Slate Aviation adds MRO, conversion facility ahead of expansion

Slate Aviation, which is taking over the operation of Vista Global’s XO shuttles, is opening an aircraft maintenance, repair, overhaul, and cabin conversion facility at Middle Georgia Regional Airport.

Bombardier and Stevens Aerospace formerly occupied the 80,000-square-foot facility.

Slate Aviation will use the facility to support maintenance.

It will also be used for cabin conversions of its nearly 35 CRJ-200 aircraft.

Plans call for configuring the regional jets for VIP charter and shuttle seating.

Shuttles will have 19 single seats in a 1-by-1 layout.

FAA records show it currently has 13 of the CRJ types on its Part 135 certificate.

The certificate is listed under Tri State Charter LLC.

Slate Aviation plans to use the large cabin jets for private jet charter and per-seat services.

It plans to offer flights throughout the Continental U.S., the Caribbean, and Canada.

The facility currently has 40 technicians and will have over 50 full-time employees by the end of the year.

VP of Aircraft Production Jonathan Cornwell will lead the facility.

XO announced in January that it was outsourcing its New York-South Florida by-the-seat shuttle flights to Slate.

XO will continue to market and sell seats on the flights via its website.

Slate says it will announce additional city pairs next month.

“I want to welcome Slate Aviation to our community and Team Macon-Bibb,” said Mayor Lester Miller.

He continued, “With these world-class charter planes being created here – and the coming of our world-class FBO shaped like a guitar – we are truly putting Macon-Bibb on the map.”

Slate Jet Card?

Slate has also been teasing a jet card program.

Its website says under membership, “We tailor our operation to the scheduling needs of our principals, with members and their families receiving guaranteed availability and fixed pricing, including on peak travel days.”

However, Slate has yet to release details of the program.