This website uses cookies
More information
The monthly news publication for aviation professionals.
Related information from the Handbook...

Freeman Jet Center Abilene
FBO/Handler (Abilene Regional / Abilene)

Million Air Lubbock
FBO/Handler (Preston Smith International / Lubbock)

Lubbock (Preston Smith) Airport

BAN's World Gazetteer

Texas

The bimonthly news publication for aviation professionals.

Request your printed copy

Abilene Aero makes Lubbock airport acquisition
Northwest Texas-based Abilene/Lubbock Aero FBO has acquired the Chaparral Jet Center at nearby Lubbock Preston Smith International airport, bringing staff and customers on board.
Joe Crawford brings Chapparal Jet Center into the Abilene/Lubbock Aero fold.
Read this story in our February 2020 printed issue.

Abilene/Lubbock Aero has reached an agreement to acquire Chaparral Jet Center, located at Lubbock Preston Smith International airport. The Center is comprised of an executive terminal, aircraft maintenance, storage facility and a fuel farm.

“Our customers will benefit from the expanded footprint at Lubbock Preston Smith International, and we are especially pleased to welcome Chaparral employees and customers into the Abilene/Lubbock Aero family,” says Abilene/Lubbock Aero president Joe Crawford. “I also offer my congratulations to Chaparral president Wallace Thrash for forty years of successful service to the west Texas aviation community. Abilene and Lubbock Aero wish him the best in all his future endeavours.”

Crawford continues: “In October of 2018, Abilene and Lubbock Aero were honoured to be accredited as IS-BAH Stage I FBOs. The primary focus of that programme is safety. The safety of our customers, their aircraft and our employees is priority number one in our company. We are pursuing IS-BAH Stage II certification in October of 2020.”

Abilene and Lubbock Aero are full service aircraft MRO facilities and are factory service centres for Textron and Cirrus Aircraft. Lubbock Aero has been a provider of FBO services at Lubbock Preston Smith International since 1990 and is owned by Abilene Aero, which has been the FBO provider at Abilene Regional airport for 51 years.

Other News
 
Universal kickstarts ops in Dammam with King Fahd FBO
September 6, 2026
Major milestones include the extensive build-out and operational fit-out of the facility, its formal inauguration in February 2026, the recruitment and training of a dedicated local team, and new ground support equipment.
Ritter leverages 23 years to take on Cutter marketing
September 6, 2026
Ritter joined Cutter Aviation in 2003 as a customer service representative at one of Cutter's FBOs. Over the course of her career with the company, her role has evolved to include aircraft sales and marketing.
SkyPlace acquisition takes Velocity FBO Network to six
August 12, 2026
The Tallvine-backed FBO group is expanding its North American footprint with the San Antonio International airport facility, adding hangar and ramp capacity in a significant general aviation market.