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APPENDIX II: PRELIMINARY AIRPORT ASSESSMENT <br /> APPENDIX <br /> <br />Airport Strategic Business Plan, 07/26/2021 58 <br />F. FBO AND SASO BACKGROUND <br />Fixed Base Operators (FBOs) <br />From a practical standpoint, the term “FBO” is defined within the context of the <br />marketplace. Accordingly, Aviation Management Consulting Group utilizes the following <br />definition for an FBO, “An FBO is an airport-based aircraft service organization which <br />operates under a lease, use, or operating agreement with an airport owner or operator <br />for the specific purpose of providing aircraft fueling and engaging in a minimum of one of <br />six of the remaining primary product, service, and facilities areas”. It is important to note <br />that the products, services, and facilities provided by FBOs are not limited to the General <br />Aviation segment of the market (products and services are provided to air carriers and <br />the government as well). <br />FBOs who provide aircraft fueling and engage in multiple primary products, services, and <br />facilities areas are commonly known as “full service” FBOs. FBOs who provide aircraft <br />fueling, aircraft ground handling services, and passenger/crew services and facilities only <br />are known as “limited” FBOs. It is estimated that there are approximately 3,400 FBOs in <br />operation in the United States at airports having a paved runway of 3,000 feet or more. <br />Specialized Aviation Service Operators (SASOs) <br />While FBOs are more rigidly defined, a specialized aircraft service operator (SASO) <br />typically provides products and/or services in only one of the following primary product, <br />service, or facilities categories: aircraft storage, technical services, flight services, or <br />aircraft sales. Accordingly, SASOs provide products and services within a very narrow <br />segment of the General Aviation marketplace. <br />In addition, SASOs do not necessarily operate under a lease with an airport and in many <br />cases, SASOs are subtenants of an FBO or may even be located off-airport. Most <br />importantly, SASOs do not provide aircraft fueling products and services. At this time, it <br />is estimated that there are approximately 3,400 FBOs and in excess of 20,000 SASOs in <br />operation in the United States at airports having a paved runway of 3,000 feet or more. <br />There are several SASO services that are governed by the FAA through regulations and <br />require FAA certification, as follows: <br /> Aircraft Charter Operators (Part 135): In the US, there are approximately 1,339 <br />certificated aircraft charter operators providing passenger transportation services <br />(1,100), air ambulance transportation services (81), and air cargo transportation <br />services (158) operating over 11,000 aircraft. <br /> Pilot Schools (Part 141): In the US, there are approximately 680 certificated pilot <br />schools providing flight training services. However, it is important to note that there <br />are thousands more pilot schools and flight instructors providing flight training under <br />Part 61 (versus Part 141). Regardless of how flight training is provided, the FAA <br />regulates the minimum requirements for pilot training and certification.