Columbia Aviation Companies

The Columbia group of companies includes Columbia Air Services, Inc., Columbia Aircraft Sales, Inc., Columbia Fuel Services, Inc., Columbia Air, LLC, Columbia Air Services-Rutland, LLC, Columbia Air Services-BHB, LLC, and Columbia Air Services-LAL, LLC. Each is a separate and distinct organization, with specific locations and/or purposes. However, to maximize the potential of the group, and to minimize customer confusion, each Columbia company has registered to conduct business in its respective location(s) under a common trade-name: “Columbia Air Services,” and where appropriate, “Columbia Aircraft Sales.”

Columbia Air Services, Inc., 175 Tower Avenue, Groton, Connecticut, was formed in 1980 to provide aircraft maintenance and a variety of other aviation services at the Groton-New London Airport in Groton, Connecticut. Since its affiliation with Pratt & Whitney in 1984, the company has serviced thousands of turbine engines, and is recognized today for its PT-6 series turbine engine expertise. Its airframe and Power-plant technicians are factory trained in all leading makes and models of piston aircraft, and its Aviation technicians offer technical and installation expertise, and represent the industry’s major navigational, altimetric, and electro-mechanical brands on the market.

Columbia Aircraft Sales, Inc., 175 Tower Avenue, Groton, Connecticut, was formed in 1988 to meet the transitional needs of the region’s general aviation owners and pilots. The company offers aircraft and avionics demonstrations, insurance and financing support, market research and analysis, aircraft sales and acquisitions, aircraft appraisals, transaction and registration services, and lifetime customer and product support. Columbia Aircraft Sales, Inc., is the exclusive distributor of New Piper, and Socata TBM 850 aircraft in the northeastern United States, and in the case of the TBM, eastern Canada as well. The company has representatives in Groton, CT; Allaire, NJ; White Plains, NY; Rutland, VT; and Bar Harbor, ME.

Columbia Fuel Services, Inc., 175 Tower Avenue, Groton, Connecticut, was organized in 1983 to provide fuel, hangar, and ground support services to the aviation public at the Groton-New London Airport. Since February 2001, the company has provided similar services at the Monmouth Executive Airport in Farmingdale, NJ. Today Columbia Fuel Services, Inc., provides fuel, lubricants, tie-downs, hangar space, baggage handling, catering, car-rental, concierge, de-icing, security, and other ground-support services at both locations. It operates in Groton from 5 am to 9 pm, and in Farmingdale from 6 am to 10 pm.

Columbia Air, LLC, 175 Tower Avenue, Groton, Connecticut, was formed in 1995 to provide air taxi services to the general public. The company received its Air Carrier Certificate in March of 1999, and has since been authorized to operate on-demand air charter in the Continental United States, Alaska, Canada, Bermuda, Mexico and the Caribbean. On May 4, 2006, the company was sold to NxAERO, LLC, a charter operations company headquartered in Beverly, Massachusetts. Thereafter, in 2007, Columbia Air, LLC merged into NxAERO, LLC, leaving NxAERO, LLC as the survivor. In accordance with the terms of the purchase agreement, the name “Columbia Air, LLC” has been reserved for possible future use by Columbia’s owners.

Columbia Air Services-RUT, LLC, was formed in July of 2002, to operate a fixed-base at the Rutland Southern Vermont Regional Airport, in North Clarendon, Vermont. The company was originally named “Columbia® Air Services-Rutland, LLC,” but was changed to its current name on October 17, 2005 to maintain consistency with other newly formed or acquired Columbia companies. The company operates from 8 am to 8 pm Monday through Sunday, providing fuel, lubricants, tie-downs, hangar space, baggage handling, catering, car-rental, concierge, de-icing, security, and other ground-support services. The company also manages T-hangar condominiums, hosts a flight school, brokers charter services, and offers scenic tours and aircraft rentals.

Columbia Air Services-BHB, LLC, was formed in August of 2003, to operate a fixed base at the Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport, in Trenton, Maine. The company operates from 7 am to 9 pm, seven days a week, providing aircraft maintenance, fuel, lubricants, tie-downs, hangar space, baggage handling, catering, car-rental, concierge, de-icing, security, and other ground-support services. The company also hosts a flight school, brokers charter services, scenic tours, and aircraft rentals.

Columbia Air Services-LAL, LLC, was formed in July of 2005, to operate a fixed base at the Lakeland-Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Florida. The company operates from 6 am to 10 pm, seven days a week, year round, providing fuel, lubricants, tie-downs, hangar space, baggage handling, catering, car-rental, concierge services, security, and other ground-support services. The company also hosts a flight school, and avionics company, and offers charter services, scenic tours, and aircraft rentals.