For many corporate aircraft heading west from Europe, their first glimpse of the U.S. isn’t the spires of New York City, but the shores of Maine. Bangor Aviation Services, the municipally-owned and operated FBO at Bangor International Airport, the closest U.S. airport to Europe, sees upwards of 400 private flights each month from business jets crossing the Atlantic. While Maine is lacking in neither scenic beauty nor New England charm, that isn’t what draws the flocks of private travelers. “We’re a tech stop,” said Kevin Kipler, the airport’s ramp service manager. “That’s what we’re known for in the business, and aircraft primarily come here to clear customs, to get their fuel, get serviced and get out of here.”

As part of its quick-turn fame, U.S. Customs and Immigration is available 24 hours a day at the airport’s customs office. While the passengers are being processed through customs, their aircraft is simultaneously being serviced outside. “If their final destination is maybe New York, they may have to wait two hours [there] before they see customs,” noted Kipler. “Here they are going to see it and be gone in 30 minutes.” Due to its customs service and 11,440-ft runway, the airport also receives between 100 and 200 transatlantic diversions a year, for a variety of reasons including medical emergencies, mechanical problems, low fuel, or security issues.

The airport-owned FBO, which operates 24 hours a day, is somewhat unusual. Except for two dedicated customer service representatives, it shares its 22-person staff with the airport. “The people that work out of the FBO aren’t strictly just FBO employees,” Kipler told AIN. “In the course of a day they could fuel a [Cessna] 152, do a lav on a CRJ700, and then help with an air start on the Antonov 224.” His NATA Safety 1st-trained staff performs fueling for all aircraft at the airport, with six Jet A tankers ranging from 10,000 gallons down to 3,000 gallons, plus hydrant carts that can fuel jetliner-class airplanes directly from pipes connected to the 3-million-gallon fuel farm. All told, on the general aviation side alone, Kipler estimates the airport pumps more than a million gallons of fuel a year.

As far as aircraft services go, the FBO can provide lav, water and international trash disposal, along with oxygen and nitrogen service. Given its Northeast location, winters can be severe, so Type I and Type IV deicing is available with optional forced air, from a trio of trucks. Given its ownership by the airport, the FBO is in little danger of running out of aircraft parking space, with more than 20 acres of ramp area available. The airport recently concluded a $5 million construction project to redo more than 17 acres of tarmac, including strengthening the apron near the FBO to accommodate bizliner-size aircraft such as the BBJ or ACJ.

Bangor International has FAA/EASA-certified technicians on call around the clock to perform light maintenance or liaison with OEM authorized service centers in a diagnostic function in case of more serious private aircraft repairs.

In light of the epic winter the New England region just endured, which saw record snowfall amounts, the airport is showcasing its snow-removal capabilities and its all-weather reliability. Visitors to its booth (DO65) will be asked to guess how many cubic feet of snow were removed from its runway this past winter. Those whose guesses fall within a given range will be entered into a drawing for a $350 gift card for L.L. Bean, one of America’s most famous retailers--especially when it comes to foul-weather gear.