the Institute of Sustainable Infrastructure. The facility will create 180 jobs and will be home to a new purpose-built home for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) Air Support Unit, according to Clay Lacy.
“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,” said Brian Kirkdoffer, owner and chairman of Clay Lacy Aviation (pictured centre right). “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.”
The development includes 41,800sqft of offices and a passenger terminal, four hangars totalling 145,000sqft and a 6.7 acre ramp area. 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.
The facility will also include high-capacity electric aircraft charging, additionally it will continue to supply sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for conventional aircraft.
Kirkdoffer added: “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 Orange County groundbreaking follows the recent completion of 120,000sqft of hangar space at its Northeast Regional Operation Center in Waterbury-Oxford Airport in Connecticut.
Clay Lacy Aviation was also recently awarded an FBO lease at Friedman Memorial Airport in Sun Valley, Idaho, to build a sustainable general aviation facility.
