Clay Lacy Aviation
Clay Lacy Aviation is a U.S. business aviation company providing aircraft management, private charter, maintenance, fixed-base operator, and related aviation services.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Clay Lacy Aviation is a privately held American business aviation services company founded by pilot and aviation entrepreneur Clay Lacy at Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles in 1968. It began as an on-demand jet charter operator and was initially described as the only jet charter company west of the Mississippi River. The business served private and corporate customers, including prominent Hollywood clients, and later broadened its activities into aircraft management, maintenance, fixed-base operator services, and other forms of operational support for business aircraft. The company’s principal activities include managing business jets for owners, making managed aircraft available for domestic and international charter, operating full-service fixed-base operators, performing aircraft maintenance and refurbishment, providing aircraft detailing and disinfection, and supporting flight operations. Its managed fleet comprises more than 100 business jets, although the company’s privately held status means that detailed financial and fleet disclosures are limited. The company operates from a network of maintenance, hangar, charter, and FBO facilities, with major centers at Van Nuys Airport in California and Waterbury-Oxford Airport in Connecticut. It has also operated or developed facilities at Boeing Field in Seattle, John Wayne Airport in Orange County, and Friedman Memorial Airport in Sun Valley, Idaho. Clay Lacy’s history is closely associated with the development of modern private jet travel in the United States. During the 1970s it added aircraft management and maintenance services, and in 1981 established what it describes as the first all-jet FBO. Its later growth included expansion into the Pacific Northwest, acquisition of the East Coast company Key Air, and development of additional maintenance and FBO capacity in the northeastern United States. The company sold its Boeing Field operation in 2018 but retained a broader national business aviation presence. Brian Kirkdoffer joined the company as a pilot in 1990, became president in 2006, and acquired a majority interest in 2013. Under his leadership, Clay Lacy expanded its maintenance capabilities, added international regulatory approvals, invested in aircraft connectivity and safety systems, and developed new FBO projects. Its maintenance operations hold FAA Part 145 approvals at Van Nuys and Waterbury-Oxford, while the Connecticut facility has also obtained approvals or certifications connected with Canadian, European, and Mexican-registered aircraft. Sustainability has become a prominent part of the company’s positioning. Beginning in 2020, Clay Lacy introduced a nationwide program covering renewable energy, sustainable aviation fuel, renewable diesel, electric-vehicle charging, sustainable purchasing, and carbon offsets. Its Van Nuys headquarters received a large solar installation, and the company became an early participant in private aviation sustainability certification and carbon-neutral facility programs. It has also explored infrastructure for electric aircraft and electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft. The company continues to combine aviation operations with maintenance expertise and premium ground services. Its newer projects include an expanded FBO and hangar complex at John Wayne Airport, a Waterbury-Oxford facility, and a planned Sun Valley development. Clay Lacy also supports aviation education through scholarships, mentoring, job-shadowing, and career-awareness programs. Its service credentials include FAA safety-management validation, ARGUS Platinum, Wyvern Wingman, IS-BAO Stage III, and other aviation-industry certifications.
History
Clay Lacy Aviation began operations in 1968 at Van Nuys Airport as an on-demand jet charter company founded by pilot Clay Lacy. Its early business was closely connected with the growth of business jets and the entertainment industry in Southern California. The company’s early customers included several well-known film and music figures, reflecting Van Nuys’s importance as a general aviation base for Los Angeles. During its first decade, Clay Lacy expanded beyond charter into aircraft management and maintenance, establishing a broader operating model than a conventional charter provider. In 1981, the company established an all-jet fixed-base operator, adding ground handling and passenger services to its charter and maintenance activities. This combination of aircraft operations, technical support, and airport facilities became central to the company’s long-term identity. Clay Lacy subsequently developed hangar and maintenance infrastructure at multiple U.S. airports, allowing it to support managed aircraft across the country. The company expanded to the Pacific Northwest in 2002 with a hangar and full-service FBO at Boeing Field in Seattle. Additional hangar space was completed in 2009, and the Seattle operation later gained FAA-certified charter and repair capabilities. In 2017, its ground operation at Boeing Field became the first in North America to receive IS-BAH Stage II registration. Clay Lacy sold the Seattle operation in December 2018. Management and ownership also evolved. Brian Kirkdoffer, who joined the company as a pilot in 1990, became president in 2006 and acquired a majority interest in 2013. His background as a business-jet pilot and holder of aviation speed records supported the company’s continued emphasis on operational expertise. In 2016, Clay Lacy acquired Key Air, an established East Coast private aviation company with operations and maintenance facilities at Waterbury-Oxford Airport in Connecticut. The acquisition gave Clay Lacy a stronger northeastern presence and created a platform for further FBO and MRO development. During the middle and late 2010s, the company invested heavily in its California and Connecticut infrastructure. A six-acre improvement project at the Van Nuys South Campus added ramp capacity in 2015. The Van Nuys repair operation opened a round-the-clock MRO facility in 2019, while the Waterbury-Oxford maintenance operation received FAA Part 145 certification in the same year. Additional regulatory approvals later enabled the Connecticut facility to serve Canadian-, European-, and Mexican-registered business aircraft. Clay Lacy’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic included the CleanCheck health and safety standard, introduced in 2020, and expanded aircraft-disinfection services delivered through maintenance centers and mobile teams. The company also continued to build its FBO network. In 2020 it received approval for a long-term leasehold at John Wayne Airport, where it began operating in January 2021. A separate Waterbury-Oxford FBO and hangar project was announced in 2020 and opened in 2024. The company later announced a substantial expansion project at John Wayne Airport and received a lease for a planned FBO at Friedman Memorial Airport in Sun Valley, expected to be completed in 2027. Sustainability became a major strategic theme from 2020 onward. Clay Lacy worked with World Kinect Energy Services on renewable energy, sustainable aviation fuel, renewable diesel, electric-vehicle infrastructure, sustainable procurement, and carbon-offset programs. In 2021 it installed a solar array at Van Nuys, began offering sustainable aviation fuel at selected FBOs, became a partner of 4AIR’s sustainability-rating program, and received certification under the National Air Transportation Association’s sustainability standard. It subsequently received recognition through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership and developed partnerships related to electric aircraft and eVTOL charging. The company has continued to extend its technical and operational services. It added Starlink in-flight connectivity installation capability in 2024, was validated by the FAA’s voluntary safety-management program in 2023, and has maintained industry credentials including ARGUS Platinum, Wyvern Wingman, and IS-BAO Stage III. In addition to commercial activities, Clay Lacy supports aviation education through scholarships, mentoring, career events, and partnerships with schools and aviation organizations.
- 2024
Starlink installation capability added
[1]The company became a Starlink dealer and installer for business aircraft.
- 2023
FAA safety-management validation
[1]The FAA recognized Clay Lacy as meeting the standards of its Safety Management System Voluntary Program.
- 2021
John Wayne Airport FBO begins operations
[1]Clay Lacy began operating a full-service FBO at John Wayne Airport in Orange County.
- 2020
CleanCheck health and safety standard introduced
[1]The company introduced a pandemic-era health and safety program across its aircraft operations.
- 2018
Fiftieth anniversary and Seattle sale
[1]Clay Lacy marked its 50th anniversary, opened a New York office, and sold its Boeing Field operation.
- 2016
Key Air acquired
[1]The acquisition expanded Clay Lacy’s East Coast presence through Key Air’s Waterbury-Oxford operations.
- 2013
Majority ownership acquired by Brian Kirkdoffer
[1]Kirkdoffer acquired a majority interest in Clay Lacy Aviation.
- 2006
Brian Kirkdoffer becomes president
[1]Long-serving company pilot Brian Kirkdoffer was promoted to president.
- 2002
Pacific Northwest expansion
[1]Clay Lacy opened a hangar facility and full-service FBO at Boeing Field in Seattle.
- 1981
First all-jet FBO established
[1]The company expanded its airport-services business by establishing an all-jet fixed-base operator.
Products and positioning
A premium, safety-oriented business aviation platform combining aircraft management, private charter, maintenance, and FBO services with a national operating footprint and an emphasis on sustainability and emerging electric-aircraft infrastructure.
Business aviation services
Aircraft management
Clay Lacy manages business aircraft on behalf of private and corporate owners. Services encompass operational administration, crew and flight support, maintenance coordination, regulatory compliance, scheduling, and access to charter revenue opportunities. The company manages a nationwide fleet of more than 100 business jets, with many aircraft available for domestic and international charter.
Air charter · 1968
Private jet charter
The company provides on-demand private jet charter using aircraft from its managed fleet and related operating resources. Its charter offering is aimed at private, corporate, and other travelers seeking flexible point-to-point air transportation, supported by professional crews, maintenance operations, and access to a network of general aviation airports.
Aircraft maintenance
Aircraft maintenance and MRO
Clay Lacy operates FAA Part 145 repair stations at Van Nuys Airport and Waterbury-Oxford Airport. Its technical services include scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, inspections, refurbishment support, detailing, and aircraft-specific work for business jets. The company has held manufacturer and regulatory approvals covering aircraft such as Embraer Phenom, Legacy, and Praetor models.
Airport services · 1981
Fixed-base operator services
Clay Lacy FBOs provide private aviation ground services including aircraft fueling, ramp handling, passenger facilities, crew support, hangarage, vehicle access, and concierge-style assistance. Current and planned facilities form part of the company’s strategy to combine premium airport infrastructure with aircraft management and maintenance capabilities.
Aircraft technology services · 2024
Aircraft connectivity installation
In 2024, Clay Lacy became a dealer and installer for Starlink’s low-earth-orbit satellite in-flight internet service. Installation is supported through the company’s Van Nuys and Waterbury-Oxford maintenance operations.
Marketing campaigns
- 2021Aviation education and scholarship support
United States
The company supported pilot and aviation scholarships, career events, mentoring, and job-shadowing through universities, schools, museums, and community programs.
Outcome. The initiative expanded Clay Lacy’s workforce-development and aviation-access activities.
- 2020CleanCheck
United States
Clay Lacy introduced CleanCheck as a company-wide health and safety standard during the COVID-19 pandemic, incorporating public-health and aviation-industry guidance. It also expanded aircraft-disinfection services through maintenance centers and mobile response teams.
Outcome. The program became part of the company’s pandemic response and customer-safety proposition.
- 2020Nationwide sustainability strategy
United States
Clay Lacy began a sustainability program addressing flight and ground operations, renewable energy, sustainable aviation fuel, renewable diesel, electric-vehicle charging, purchasing practices, and carbon offsets.
Outcome. The strategy led to solar investments, sustainability certifications, sustainable-fuel availability, and programs for customer emissions reduction.
Brand decisions
2024
Starlink aircraft connectivity installationsProduct launchBackground
Demand for high-speed connectivity on business aircraft continued to grow.
Action taken
Clay Lacy added Starlink dealer and installation services at its Van Nuys and Waterbury-Oxford MRO locations.
Aftermath
The move broadened the company’s aircraft-upgrade and maintenance technology capabilities.
2024
Sun Valley FBO developmentStrategyBackground
Clay Lacy pursued expansion of its premium FBO and hangar network into additional U.S. general aviation markets.
Action taken
The company received a lease for a planned FBO at Friedman Memorial Airport in Sun Valley, Idaho.
Aftermath
The proposed facility is planned to include a terminal, large-aircraft hangar capacity, vehicle parking, and ramp space, with completion expected in 2027.
2021
Launch of sustainable aviation fuel offeringStrategyBackground
The company’s sustainability strategy sought to reduce emissions associated with private aviation operations.
Action taken
Clay Lacy began offering sustainable aviation fuel supplied through World Fuel Services at its Van Nuys and John Wayne Airport FBOs.
Aftermath
SAF became part of the company’s broader sustainability and customer carbon-management offering.
2016
Acquisition of Key AirM&ABackground
Clay Lacy sought to expand its presence in the northeastern United States and add operational and maintenance capacity.
Action taken
The company acquired Key Air, including its Waterbury-Oxford Airport operations.
Aftermath
The acquisition provided the foundation for later FAA-certified maintenance and a new Clay Lacy FBO at Waterbury-Oxford.
Recent events
Eviation and Clay Lacy partner on electric aircraft charging[2]
Reported:
Eviation Aircraft partnered with Clay Lacy Aviation to provide electric charging at Clay Lacy FBOs for its Alice aircraft ahead of the aircraft’s expected entry into service in 2024.
Sources2 sources
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