South Burlington, VT – Heritage Aviation announced it has added a 2010 Citation Sovereign to its managed aircraft fleet.

“The addition of a Citation Sovereign will enable us to offer our clients even more options and flexibility,” said Heritage Aviation’s Sales Manager Pat Marano. “It adds long range capability at mid-cabin prices.”

The super mid-sized can accommodate 9 passengers in double club seating. It has a cruising speed of 527 miles per hour and an NBAA IFR range of 2,847 nautical miles. The Sovereign offers a fully enclosed lavatory in a stand-up cabin. It is equipped with Wi-Fi, XM radio, and the most advanced avionics systems including the Honeywell Primus Epic System.

“We are proud to recognize Mr. Gagnon for his leadership, contributions, and dedication,” said Mr. Hill. “This title change allows Rheal to best represent the FBO to potential new customers at industry events around the world. It also recognizes the growing contribution of FBO operations to Heritage Aviation.”

Rheal Gagnon joined Heritage Aviation in 2000 as a Line Service Technician. After working his way up to the supervisory level he transitioned departments and served as Parts Manager for 2 years. After a brief hiatus, Mr. Gagnon rejoined Heritage’s Line Service department in 2004. He has since worked through supervisory and managerial levels, most recently as Director of FBO Services. With experience in commercial refueling, deicing and customer service as his operational backbone, Mr. Gagnon oversees the FBO to ensure quality and consistency standards are met. He is currently pursuing an MBA through The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Rheal lives in Essex Junction with his family and is a native Vermonter.

The new partnership establishes Heritage Aviation as the official air charter, Fixed Base Operator (FBO), and aircraft maintenance services partner of Ski Vermont.  Ski Vermont is the association of Vermont’s 18 alpine and 30 Nordic ski areas.

“Ski Vermont and Heritage Aviation share a passion for providing the highest quality service,” said Parker Riehle, President of Vermont Ski Areas Association.  “Ski Vermont’s work with Heritage Aviation will introduce general aviation passengers and aircraft owners to the distinction and authenticity of Vermont’s mountain lifestyle,” he continued.

“These customers want the best of the best in service and quality—and we’re certain that Vermont is, in fact, the best and most authentic winter experience. Best of all, this is the type of partnership that enhances the role socially responsible employers like Ski Vermont and Heritage Aviation play in Vermont’s economy, environment and communities.”

Affiliation with Ski Vermont provides Heritage Aviation with the ability to leverage its association with the Vermont winter brand and Vermont’s world renowned skiing and snowboarding industry, said Heritage’s Public Relations Manager, Julia Atherton.

“This exciting partnership provides Heritage Aviation customers with a world-class winter experience on top of our industry-leading aviation services,” Atherton said.  “Perhaps most importantly, our relationship allows us to reach out to our domestic and international clients who are attracted to the many amenities and advantages of Vermont’s mountain lifestyle.”

ABOUT SKI VERMONT

Ski Vermont (Vermont Ski Areas Association) serves its 18 Alpine and 30 Nordic member resorts in three major areas: governmental affairs, marketing and public affairs.  It is a private non-profit trade association founded in 1969 to foster a legislative, economic and social environment in which the state’s ski industry can grow and prosper.  The association’s priorities include environmental integrity, enhancing economic and social contributions to the state’s welfare, and promoting Vermont as the premier destination for winter tourism. Ski Vermont: Winter in its Original State. For more information, visit www.skivermont.com.

Director of FBO Services, Rheal Gagnon, was enthusiastic about the new piece of equipment. “Heritage Aviation is among a small group of service providers to apply this technology in an airport setting. The addition is a natural fit with our continuing efforts to reduce carbon emissions while providing exceptional services to our customers.”

President of Heritage Aviation, Chris Hill stated “While liquid fuels clearly have a rightful place in aviation, our fleet of airport based ground vehicles is a perfect operational setting for vehicle electrification”.

The truck features an on-board air supply for servicing GA aircraft tires. Heritage Aviation’s other electric vehicles include: Eagle ETT 12 and Lektro tugs, belt loader, lavatory cart, water cart, cherry picker, fork lift, and passenger and utility ramp vehicles.

“The ACSF Industry Audit Standard assures our clients and partners that we maintain the highest standards of safety and compliance. We are honored that Heritage Aviation, is being recognized as a part of a distinguished group of operators,” said Vanda Crook, Vice President of Operations.

Heritage Aviation President, Christopher Hill, also remarked, “Heritage Aviation, Inc. d/b/a Heritage Flight is delighted to have our investments in safety processes, culture, and infrastructure recognized and validated by our addition to the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s audit Registry.  Our ten aircraft flight operation, maintenance teams, and FBO have all benefited from the process of becoming an ACSF registered company.”

The ACSF Industry Audit Standard is an all-inclusive audit tailored for Part 135 and 91K operators that acts as a detailed gap analysis of an operator’s management practices. The audit program consists of a thorough review of an operator’s processes and procedures, regulatory compliance, and the operator’s implementation of and adherence to a safety management system. The audit standard was developed with the input and guidance of leading safety auditors, charter operators, shared aircraft ownership companies and charter consumers.

Supporting materials are available at www.acsf.aero/audit. Additional information regarding Heritage Aviation can be found at www.flyheritage.com.

“Heritage Aviation is delighted to receive this beautiful new aircraft into our fleet. Its arrival expands our heavy jet offering and places us firmly in the ultra long range, intercontinental charter market.  Our ten aircraft, all turbine fleet is more capable now than ever. This is a nice milestone for us,” said Christopher Hill, Heritage Aviation President.

The super large Global 5000 jet combines superior transatlantic speed with the largest cabin in its market segment. It features high-speed Internet connectivity, a heads-up flight display system, and one of the largest field-of-view of any business aircraft. It flies passengers faster than any competing super-large business jet at Mach 0.89. The Bombardier Global 5000 can carry thirteen passengers and three crew members. From continental Europe to the Central U.S., its 5,200 nautical-mile range delivering easy, efficient access to the world and many of its shorter, more challenging airfields.

Heritage Aviation’s charter fleet now consists of one Bombardier Global 5000, one Bombardier Challenger 604, one Citation XLS+, two Citation Excels, one Citation Encore, and four Beechcraft King Air C90Bs.

For more information, please contact our Charter Sales department at chartersales@flyheritage.com or visit our website at www.flyheritage.com.

“We look forward to adding the XLS+ to our already diverse fleet. Its integrated Wide Area Augmentation System capabilities coupled with enhanced engine performance will make this aircraft well suited for longer range missions than our current Excel fleet,” said Greg Bean, Chief Pilot.

The Citation XLS combines midsize cabin comfort with light jet flexibility. It can take off on runways as short as 3,500 feet – the shortest takeoff distance of any midsized jet. The stand up cabin offers the same cabin height and width as the Citation X and can comfortably accommodate eight passengers. The Citation XLS also has one of the largest external baggage compartments in its class.

Heritage Aviation’s fleet available for charter now consists of one Bombardier Challenger 604, one Citation XLS+, one Citation Encore, two Citation Excels and four Beechcraft King Air C90s.

For more information, please contact our Charter Sales department at chartersales@flyheritage.com or visit our website at www.flyheritage.com.

“The LEED gold certification of an aviation company highlights an area where our industry can contribute to energy efficiency and environmental sustainability and specifically demonstrate our company’s commitment to these values.” said Christopher Hill, Heritage Aviation President. “The opportunity to transform a 55 year old army National Guard facility into a high performance, leading edge maintenance facility and FBO has been exhilarating. We are particularly proud of the amount of local material such as Vermont and Québec granite and Danby marble that we were able to include in the building. The building provides a wonderful environment for both our employees and customers and will serve as great platform for our business going forward.”

Heritage Aviation achieved LEED certification for energy savings, lighting, water and material use as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. By using less energy and water, LEED certified building save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

“Heritage Aviation’s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “The urgency of USGBC’s mission has challenged the industry to move faster and reach further than ever before, and Heritage serves as a prime example with just how much we can accomplish.”

LEED certification of Heritage Aviation was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. These features include:

•        On-site renewable energy generation through a 10 panel solar thermal (domestic hot water) system, a 120 panel solar photovoltaic (PV) array, and a 100 kW wind turbine.

•        Water Conservation and Control Strategies include a 30,000 gallon rainwater harvesting/storage system to supply landscape and green roof irrigation, and plane-washing, porous concrete parking lot and a “bio-swale” stormwater treatment area.

•        Building Envelope and Energy Conservation strategies included recycling the building structure to avoid waste normally associated with building demolition and reconstruction; thermally improved building envelope with air-sealing and testing; a vegetated (green) roof; high-albedo (white) roof to minimize absorption of unwanted solar gain; daylighting strategies, including vision/daylight glass specification, skylights, and lighting dimming; LED parking lot and interior lighting.

Since opening, the FBO has earned much recognition, including Efficiency Vermont’s 2010 Best of the Best in Commercial Building Design & Construction. It also received Hertzel N. Pasackow Architectural Excellence Award from the Burlington Business Association the same year.