SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – Guam-based Aviation Concepts, Inc. (ACI), a US-certified aviation services provider, has opened this weekend a new hangar in this freeport for the company’s second functional base in the Asia-Pacific region.
Twice the size of its Guam hangar, ACI’s 100,000-square foot hangar facility in Subic underwent massive refurbishment and upgrading to meet world-class standards.
“Banking on Subic’s strategic location, ACI will provide alternative fix-based operator (FBO) services to transient aircraft looking for inexpensive fueling, minimal handling fees and other low cost technical requirements not found in Hong Kong, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur,” ACI president and CEO Terry Habeck said during the ceremonial opening of the firm’s new facility at the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) that ACI is optimistic of its future in Subic.
“We see our future here, and we are starting to build up to better serve the Asian area, including Hong Kong, China and Indonesia,” Habeck said.
“Subic will become an aircraft management center, which will take care of the full services for aircraft from maintenance to flight crew, record briefing, dispatching, and air ambulance for domestic and international flights,” Habeck added.
Since ACI commenced operation in 1991, it has become the first Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-certified Part 135 operator to be headquartered in Asia.
The certification allows on-demand intra-state operations, with nine passengers or less, and utilizing only one pilot.
ACI is also known as the first charter company in the region to be authorized to operate the Boeing business jet on an Air Carrier Certificate. Its Carejet, meanwhile, is the first fixed-wing air ambulance service provider to be based in the Western Pacific.
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) administrator Armand Arreza said the decision of ACI to locate its expansion project in Subic “is a welcome opportunity that will help the SBMA realize its vision of becoming a service and logistics hub in Asia.”
Arreza said the SBMA is continuously improving facilities in Subic, putting up new container terminals, road networks, bonding warehouses, and streamlining the document processing.
“With more competitive shipping costs and daily ship and aircraft calls to major regional logistics hubs, Subic should become a viable regional transshipment center,” he added.
Anthony Decoste, ACI managing director for the Philippines, said that their company has put up US$1.1 million in committed investment in the first year to place the Subic facility at par with world-class standards. The amount does not include the aircraft to be based in this freeport.
Decoste also noted that the Subic hangar facility underwent major renovation to house the initial five aircraft, including an air ambulance for medical evacuation, to be based here.
He added that the ACI is expecting a lot of growth over the next few months, as the company enjoys a stronger customer demand from CEOs of top 500 corporations, high-ranking government officials, and celebrities here.
“We want the guests and visitors that we bring here to have a good impression of Subic. We will also help promote the Philippines in the field of medical tourism,” Decoste said.
Twice the size of its Guam hangar, ACI’s 100,000-square foot hangar facility in Subic underwent massive refurbishment and upgrading to meet world-class standards.
“Banking on Subic’s strategic location, ACI will provide alternative fix-based operator (FBO) services to transient aircraft looking for inexpensive fueling, minimal handling fees and other low cost technical requirements not found in Hong Kong, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur,” ACI president and CEO Terry Habeck said during the ceremonial opening of the firm’s new facility at the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) that ACI is optimistic of its future in Subic.
“We see our future here, and we are starting to build up to better serve the Asian area, including Hong Kong, China and Indonesia,” Habeck said.
“Subic will become an aircraft management center, which will take care of the full services for aircraft from maintenance to flight crew, record briefing, dispatching, and air ambulance for domestic and international flights,” Habeck added.
Since ACI commenced operation in 1991, it has become the first Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-certified Part 135 operator to be headquartered in Asia.
The certification allows on-demand intra-state operations, with nine passengers or less, and utilizing only one pilot.
ACI is also known as the first charter company in the region to be authorized to operate the Boeing business jet on an Air Carrier Certificate. Its Carejet, meanwhile, is the first fixed-wing air ambulance service provider to be based in the Western Pacific.
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) administrator Armand Arreza said the decision of ACI to locate its expansion project in Subic “is a welcome opportunity that will help the SBMA realize its vision of becoming a service and logistics hub in Asia.”
Arreza said the SBMA is continuously improving facilities in Subic, putting up new container terminals, road networks, bonding warehouses, and streamlining the document processing.
“With more competitive shipping costs and daily ship and aircraft calls to major regional logistics hubs, Subic should become a viable regional transshipment center,” he added.
Anthony Decoste, ACI managing director for the Philippines, said that their company has put up US$1.1 million in committed investment in the first year to place the Subic facility at par with world-class standards. The amount does not include the aircraft to be based in this freeport.
Decoste also noted that the Subic hangar facility underwent major renovation to house the initial five aircraft, including an air ambulance for medical evacuation, to be based here.
He added that the ACI is expecting a lot of growth over the next few months, as the company enjoys a stronger customer demand from CEOs of top 500 corporations, high-ranking government officials, and celebrities here.
“We want the guests and visitors that we bring here to have a good impression of Subic. We will also help promote the Philippines in the field of medical tourism,” Decoste said.
