Recent News and Announcements from Centre Partners
Denver, Colorado, February 6, 2008 – Ross Aviation today confirmed that it has acquired an ownership interest in Miami Executive Aviation (“MEA”) at Opa-locka Executive Airport in Miami, Florida. This is the seventh major FBO investment for Ross Aviation. The FBO will continue to operate as “Miami Executive Aviation,” joining Denver AirCenter, Scottsdale AirCenter, Santa Fe AirCenter, Capital Aviation, Corporate Aircraft and Great Circle Flight Services as strategic locations in a growing network.
Ross Aviation President and CEO, Jeff Ross, commented that, “We are pleased to add Miami Executive Aviation to our growing family of FBOs. We were drawn to MEA not only because of its great location, but also because of the outstanding management of the FBO. We are excited to welcome Fabio Alexander as a partner and his team to the Ross family. He will continue to lead the operation of Miami Executive and lend his considerable marketing skills and energy to the rest of the Ross Aviation portfolio.”
In addition to providing great FBO services to corporate aviation consumers, MEA is a community-friendly contributor to the airport, its operators and local government sponsors. The MEA team has piloted many new frontiers in attracting customers and enhancing the value of the airport including: leading the effort to extend the hours of operation for the U.S. Customs service; constructing an 77,400 square foot hangar capable of housing three Boeing Business Jets; supporting youth educational initiatives such as Barrington Irving”s “Experience Aviation”; and volunteering with the “Brothers to the Rescue” humanitarian efforts. MEA”s state-of-the-art facilities have hosted the “McDonalds Air and Sea Show” and a variety of other special events for corporations including Merrill Lynch and Chevron, and served as a great location for film, video and fashion industry productions for “Miami Vice”, Will Smith, Chanel and others.
Miami Executive Aviation was established by Fabio Alexander in November 1996. Its facilities include more than 950,000 square feet of ramp, hangar, parking and office space (including the new BBJ hangar to be completed this month). Opa-locka Executive (“OPF”) is centrally located between Miami International Airport (7 miles south), and Ft. Lauderdale International Airport (15 NE) and only 3 miles from Miami Dolphin Stadium. OPF is the largest of Miami-Dade County’s five general aviation airports and is the primary general aviation reliever for the busy Miami International Airport. OPF is open 24/7, offers multiple instrument approaches, and provides one of the longest general aviation runways in the country at 8,002 feet, which can handle virtually all types of aircraft. OPF supports the business aviation community, light cargo traffic to the Caribbean, and is an ideal location for large aircraft maintenance services.
Ross Aviation was established in 2004 through a partnership between Centre Partners Management, LLC and industry veterans Jeff Ross and Greg Ross (no relation). Bruce Pollack, Managing Partner of Centre Partners, said, “The management and marketing team, directed by Fabio Alexander, will continue to lead and grow the operation. We look forward to their continuing success and are confident they will contribute significantly to the performance of other Ross FBOs.”
Centre Partners, with offices in New York and Los Angeles, is a private equity investment firm focused exclusively on supporting strong middle market companies. Founded in 1986, Centre Partners and its affiliates have invested over $3 billion of equity capital in more than 90 private equity transactions.
Ross Aviation brings together extensive FBO ownership and operating knowledge with the flexibility to structure and quickly close a variety of transaction models. Its principals are experienc