Sheltair Aviation has broken ground on its full-service FBO at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan airport, which will provide the region with a 21-acre, $20 million dollar complex that includes a new terminal, hangar and build-to-suit office space opportunities.

Once complete in 2020, the facility will mark Sheltair's first FBO presence west of the Mississippi. The company has grown its reputation along the eastern seaboard for more than 30 years.

Jefferson County Manager Don Davis comments: “Our local aviation community expressed a strong desire for an expansion of available aeronautical services and I believe Sheltair's arrival at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan airport will provide that expansion through high quality services. We are excited to welcome the Sheltair team to Jefferson County and know they will make RMMA the regional airport of choice.”

The construction milestone reflects Phase One of Sheltair's development plans at KBJC with a new 10,000 sq ft FBO facility featuring 10 acres of aircraft parking apron, parking for up to 120 vehicles, a covered aircraft canopy that can accommodate large cabin class aircraft, and ‘Blue Ribbon’ pilot and guest amenities. Some 20 employees are expected to staff the Sheltair facility.

During construction Sheltair will continue to provide aviation services from temporary structures.

Sheltair has formed strategic alliances with Tectonic Management Group, tasked with the design and build, and Project One-Cumming, which is providing project management and owner's representation services for the development.

Chairman and CEO Jerry Holland says: “We are proud and honoured to serve the aviation community, and the regional economy, that depends on a strong and dynamic KBJC. When we made the strategic decision to expand our company's presence westward we quickly realised that Jefferson County would be a welcoming partner because its public and private leadership recognises the power of general aviation. Accordingly, they have been enormously supportive of our plans. We look forward to meeting their expectations as construction on this facility gets underway.”

Rocky Mountain is the fourth busiest airport in Colorado and during 2018 it handled 171,994 aircraft operations, an average of 471 per day.