FBO Partners

FBO Partners is a business-advisory firm founded in 2014 that consults with fixed base operators, airports and aviation businesses and advises owners and investors in the FBO industry. Christopher Salley is President and Partner; the team also includes Owen Busch, Evan Nielsen and Ty Kronk, with Douglas Wilson and Todd Baumgartner in emeritus and advisory roles. The firm does not publish an office address.

Its core service is M&A: buy-side and sell-side diligence, underwriting, acquisitions and divestitures, and post-deal integration, including credit-facility diligence for private-equity lenders and capital raises for FBOs. It names itself commercial advisor on the $4.74 billion acquisition of Signature Aviation. Separate service lines cover strategic sales, lead consulting on FBO RFP and RFQ responses for incumbents and new entrants, and expert testimony in grant assurance, lease interpretation and FBO valuation disputes.

FBO Partners also promotes HangarIT, a cloud-based platform for tracking hangar leases, rates, insurance certificates and real-time occupancy through QR codes. HangarIT runs its own site as HangarIT Corporation. FBOs and airports contact the firm through its Learn More page, and pricing is not published.