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Gateway to the Southeast
Banyan Air Service at KSGJ by Lance Phillips
Left to right, Lou Homsher – Quality control manager - FXE, Tanner – MX tech- SGJ, Jonathan – MX tech- SGJ, TGabe – MX crew leader- SGJ, David – MX tech- SGJ, Charlie Amento – VP/Director of MRO -FXE
his month, I had the opportu- you planning to certify a new Part 145 CA: Yes, Banyan hired two former nity to speak with Banyan Air station there, or is Banyan taking over Volato line maintenance personnel. Service’s vice president of another 145 that was already there? We also hired a local maintenance
MRO services, Charlie Amento, about Charlie Amento: Banyan will op- technician and brought two others
the expansion to St. Augustine’s Northeast Florida Regional Airport, KSGJ. The move makes sense, even after Banyan’s long success within the boundaries of the Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport.
Lance Phillips: Charlie, thank you for taking a few minutes to discuss the expansion to St. Augustine. Are
18 • TWIN & TURBINE / June 2024
erate the St. Augustine MRO facility as a satellite to our Part 145 facility in Ft. Lauderdale.
LP: Volato is a charter organi- zation with operations at KSGJ. Their HondaJet f leet seems like it would make them a great partner for Banyan. Were you able to bring on any former Volato personnel with the expansion?
up from Ft. Lauderdale. So, we now have five maintenance technicians performing heavy maintenance checks at SGJ–mostly the 600-hour check, which is the major inspection for HondaJets.
LP: Who is your main target audi- ence for business at the SGJ facility? CA: Banyan is the authorized ser- vice and sales center for HondaJet