Occupancy of a new, expanded terminal and office complex by Galaxy Aviation of Palm Beach, Fla.,  certainly seemed cause for a fifth anniversary celebration by the growing FBO group that now includes Boca Raton (Boca Aviation), Stuart and Orlando, Fla. The facility includes a new 11,000-sq-ft terminal and expanded office complex, as well as 95,000 sq ft of additional hangar and office space, plus 350,000 sq ft of additional aircraft parking. Besides having new operating quarters, the FBO also celebrated earning a top ranking in the 2002 Professional Pilot “Preferences Regarding Aviation Services & Equipment,” whose respondents ranked Palm Beach as one of the top 25 FBOs in the U.S.

Galaxy’s previous terminal and office complex was donated to Missionary Pilots and the Civil Air Patrol, intended as a gesture of good will to Galaxy’s Missionary friends and fellow aviators. A similar step was taken by Boca Aviation, which donated space to the Boca Raton chapter of Angel Flight Southeast. That nonprofit group relies on hundreds of pilots and ground volunteers to arrange free air transportation for those with medical or compelling human needs. The FBO also recently welcomed a new chief operating officer from the Galaxy system, Jonathan Miller.

He and other Galaxy executives said a major reason for the organization’s growth was its decision to use only National Air Transportation Safety 1st-certified ramp staff and an in-house safety and training officer. They emphasized that all line service employees must complete that program, including the required written exam graded at NATA headquarters in Alexandria, Va., as well as 37 mandatory practical exams evaluated by designated trainers at each base.

Each practical exam requires line service to perform skills that include ground servicing; ramp safety; refueling piston, turboprop and jet aircraft; fuel farm management; towing; customer service; and fire safety with 100 percent accuracy to pass. Those failing to pass on the first try must take personal hands-on training with their base trainer until they achieve a perfect score.

Ken Bray, safety/training manager, Galaxy Aviation/Boca Aviation, commented, “It’s an exacting system that definitely works. When line service completes Safety 1st, they are the best of the best in their field.”