A new fixed-base operator (FBO) providing aeronautical services is officially open at the Wilmington International Airport, according to a release this week.

After less than a year of construction, Aero Center Wilmington is open for business at 1830 Flightline Rd. The first phase of the center includes about 100,000 square feet of ramp space, office space, two hangars and a 50,000-gallon fuel farm.

“The hangar height can handle the largest business jet available in the market today,” a press release stated.

Its offerings for general aviation include aircraft fueling, parking, hangar storage, aircraft maintenance, and 365 on-call maintenance support services for both general aviation and commercial airlines.

Aero Center is an umbrella brand owned by SAR Trilogy Management, an aviation investment and management company.

“Aero Center Wilmington will bring more aviation activity to ILM,”  said S. Michael Scheeringa, founder and managing director of SAR Trilogy Management LLC, in the press release. “We saw an opportunity to grow with Wilmington. We have built a world-class facility and brought on an experienced local team.

Sandra Spaller is the general manager of the local Aero Center and Chris McPherson will serve as director of maintenance.

Aero Center is the second FBO at ILM, joining Modern Aviation Wilmington, which has been on-site since 1975.

The New Hanover County Airport Authority approved a lease agreement to bring Aero Center to the airport in May 2020. Construction was delayed due to pandemic-triggered supply chain issues, Sanjay Aggarwal, co-founder of SAR Trilogy said.

“We signed our lease two years ago and started development immediately. While the COVID-19-related supply chain and labor issues delayed our opening, we could not have asked for a more supportive partner than the team at Wilmington International Airport led by Jeffrey Bourk and the New Hanover County Airport Authority led by Donna Girardot,” Aggarwal said.

Scheeringa said the project was financed with Live Oak Bank. The company expects to host a grand-opening ceremony in the summer.