SAR Trilogy Management Completes Acquisition of Epps Aviation 

Aero Center Epps Atlanta PDK

SAR Trilogy Management, LLC has completed the previously announced acquisition of Epps Air Service, LLC, aka Epps Aviation. The business will be rebranded Aero Center Epps Atlanta as it joins the growing Aero Centers portfolio of FBOs. 

“We believe that SAR Trilogy Management was the absolutely right choice of a buyer to take Epps Aviation forward,” said Marian Epps, the chief financial officer of Epps Air Service, LLC. “The Epps family has known the founders of SAR Trilogy Management for almost two decades; we know they appreciate the legacy of Epps Aviation”. Elaine Epps, chief executive officer, added, “Michael and Sanjay are hands-on owners with a commitment to customers, safety, and an integrated FBO business model. They are the right team to build on what our father started more than 50 years ago” 

Aero Center Epps Atlanta is the only full-service, integrated FBO at the DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (KPDK). The business’ service offerings include aircraft fueling, parking and hangar storage, maintenance services (from piston to turbine, including avionics, and airframe), aircraft sales, aircraft management and charter. The business has more than 150 team members with a long-term lease with the airport for 18 acres with more than 200,000 sq feet of improved space. 

“Pat Epps Sr built an incredible business,” remarked S. Michael Scheeringa, co-founder and co-chief executive officer of SAR Trilogy Management. “Patrick, Elaine, and Marian did a wonderful job continuing Pat’s legacy under their leadership. We take our commitment to growth, safety, and service to the Epps family, team members and aviation community as fundamental to the acquisition.” 

“Aero Center Epps Atlanta is the new crown jewel of our Aero Centers FBO portfolio; with Epps, the portfolio is at 8 locations,” said Sanjay Aggarwal, co-founder and co-chief executive officer of SAR Trilogy Management. “Entering a Top 10 market is exciting. The size, scale, and location of Epps allow us to grow Epps as well as extend the Epps service offerings and back-office support to the balance of the portfolio.” 

SAR Trilogy Management, LLC was founded in 2015. The business is majority owned by its co-founders, S. Michael Scheeringa and Sanjay Aggarwal, and RedBird Capital. Michael and Sanjay have more than 60 years of combined aviation experience. RedBird Capital has more than $8.6 billion of assets under management across three core ecosystems – Media & Entertainment, Sports and Experiential Consumer, and Financial Services. RedBird's aviation investments include Aero Centers, JetLinx Global, Blade Air Mobility (Nasdaq:BLDE), BETA Technologies, and VeriJet. 

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Jeremy Epperson

“Jeremy is a true world-class leader in the aviation community,” said S. Michael Scheeringa, co-founder and managing director of SAR Trilogy Management.

His life-long passion for the industry and history of developing both people and markets made Jeremy the first and natural choice to lead Aero Centers.

Epperson started his aviation career in the United States Marine Corps, where he developed his leadership and passion to serve. He graduated from the University of California, San Diego, and is a commercial pilot with P135 experience. He has demonstrated his affection for the business with successful FBO leadership roles at Signature and Republic. 

Aero Centers will bring a level of professionalism and experience back to aviation communities,” added Jeremy Epperson. “Our FBOs demonstrate to the industry we are committed to first-class facilities with knowledgeable and experienced local team members with a passion for aviation. I am very excited to lead the team responsible for developing full-service FBOs and delivering customer-centric service to all aviation customers in a community. I had a vision for bringing passion, fun, and expertise back into aviation communities, just like it was 30 years ago. Aero Centers’ focus on full-service FBOs brings the dream to reality.

Jeremy Epperson

Sanjay Aggarwal

Aggarwal has over 25 years of experience in the aviation and hospitality industries. Aggarwal is a co-founder of SAR Trilogy Management. Previously until 2015, he was the CEO of Global Crew Logistics (GCL), a Miami-based travel management company specializing in the movements and accommodation of business aviation and cargo airlines’ flight crews. GCL doubled its EBITDA in a short two-year period under Aggarwal’s leadership. 

Between 2008 and 2013, Sanjay served as CEO of two commercial airlines in India – Spicejet (a private-equity-backed low-cost air carrier) and Kingfisher Airlines (a publicly listed full-service carrier). Under his leadership, Spicejet saw its first profitable year and increased its domestic market share from 7% to 12%. Prior to that, he served as COO of Flight Options LLC, one of the world’s largest operators of business jets. He and Scheeringa worked together to take Flight Options to profitability. 

Earlier, Sanjay worked in IT, strategy, financial planning and other roles at Marriott International and US Airways. He received his BS in Industrial Engineering from Nagpur University in India and his MS in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech. 

Sanjay Aggarwal is a co-founder of SAR Trilogy Management

MICHAEL SCHEERINGA

Scheeringa has almost 30 years of experience in general and commercial aviation as an operator and supplier. Scheeringa is a co-founder and managing director of SAR Trilogy Management, an aviation investment and management company. Before he founded SAR Trilogy in 2015, he was the President and CEO of BBA Aviation Flight Support, which comprised Signature Flight Support, the world’s leading FBO network, and ASIG, a leading operator of commercial aviation fueling services. Under his leadership, Signature grew from 85 to 124 global locations, almost doubled in revenue and tripled profit resulting in the company outperforming the market in 65 out of the last 72 months of Scheeringa’s tenure.

From 2004-2008, Scheeringa served as CEO of Flight Options LLC, one of the world’s largest operators of business jets. He was responsible for the turnaround of the business taking it from a negative 20% margin to a positive 5% margin. Prior to that he spent 13 years at US Airways in officer-level positions in network and operations planning and as the head of the company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries. 

Scheeringa received his BS in Transportation and Logistics Management from Arizona State University. Scheeringa was a board member of the Central Florida Expressway Authority. He is a Past Chairman of the National Air Transportation Association and a private pilot.

Michael Scheringa Founder of Aero Centers