California aviation services provider Desert Jet has sold its aircraft charter and management division to Los Angeles-based operator Advanced Air. The transaction, subject to regulatory approval, will include Desert Jet’s Part 135 certificate and the eight all-Textron aircraft on it, including Cessna Citation Sovereigns, Bravos, and CJ3s, as well as Beechcraft King Air 350s.

According to Desert Jet CEO Jared Fox, those aircraft—some of which may relocate to Advanced Air’s base at Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport—will initially remain on its certificate before ultimately migrating to Advanced’s certificate. Desert Jet's certificate holds all the industry's top safety ratings, including Argus Platinum, Wyvern Wingman Pro, and IS-BAO Stage 3.

“We wanted an acquisition partner that would provide the very best to the Desert Jet employees that will be making the move over, to the aircraft owners, and ultimately to the Desert Jet charter clientele, and without a doubt, Advanced Air checked all of those boxes,” Fox told AIN.

Desert Jet, which operates an FBO and Part 145 maintenance facility at Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport (KTRM) in Palm Springs, began its presence at KTRM in 2006 as a charter operator and added FBO services a decade later. In 2019, it opened its permanent facility. Fox believes that the company has played a role in increasing traffic to the airport and looks to expand that success to other locations.

“We believe that throughout the country there is a desire for more of what we’re able to offer,” he said. “We know that there are airports out there that may be slightly on the peripheral or underserved now but with the right investment, the right team, and maybe a little bit of time they become more desirous for operators.”