Gary Jet Center (GJC) has opened its new corporate flight center as part of its FBO offering at Gary/Chicago International Airport.
The 8,300ft² (771m²) building features a glass-walled lobby with seating for over 45 people, an espresso bar and views of the recently-expanded 9,000ft (2,743m) runway. The center also features three crew lounges, a crew kitchen, laundry facilities, a private phone, sleep rooms and a conference room that is available to both passengers and crew. The facility is located on the west campus, which is home to two 40,000ft² (3,716m²) hangars and over five acres of ramp space to accommodate large aircraft.
Gary Jet Center hosted a grand opening celebration on October 25, which was attended by over 200 officials, customers, employees, partners and vendors, and addressed by guest Rollie Helmling, senior vice president of global industry and trade development at the Indiana Economic Development Corp.
Lynn Eplawy, president of Gary Jet Center, commented, “The entire facility, coupled with our exceptional customer-focused experience, ensures that the absolute best private aviation experience in the entire Chicagoland area is at the Gary Jet Center.
“Gary Jet Center has transformed the FBO ordeal from the routine and expected to a first-class experience from start to finish, for both passengers and crews. We are proud of the partners we chose to ensure no detail was missed.”
The mentioned partners were involved in the conceptualization, design and construction of the FBO, and included international architecture company Ghafari Associates, Chicago-based design firm Partners by Design, and environmentally-committed local development and project management company LEE Companies.
Patrick Lee, president and owner of LEE Companies, commented, “LEE Companies is honored to be a part of this 12-year campus development and largest private investment at the Gary Chicago International Airport, culminating in this incredible state-or-the-art corporate flight center, the jewel in the crown of the Gary Jet Center west campus establishing the Gary Jet Center as the preeminent FBO in the Midwest.”
