By Crystal Harrell
On January 13, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in celebration of the newly built executive Fixed-Base Operator (FBO) facility Desert Jet Center, located at the Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport in Thermal.
The new state-of-the-art 32,500-square-foot aviation facility features premium amenities, including a luxurious and well-appointed lobby giving business and leisure travelers, their pets, and returning residents an upscale facility to fly to when traveling to Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley.
The Desert Jet Center is expected to draw more visitors to the Thermal airport and bring investments and economic development opportunities to the East Valley. New jobs for local residents have also become available, creating opportunity for career development in aviation for many of the youth in the area.
The ribbon-cutting was officiated by Riverside County Fourth District Supervisor V. Manual Perez and Desert Jet owner Jim McCool. The Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce, local dignitaries, and elected officials also joined the event. Music students from the College of the Desert provided the entertainment playing jazz classics.
“We are pleased to celebrate the opening of our gorgeous new FBO terminal, the first new FBO in the Coachella Valley in 20-plus years… I am ecstatic that we now have a first-class facility commensurate with the five-star service we have provided our clients for years. Desert Jet is well-positioned to continue as the premier FBO, charter, and maintenance company in Southern California for many years to come,” said Desert Jet Chief Executive Officer Jared Fox.
The new full-service FBO offers aircraft fueling and ground services, hangar storage, and aircraft detailing. Specialized concierge services such as ground transportation and aircraft inflight catering are also available.
Desert Jet Center also serves as the headquarters for Desert Jet’s private jet charter, aircraft management, and Part 145 aircraft maintenance business entities. While there are other FBOs in the desert area, none offer the full range of services available at Desert Jet Center that a business jet operator requires.
“Our mission is to create memorable flight experiences for our clients while enabling them to do great things with their companies and loved ones. Success to us means being great at what we do, creating a great place to work, providing great customer service and making a significant contribution to our community. Let us show you how we can help you use business aviation to do more with the time you have, and do more of what you love doing,” stated Fox.
The Desert Jet Center is located at the best location on the airport, towards the approach end of runway 17, with ramp space that can accommodate aircraft as heavy as a Boeing 757, with direct access to and from runway 17/35. Its brand new state-of-the-art 22,500-square-foot hangar, the only air-conditioned hangar in the desert, will accommodate aircraft as large as the Gulfstream G650 and Global 7000.
Desert Jet employs aircraft detailing staff with a combined 20 years of detailing experience, offering the only FAA-compliant aircraft detailing in the desert. The highly-trained detail staff works closely with the maintenance team to ensure all cleaning is accomplished in accordance with the aircraft manufacturer’s maintenance manual and guidance. As some aircraft detailing procedures are considered maintenance functions, those procedures are supervised and inspected by a Part 145 Repair Station.
Interior services provided include interior cleaning and detailing, carpet and upholstery cleaning, leather cleaning and reconditioning, lavatory and galley cleaning and sanitation, and stain removal. Exterior services offered are aircraft washing, wax, machine buff and polish, brightwork, and de-ice boot treatment.
For a personalized quote, contact Desert Jet at (760) GA-CLEAN or (760) 422-5326. For more information about additional services, visit www.desertjet.com or call (800) 381-JETS.
