California-based FBO and MRO services provider Desert Jet marked its first expansion and first out-of-state location with the announcement that it has been tapped to manage and operate two new hangars at Yampa Valley Regional Airport (KHDN) in Hayden, Colorado, near the ski destination Steamboat Springs. It also won an RFP to develop an FBO at KHDN, with a lease now under negotiation with the airport and county commissioners.

The 28,800-sq-ft hangars—each capable of sheltering the latest ultra-long-range business jets—were developed by Wiens Real Estate Ventures and HDN Hangar Investment Group, which contracted Desert Jet to run them.

“We are excited to partner with Desert Jet, whose reputation for excellence in aviation services aligns perfectly with our vision for Yampa Valley,” explained Tim Wiens, principal of Wiens Real Estate. “This collaboration is a pivotal step in enhancing the aviation experience in this world-class destination.”

According to Desert Jet, the Hayden facility “represents the foundation for a future world-class FBO,” and is the first of several planned expansions as the company begins to grow its national footprint. “This expansion represents the next chapter,” said Desert Jet CEO Jared Fox. “The new facilities…not only provide much-needed hangar space for aircraft of all sizes, but also introduce Desert Jet’s culture of safety, care, and hospitality to the vibrant and growing aviation community at KHDN.”

A Cessna Citation II crashed while landing this morning at Statesville Regional Airport (KSVH) in North Carolina, killing all six onboard, according to local authorities and the FAA. Emergency responders found the airplane—N257BW and registered to GB Leasing, a holding company owned by Nascar driver Greg Biffle—fully engulfed in flames just off the side of Runway 10/28.

According to FlightRadar 24 data, the twinjet took off at 10:07 a.m. ET headed for Florida’s Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport (KSRQ). However, the pilot reportedly encountered engine issues shortly after takeoff and returned to land at KSVH about 10 minutes later, when the crash occurred.

Statesville Fire Department and multiple Iredell County agencies responded to the accident at approximately 10:20 a.m. In an initial update, Iredell Firewire reported that the aircraft was “fully engulfed in flames,” adding that “if anyone is on board, there will be no survivors.” Authorities later confirmed that all six occupants onboard were found deceased.

Multiple media outlets reported that the airplane was owned by Nascar driver Greg Biffle, citing public ownership records. Authorities have not released the identities of the victims or commented on the reported ownership. 

The FAA and NTSB are investigating the accident scene, with the latter agency leading the investigation. KSVH is closed until further notice.

The U.S. Senate passed the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act yesterday, and now it moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. This passage comes as the U.S. government, in a 209-page court filing, yesterday admitted liability in the January 29 midair collision between a PSA Airlines CRJ700 regional jet and U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport (KDCA). The ROTOR Act is intended to mitigate the issues with government aircraft not broadcasting position information via ADS-B while flying in the Washington, D.C. region.

The complaint is a response by the U.S. in the case of Rachel Crafton, administratrix of the estate of Casey Crafton, who died in the accident; she is being represented by attorney Robert Clifford.

“In a very carefully drafted and lengthy legal filing, the United States admits the Army’s responsibility for the needless loss of life in the crash of an Army helicopter and [the CRJ700] at Reagan National Airport, as well as the FAA’s failure to follow air traffic control procedure,” Clifford explained. “The government, however, rightfully acknowledges that it is not the only entity responsible for this deadly crash, and, indeed, it asserts that its conduct is but one of several causes of the loss of life.” The CRJ700’s operator, PSA Airlines, and codeshare partner American Airlines have filed motions to dismiss claims against them.

Atlantic Aviation has acquired Cedar Aviation Services, the lone FBO at Bermuda’s L.F. Wade International Airport (TXKF). It will transition the location to its brand over the coming months.

The 6,440-sq-ft FBO terminal at TXKF offers an 11-seat conference room; meeting space; concierge service; customs and immigration assistance; pilot lounge; and international trash disposal. Its leasehold features more than 16 acres of ramp for aircraft parking.

“Cedar Aviation has long demonstrated an exceptional level of personalized care and support for aircraft crews and passengers,” said Atlantic CEO Jeff Foland. “Their values and service standards align closely with ours, and we look forward to building on the strong reputation they have established.”

For Atlantic, this marks its 109th location in the U.S. and Caribbean. Earlier this month, the mega-chain acquired the former ExecuJet FBO at Saint Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport.

“The acquisition of Cedar Aviation strategically enhances our international presence and expands our portfolio of island FBOs in leading leisure and business destinations,” added Bobby Femia, the company’s v-p of mergers and acquisitions.

Air Charter Service is preparing for what it calls its most complex World Cup to date as the 2026 tournament expands to 48 teams competing across 16 stadiums in four time zones. ACS said the vast geography of the event is already prompting demand for charters, with distances between some venues exceeding 2,000 miles and limited direct scheduled service to match expected traffic.

ACS group commercial director Alex Sadat-Shafai said charters will be a necessity, citing the lack of sufficient direct flights and the operational complexity created by the tournament’s scale. He contrasted the layout with Qatar 2022, where stadiums were just 34 miles apart, and recalled arranging more than 350 flights for the similarly dispersed 2018 Russia event.

Group-stage travel alone poses substantial challenges. In Group J, Algeria faces a total of 3,685 miles between matches in San Francisco and Kansas City. England’s itinerary includes an opener near Dallas, followed by a more than 1,800-mile trip to Boston, where ACS noted that current airline schedules will not support timely fan travel. The city pair spanning the greatest distance in the tournament, Vancouver to Miami, will not occur in group play, but it illustrates the extreme spread of venues.

ACS said it has already secured several early bookings and expects volume to grow. The broker highlighted its footprint across all three host countries and eight of the 16 host cities as a factor driving demand from clients seeking coordinated charter support.

AIN’s FBO survey is open for year-round feedback, but the deadline to vote in the 2026 survey (to be announced at our 2nd annual FBO Awards Dinner & Gala and published in April) is January 11. The survey takes only a minute, and you can do it while waiting for passengers, on the shuttle bus to/from the hotel, or at any other time that is convenient for you. Participants will be entered to win a $250 Amazon gift card (winner must reside in the U.S.). Log in to rate your experiences at the FBOs you visit.