Subic Bay Aviation Center

SBMA or the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority had merged with Aviation Concepts Holdings (AC), a Guam-based aviation company which will invest $1.1 million for the conversion of Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) into first-class full-service aviation center.

According to Anthony Decostes, the firm's senior vice president, Aviation Concepts Holdings (AC) is an American-Canadian shared venture. The company is committed to the rehabilitation of facilities at the SBIA and will start operations by middle of September. The rehabilitation will include ground handling, maintenance repair and overhaul, FBO service with VIP crew lounge and amenities, air ambulance, aircraft scheduling and recordkeeping, aircraft detailing, hangarage and technical stop services. A week ago, Decostes and Edward Pooley, AC aviation security head, had signed the contract for the aviation service project with Stef Saño, SBMA senior deputy administrator for business, and B/Gen. Marcelo Santos, the retired head of the SBMA airport department.

Armand Arreza, the SBMA Administrator, said that SBIA has been undeveloped since February 2009 when Federal Express transferred its Asia-Pacific hub here to China. The project will open new opportunities by attracting intercontinental jets to the SBIA. Arreza added that the new services will bring aircraft owners and VIPs here to see what a wonderful area Subic Bay is, physically and business-wise. [via mb.com.ph]