Clay Lacy Aviation is a business aviation company founded at Van Nuys Airport (KVNY) in 1968 by Clay Lacy.“Van Nuys Airport's Clay Lacy Aviation breaks ground on major expansion,” by Dana Bartholomew, "Los Angeles Daily News," February 12, 2015 “Lacy, Clay, Pilot/Entrepreneur, Enshrined 2010,” The National Aviation Hall of Fame “Moon Astronaut and Aviation Hall of Fame Pilot to be Honored at Palm Springs Air Museum Gala,” by Ann Greer, “Desert Sun,” January 29, 2018 Clay Lacy Aviation provides aircraft management, private air charter, aircraft maintenance, fixed-base operator (FBO) and other services to private and corporate clients. The company manages a nationwide fleet of more than 100 business jet aircraft, worth more than $1.5 billion, most of which are available for domestic and international private charter.“Clay Lacy Aviation Charter Activity Growing,” by Molly McMillin, “Aviation Week,” Feb 12, 2018
Operations centers, hangar facilities, and FAA Part 145 Repair Stations are located at Van Nuys Airport and Waterbury-Oxford Airport (KOXC) near New York. Managed jet aircraft are based at general aviation airports across the U.S. Clay Lacy also operates a full-service FBO at Van Nuys Airport and began operating an FBO at Orange County's John Wayne Airport in January 2021.“Clay Lacy Aviation Awarded FBO Lease at John Wayne Airport, Orange County,” Yahoo! News, September 23, 2020 A Clay Lacy Aviation FBO at Waterbury-Oxford Airport, announced in 2020, opened in 2024.“Connecticut Airport Authority Announces Clay Lacy Aviation Expansion at Waterbury-Oxford Airport,” Aviation Pros, October 30, 2020 Epstein, Curt, "Clay Lacy to Open East Coast FBO,” Business Jet Traveler, November 2020 Le Marquand, Yves, "Clay Lacy Waterbury-Oxford Expansion 'on track' for 2024 Opening," Corporate Jet Investor, October 2023 Big Ideas, Bigger Hangars
History In 1968, Clay Lacy Aviation began operations as an on-demand jet charter operator at Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles.Geere, Stacy T. (2010). Lucky Me: The Life and Flights of Veteran Aviator Clay Lacy. Van Nuys: The Donning Company Publishers. ., page 81 At the time it was the only jet charter company west of the Mississippi.“Jet service pioneer at Van Nuys Airport gets Howard Hughes honor,” by Dan Weikel, “Los Angeles Times,” February 9, 2012 Early clients included Hollywood celebrities such as Danny Kaye, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Carol Channing, Kirk Douglas, and Cary Grant.Geere. Lucky Me. p. 80“Lear Jet: 50th Anniversary Milestone, The story behind an iconic aviation photograph,” by Stephen Pope, “Flying,” July 6, 2016 Over the next decade, the company began to offer aircraft management and maintenance services, and in 1981 established the first all-jet FBO.““The Air Elite Network welcomes Clay Lacy Aviation,” by Terry Spruce, “Corporate Jet Investor,” November 18, 2015
In 2002, Clay Lacy expanded to the Pacific Northwest, with a hangar facility and full-service FBO at Boeing Field in Seattle.“Clay Lacy, API CEO Acquire FBO in Seattle at BFI,” Staff Article, “Aviation Week,” September 9, 2002 An additional 40,000 square-foot of hangar space was completed there in 2009. In 2016, the company opened an FAA Part 145 Repair Station and expanded its Seattle capabilities to include FAA-certified private jet charter services.“Clay Lacy Aviation-Seattle Expands Maintenance Offerings with Newly-Awarded FAA Part 145 Repair Station Certification,” “DOM, Director of Maintenance,” April 29, 2016
In 2006, Brian Kirkdoffer was promoted to company president.“Clay Lacy has a new boss,” AIN Staff, “Aviation International News,” November 14, 2006 “Executive Profile: Brian Kirkdoffer, President & CEO, Clay Lacy Aviation,” Bloomberg He had joined Clay Lacy as a pilot in 1990. He has flown more than 10,000 hours in Learjet and Gulfstream aircraft, and holds four world aeronautical speed records. He acquired majority interest in Clay Lacy Aviation in 2013, and is currently its Chairman.
In 2015, Clay Lacy completed a 6-acre development and improvement project at its Van Nuys FBO on the South Campus, opening 2.5 acres of new ramp space.
In 2016, Clay Lacy acquired Key Air, a long-time East Coast private aviation company, with an operations and maintenance center at Waterbury-Oxford Airport near New York. An FAA Part 145 Repair Station was certified in 2018.“Clay Lacy Aviation, Key Air to Merge,” by Chad Trautvetter, “Aviation International News,” September 14, 2016 “Clay Lacy Merges With East Coast Aviation Firm,” by Mark Madler, “San Fernando Valley Business Journal,” September 14, 2016 “Clay Lacy opens maintenance facility at KOXC,” Staff Article, “General Aviation News,” April 18, 2018
In 2017, the company's ground operations at Seattle's Boeing Field earned the first IS-BAH Stage II registration in North America.“Clay Lacy Aviation Earns IS-BAH Stage II Safety Registration,” William Garvey, Jessica A. Salerno and Molly McMillin, “Aviation Week,” September 22, 2017 “Clay Lacy BFI Gets First North American IS-BAH Stage II,” Curt Epstein, “Aviation International News,” July 11, 2017 IS-BAH is the International Standard for Business Aviation Handling.
In 2018, Clay Lacy marked its fiftieth anniversary in April, opened its first New York office in June, and sold its Boeing Field Seattle operation in December.“Clay Lacy Aviation Celebrates 50 Years at VNY,” by Alexa Rexroth, “Aviation International News,” March 28, 2018 “Private jet company Clay Lacy opens first office in New York,” by Anthony Notto, “New York Business Journal,” June 27, 2018 "Modern Aviation Acquires Clay Lacy FBO in Seattle," Jerry Siebenmark, "Aviation International News," December 28, 2018
In January 2019, the company opened a new round-the-clock aircraft MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) facility at its Van Nuys Airport FAA Part 145 Repair Station.Epstein, Carl (February 14, 2019), “Clay Lacy Debuts New VNY MRO Facility, AINonline In April 2019, the FAA awarded Part 145 certification to the Clay Lacy aircraft maintenance operation at Waterbury-Oxford Airport, in Oxford, Connecticut.Lynch, Kerry (May 29, 2019), “Clay Lacy's OXC Site Gets Part 145 Approval, AINonline
In January 2020, Embraer expanded the authorized service center designation at Clay Lacy's Van Nuys Airport FAA Repair Station to include Embraer Legacy and Embraer Praetor business jets. Clay Lacy has been an authorized service center for Embraer Phenom 100 and Embraer Phenom 300 aircraft since 2009 and began performing 10-year inspections on those aircraft in 2019.“Embraer Expands Clay Lacy Service Center Authorization to include Legacy and Praetor Aircraft,” Aviation Pros, January 14, 2020 Siebenmark, Jerry, “Clay Lacy Adds Legacy, Praetor To Embraer Mx Bona Fides,” AINonline, January 15, 2020 Siebenmark, Jerry, “10-year Phenom Inspections Keep Clay Lacy Aviation Busy,” AIN Online, May 20, 2020
Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, in April 2020 Clay Lacy developed and implemented the CleanCheck health and safety standard throughout its aircraft operations, based on recommendations and best practices from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United States Department of Transportation, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).Sampson Ben, “Coronavirus: Clay Lacy creates health and safety standard,” May 7, 2020 “Clay Lacy Aviation Sets New CleanCheck Standard as Commitment to Health and Safety," AVIATION PROS, May 5, 2020 Also in April, and in response to COVID-19, the company broadened its aircraft detailing capabilities with disinfecting services, available through Clay Lacy maintenance centers and mobile response teams.Epstein, Curt, “CLAY LACY ADDS DISINFECTION SERVICES,” Business Jet Traveler, April 2020 "CLAY LACY LAUNCHES AIRCRAFT CLEANING AND DISINFECTING SERVICES," Aero News Network, April 29, 2020
In September 2020, the Orange County Board of Supervisors concluded a four-year evaluation process and awarded Clay Lacy a thirty-five year, 15-acre leasehold to design, build, and operate a full-service FBO with hangar, office space, and private terminal at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California. Operations began in January 2021.Madler, Mark, “Clay Lacy to Build FBO in Orange County,” San Fernando Valley Business Journal, September 23, 2020 “Clay Lacy Aviation Awarded FBO Lease at John Wayne Airport, Orange County,” BUSINESS INSIDER, September 23, 2020
It announced a new $95 million FBO and hangar complex at the airport, to be built in two phases.Epstein, Curt, "Clay Lacy Bets Big on New FBOs," Aviation International, October 18, 2022 Construction broke ground on the complex in November 2024, which will be the first FBO with ISI Sustainability Gold accreditation. The current John Wayne Airport FBO was ranked No. 1 in Line Service and Customer Service Representatives by AIN FBO Survey responders in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
A third Clay Lacy FBO, developed on a 16-acre, 30-year leasehold at Waterbury-Oxford Airport, was announced by the Connecticut Airport Authority in October 2020.“Connecticut Airport Authority Announces Clay Lacy Aviation Expansion at Waterbury-Oxford Airport,” October 29, 2020 The 40,000-square-foot hangar and FBO was set to open in 2024, expanding the company's operations in the northeastern United States and creating an estimated 100 new jobs.Gosselin, Kenneth R., “Private jet servicer to expand, add jobs at Waterbury-Oxford Airport,” Hartford Courant, October 29, 2020 An additional 120,000 square feet of aircraft maintenance and hangar space will be constructed in subsequent years.Missakian, Natalie, “Aviation firm building $20M complex at Waterbury-Oxford Airport,” New Haven Biz, October 30, 2020 The company announced its first hangar equipped with 29-foot doors to accommodate newer and larger aircraft at the site had sold out in 2023 ahead of its scheduled opening.Kariuki, Jeremy, "Clay Lacy Sells Out $20M Hangar Space at Waterbury-Oxford Airport," Aviation Week, October 6, 2023,
In November 2021, Transport Canada certified Clay Lacy's FAA Part 145 Repair Station at Waterbury-Oxford Airport to provide aircraft maintenance services for Canadian-registered business jets.Siebenmark, Jerry, “Transport Canada Gives Mx Nod to Clay Lacy KOXC,” AINOnline, November 10, 2021 Saunders, Eddie, “Transport Canada awards TCCA Maintenance Certification to Clay Lacy FAA Repair Station,” Executive and VIP Aviation International, November 2021 It earned European maintenance certification from EASA in 2021, and authorization from Mexico's Federal Civil Aviation Agency in 2022.
The FAA recognized Clay Lacy in March 2023 as meeting the standards of the agency's safety management system voluntary program (SMSVP). The FAA validation placed the company among the top 2% of Part 135 operators in the U.S. that have completed the agency's SMSVP process and demonstrated a culture of safety promotion.Lynch, Kerry, "Clay Lacy Earns FAA's SMS Voluntary Program Recognition," AIN Online, March 29, 2023
In March 2024, Clay Lacy Aviation became a dealer and installer of Starlink, SpaceX's low-earth orbit satellite in-flight internet service. It will install the high-speed, global-coverage solutions at its Van Nuys and Oxford MROs.Thurber, Matt, "Clay Lacy Aviation Adds Starlink Satcom Dealership," Aviation International News, March 5, 2024
Its founder, Clay Lacy, received a lifetime achievement award from Aviation Week Network's 66th Laureate Awards, held in March 2024. The award recognized his career milestones and aviation achievements, including Lacy being "instrumental in launching the business jet era.""Winners Announced for Aviation Week Network's Annual Laureate Awards," Aviation Week
In November 2024, Clay Lacy Aviation was awarded a lease for a new FBO at Friedman Memorial Airport (KSUN) in Sun Valley, Idaho.