Press release January 05, 2022

Aero Center Wilmington Appoints Sandra Spaller as the General

Manager and Chris McPherson as Director of Maintenance

Wilmington, NC: SAR Trilogy Management, LLC announces Sandra Spaller as General Manager and Chris McPherson as Director of Maintenance of Aero Center Wilmington, the new FBO complex at Wilmington International Airport (KILM). Spaller and McPherson are currently overseeing the construction of the FBO complex and preparing for an opening in February 2022.

Aero Center Wilmington is located north of the taxiway Alpha and Hotel intersection and near the U.S. Customs office. For those driving, the address is 1830 Flight Line Road. The first phase of Aero Center Wilmington includes an air transport capable ramp of almost 100K sq ft, an 11K sq ft FBO and office space, two hangars of 15K and 10K sq ft each, and a 50K-gallon fuel farm.

Spaller and McPherson each join the Aero Centers’ team with over 30 years of experience in FBO Management and aircraft maintenance, respectively. Sandra is a Wilmington native and life-long resident, a graduate of UNC Wilmington, and a member of the Wilmington aviation community. Sandra was the CFO at Air Wilmington for over thirty years. McPherson is a Sergeant Major in the U.S. Army Reserves, an instrument-rated pilot, and has lived in Wilmington for over eight years.

Sandra Spaller

Chris McPherson

“Leading the Aero Center Wilmington team is an exciting opportunity. I look forward to bringing competitive full-service FBO offerings and a customer-centric experience to Wilmington’s aviation community,”

says Spaller.

Chris McPherson

“It is time to bring fun back to aviation in Wilmington,” McPherson added. “We have the experience and passion for the business. We will offer a full spectrum of aircraft maintenance to the Sandra Spaller corporate/general aviation community and AOG/on-call services to the commercial air carriers at Wilmington and surrounding airports. As a pilot and former aircraft owner, I understand that safety is paramount and have empathy for our customers’ needs.”

Michael Scheeringa, a co-founder of SAR Trilogy Management, shared, “We were looking for an experienced leadership team that was committed to Wilmington and had a passion for the FBO business. Sandra and Chris met our role description 100%.”

Sanjay Aggarwal, a co-founder of SAR Trilogy, added, “We want to create a differentiation based on customer focus and the level of quality and services Aero Center Wilmington will offer. Sandra is simply a world-class leader and a home-grown aviation enthusiast. As a pilot and maintenance expert, Chris understands the importance of safety and the need for attention to detail in aviation. The 60 years of combined experience, customer focus, and commitment to Wilmington is a win-winwin for the FBO, the airport, and broader aviation community.”

SAR Trilogy Management signed its 40-year lease (with extension) in Wilmington in May 2020. Despite COVID-related delays, Aero Center Wilmington will be operational in less than 24 months from the original concession agreement. It wouldn’t have been possible without continued support from the ILM Airport Authority, New Hanover County, and the City and State authorities. SAR Trilogy Management is investing more than $6M at ILM.

About Aero Centers:

SAR Trilogy Management is creating a portfolio of locally managed and nationally recognized fullservice FBOs with the umbrella brand Aero Centers™. So far, three Aero Centers have been announced – Wilmington, NC (ILM), Lakeland, FL (LAL), and Spokane, WA (GEG). Aero Centers will offer a full spectrum of general aviation services either themselves or through partnerships or tenant management. These services include a private terminal, aircraft parking, storage/hangar, aircraft maintenance (P145), aircraft management, charter broker, charter operations (P135), flight school (P141), and commercial into-plane service. In addition, each Aero Center will be known as a customercentric private aviation expert to the community it serves.

For Media Inquiries, please write to: ILM@aerocenters.com