Skyservice, a Canadian provider of business aviation services, is at Booth No. C7123 celebrating 25 years of continuous operation. Now with full service FBOs in Canada’s three largest markets–Montreal, Toronto and Calgary–Skyservice operates a total of 60 owned and managed business jets, most of which are available for charter. Beginning in 1986 with a single FBO at Montreal’s Dorval Airport, Skyservice has since grown into a multi-faceted organization managing more than 20 aircraft types worldwide.

In addition to fixed-wing air ambulance services, Skyservice offers extensive maintenance capabilities as a factory-recognized Bombardier, Hawker Beechcraft and Dassault Falcon service facility. It also provides avionics installation and repair and is a sales and service center for Honeywell and Rockwell Collins.

Skyservice CEO and founder Russ Payson developed a concept in a school paper he penned many years ago into today’s reality. “When we started Skyservice,” he said recently, “we had a goal of bringing world-class service to the Canadian market. We saw the opportunity to make our business unique in a growing industry. Our first fixed-base operation in Montreal was the beginning of that realization, with Toronto added in 1994 and, most recently, Calgary. I salute those who have shared the passion with us and look forward to the next 25 years.”

“For a business to reach 25 years,’’ added Marshall Myles, Skyservice president, “everyone on our team works to the highest standards of quality and safety. This has earned us an unprecedented level of trust from those we serve and support. We are all working to make our company live up to its slogan: air travel evolved.

“What I think makes our story unique,” Myles continued, “is that over that time Skyservice has grown from a single FBO in Montreal to a truly global company, providing FBO facilities from three locations as well as operating aircraft and providing maintenance services for clients around the world. Our business includes highly skilled maintenance teams, outstanding FBO operations and facilities, an air ambulance service and first-class business charter and aircraft management services.”

From a modest beginning with 15 Montreal-based employees, Skyservice today employs more than 500 people. The company implemented a Transport Canada-approved safety management system in 2003 and has been awarded the Platinum rating by Argus International. It is also the first non-U.S. charter operation to successfully complete the Air Charter Safety Foundation audit.