With the hometown Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals set to compete in Super Bowl LVI on February 13 in Los Angeles, local aviation service providers are gearing up to welcome the flock of private aircraft that are expected to descend on the area throughout the week.
California-based ACI Jet is ramping up its maintenance organization to prepare for the possible hundreds of aircraft. A Bombardier-authorized service facility, the company is increasing staffing at its warehouse operations, including parts runners and transportation. It will offer same-day parts delivery for Bombardier jets, as well as Cessna Citations, to most Southern California locations in the days bracketing the event.
In case of AOG situations, the company is positioning four mobile maintenance units in the area with a dozen technicians to supplement its Orange County-John Wayne Airport-based team. ACI is also amending the staffing for its Part 145 repair station at San Luis Obispo to make sure that there is adequate coverage for any larger, unscheduled maintenance needs during the period.
L.A.-area FBOs are bracing for the customary surge in traffic generated by the game. To refuel departing aircraft from its Van Nuys Airport location, Castle & Cooke is having a tanker load of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) delivered by Avfuel, with additional deliveries based on demand. Each of the approximately 8,000-gallon loads of the blended SAF represents a lifecycle savings of 19 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions compared to conventional jet fuel.
“The big game is a major event for aviation and we’re thrilled it's coming to our region this year,” said Tony Marlow, Castle & Cooke’s president of aviation operations. “We were Avfuel’s first FBO to receive a demonstration load of SAF back in 2019 and we couldn’t be more proud to offer it yet again to our eco-conscious customers flying in for the event.”
