Florida real estate developer Sebring Resorts announced plans to build a private aircraft hangar complex at Sebring Regional Airport (KSEF). Tied to the popular Sebring International Raceway, the hangar campus is part of a $200 million slate of six real estate projects in the area by the developer.

The company is now accepting pre-construction sales of the anticipated 14 private hangars, with pricing starting at $1.25 million for a 40-year lease. Customers can choose from either a 4,900-sq-ft or 8,100-sq-ft private hangar, the latter of which can accommodate a midsize jet. Each hurricane-rated hangar will include owner and guest parking, fire-suppression systems, pre-wiring for fans, and plumbed office and bathroom installations, ready for completion.

To be known as Sebring Jet Center, the facility will be located adjacent to KSEF’s lone FBO, Sebring Flight Center, which will provide fueling and ground-handling services to hangar tenants. The company expects to break ground by year-end.

“Many of our Sebring Resort owners rely on air travel for their high-octane getaways. Offering state-of-the-art aircraft hangars completes the circle of convenience,” said Bill Klohn, the company’s broker and development partner, who told AIN that three of the hangars have already sold, with two more expected imminently. “The Sebring Jet Center delivers exceptional value compared to the high costs of hangar space at coastal airports.”

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford provided a deeper look at the “brand new” air traffic control system that the agency is striving for, outlining a network that is quieter, more seamless, and more efficient for a pilot.

“From a pilot’s perspective, I think they’re going to have much greater precision about their flight trajectories as they’re navigating through the airspace,” Bedford told attendees yesterday at the monthly Aero Club of Washington, D.C. luncheon. “It should be much quieter from coast to coast because we should require much fewer handoffs as you move through the system.” He conceded that the FAA still has “some holes…to plug into this plan,” but those are the high-level end goals.

Bedford described the current state of the National Airspace System as highly variant and co-dependent with “highly inoperable systems.” He added, “We’ve got a lot of great technology. None of it is knitted well together. It requires a lot of human intervention. It requires a lot of eyes on scopes.”

But the technology currently available can strategically deconflict trajectories before an aircraft takes off, he added. “We can look at 50,000 flight operations a day, and we can design the routes of flight to be highly deconflicted from the start.” A key to making this happen, he cautioned, will be a cultural shift with airspace users.

Elliott Aviation is celebrating its 90th anniversary and launched the Founder’s Award to acknowledge the company milestone. The first recipient of the Founder’s Award is Paul Schmidt, who has worked for Elliott Aviation for 27 years.

Schmidt’s experience in the avionics arena includes contributing to more than 100 Garmin installations, one-fifth of the total completed by Elliott Aviation. According to Elliott Aviation, “Paul is widely respected for his professionalism, humility, and unwavering commitment to doing things the right way. He is the teammate others rely on when precision matters, timelines are tight, and customers are counting on Elliott Aviation to deliver. His consistent demonstration of trust, honor, and integrity makes him a role model within the organization and across the aviation community.”

“As Elliott Aviation celebrates 90 years, it is fitting that we honor the people who carry our founders’ values forward,” said company president Michael Parrish. “Paul Schmidt exemplifies what it means to be part of Elliott Aviation, and we are proud to recognize him as the first recipient of the Founder’s Award.”

Elliott Aviation was founded in 1936 by Herb Elliott. “The Founder’s Award is a direct reflection of what Herb Elliott believed mattered most,” said Parrish. “This award is not just about performance. It is about character, accountability, and the pride our founders believed every employee should bring to their work.”

AEG Fuels has added four of Jet Aviation’s U.S. locations—including the top business aviation destinations on both coasts—to its growing aviation fuel network. Through an agreement, Miami-based AEG will now supply jet-A and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to Jet Aviation’s FBOs at New York City-area Teterboro Airport (KTEB), Southern California top business aviation hub Van Nuys Airport (KVNY), Scottsdale Airport (KSDL) in Arizona, and Dallas Love Field (KDAL).

All four facilities are known for their service standards, modern infrastructure, and market position, making them well-suited to support growing demand for reliable jet fuel supply. By adding those strategic locations to its dealer network, AEG also enhances its ability to help operators meet their sustainability goals while expanding access to SAF.

“These locations represent some of the most active and influential business aviation hubs in the country,” said AEG v-p Justin Clementi. “This expansion allows us to connect AEG’s global client base of more than 40,000 aircraft to premier facilities in key markets, creating meaningful value for operators and further differentiating AEG in the marketplace.”

Wheels Up said it opened 2026 with a record 14 consecutive days without a single flight cancellation, setting a new internal benchmark. The company also reported six perfect completion days during the peak December holiday travel period. Overall, Wheels Up said it is now fulfilling 99% of its flights without extended delays of three hours or more, representing the lowest such delay levels in its history.

The performance reflects continued improvements in operational reliability, according to the company. “This milestone is a clear signal that our transformation is working,” said CEO George Mattson. “Our operations team is now delivering the kind of consistency our customers expect.”

David Holtz, Wheels Up COO, said the company operated more than 1,000 flights without a cancellation across the late December holiday travel period and the first two weeks of 2026, reflecting progress in planning, maintenance, and real-time execution. Wheels Up said the results underscore its broader transformation strategy, centered on a customer-focused operating model supported by tighter operational and financial discipline.

The company also announced PGA Tour professional Ben Griffin as a brand ambassador, citing alignment between its flexible travel offerings and the needs of professional athletes, supported in part through Wheels Up’s partnership with Delta Air Lines.

Implementation of the European Union’s new digital border control process appears to be taking longer than anticipated, with some airports delaying the use of technology to collect biometric data for non-EU visitors to the Schengen Area. Rollout of the Entry/Exit System (EES) process started in October and is supposed to be fully operational in 29 states by April 10.

From January 16, the European Commission (EC) has expected at least 35% of non-EU travelers to be using the system, which requires an initial enrollment using machines in airport border control areas. However, several airports, including Lisbon in Portugal, have suspended implementation after experiencing severe delays in processing passengers.

According to the European branch of Airports Council International, border control processing times have increased by around 70% at locations where EES is in use, with waiting times of up to three hours during peak travel periods. The EC has shown no willingness to push back the April 10 mandate for full implementation.

In tandem with EES, which records when passengers enter and exit the Schengen Area, the EU is also preparing to implement the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) in the fourth quarter. In addition to airlines, the EES and ETIAS requirements apply to all Part 135 commercial charter flights, with the onus being on the operator to ensure all passengers are compliant.

FBO network operator Paragon Aviation Group (PAG) is celebrating its 15th anniversary. With the idea of creating a group of independent upscale FBOs united by shared values of quality, consistency, and collaboration, the group launched in 2011, with eight initial locations. Paragon now encompasses more than 110 facilities worldwide.

Before joining the network, each prospective FBO must first undergo an extensive audit of its facility and FBO services to ensure every arrival and departure across the network demonstrates the same commitment to service quality.

Accepted members enjoy increased business through group networking efforts while providing benefits such as shared marketing initiatives and strategic partnerships, data-driven insights, and collaborative programs.

“Celebrating 15 years is a reflection of the incredible people behind Paragon—our FBO members, strategic partners, and internal team who believe in raising the bar together,” said Crystal Kubeczka, the group’s president. “What began as an idea rooted in quality and trust has evolved into a global network that continues to move business aviation forward.”

In 2024, PAG was acquired by the Luxaviation Group. Luxaviation’s ground handling subsidiary ExecuJet had joined the Paragon network in 2017, and at that time, it purchased a majority share in the managing company.

“Our future is about evolution—not just growth,” added Kubeczka. “We are committed to expanding the network with intention…and ensuring Paragon remains a trusted standard of excellence.”

Join us March 26 in Cleveland for the prestigious AIN FBO Awards Dinner & Gala—an unforgettable evening of networking, celebration, and recognition of the industry’s top FBOs. Enjoy a formal dinner and witness the first reveal of the 2026 survey winners. Limited tickets available; purchase today. Table & event sponsorship opportunities are also available.