Clay Lacy Aviation has been investing in its Northeast operations for years, providing the legendary service and operations the company has built a reputation on for more than five decades. The next step is one that it hopes will improve the experience of aircraft owners and operators throughout the Northeast and New York metropolitan area.
The company recently broke ground on the first phase of a two phase $40 million expansion at Waterbury-Oxford Airport (KOXC) in Oxford, Connecticut. Clay Lacy also committed to foster the next generation of aviation professionals by establishing an annual scholarship and internship program with CT Aerotech.
Under the leadership of Buddy Blackburn, Clay Lacy’s Senior Vice President of FBO Operations, the first 11-acre phase of the fixed-base operator (FBO) and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) expansion will feature a passenger terminal, executive offices and a 40,000-square-foot hangar. The new full-service FBO, maintenance, and hangar facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
The expansion serves two major purposes: addressing the growing demand in the New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts aviation communities; and committing to job creation and economic growth for the State of CT and the Oxford area. Initially the project will create 200 new high-paying jobs with an annual payroll in excess of $32 million and 420 indirect jobs during the construction process. Connecticut aviation authorities and state leaders have praised the investment as one that will drive economic development. The enhanced facilities are expected to attract business to the state for companies looking for better private aviation services.
Expansion Mean More Services
Blackburn has been part of aviation operations at Oxford for over 30 years, having seen the airport grow into Connecticut’s largest business aviation airport. When he started, there was a single 15,000-square-foot hangar on the premises. With this expansion, Clay Lacy is poised to nearly triple that alone, and a second phase would add an additional 80,000 square feet of hangar and office space.
Oxford offers considerable advantages to Northeast aircraft owners:- Short flights to NY-metro airports
- Less congestion and flight activity, allowing better service
- 30% lower costs on hangar and office rentals, and sales tax benefits
- Higher availability than NY-based airports
- New Clay Lacy hangars will accommodate ultra-long range aircraft up to Global 7500
- U.S. customs facilities
- Longest GA airport Runway in CT at 5,800 feet.
The hangar expansion will further strengthen Clay Lacy’s aircraft management capabilities in the region, allowing more owners access to its data-driven approach to management. A dedicated management team help lower operating costs, and work to make the ownership experience easier and more enjoyable. By investing in scholarships, Clay Lacy is helping grow its future workforce of trained maintenance technicians. The company offers MRO services to all major business aircraft manufacturers including Bombardier, Dassault Falcon, Gulfstream and Textron Aviation.
Built for the Future
All the facilities under construction will be built in accordance with Clay Lacy’s Sustainability Strategy, and will be certified carbon neutral. The facilities include solar panel provisions, electric vehicle (EV) charging, electric aircraft charging, efficient building design, and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Its facilities nationwide have been carbon neutral since 2019 and it was the first company certified to the National Air Transportation Association’s (NATA) Sustainability Standard for Aviation Business and the first to be rated Facility Neutral by 4AIR.
