Longtime Friends Expand MRO Operations With Grand Opening of AvionAero FBO at Wiley Post Airport in Oklahoma

BETHANY, Okla. – Longtime friends Sho Kassam and Justin Covalt have officially opened AvionAero, a new Phillips 66® branded fixed-base operator (FBO), at Wiley Post Airport (KPWA) in Bethany, Oklahoma, just outside Oklahoma City. The facility celebrated its grand opening with the community in April 2026.

AvionAero brings together a full-service FBO and FAA Part 145 repair station, offering operators a one-stop destination for fuel, maintenance, and personalized service. Built on friendship, trust and decades of aviation experience, the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to operational excellence and customer care.

Raising the Standard of Customer Care
From its humble beginnings as an MRO, AvionAero prides itself on understanding that both aircraft and the people who fly them require thoughtful, reliable service and amenities.

The new FBO features a 45,000-square-foot terminal and hangar designed to enhance the pilot and passenger experience. Amenities include no ramp fees on quick turns or with a minimum fuel purchase, ample tie-down space and 80,000 square feet of hangar space, and a refreshed lobby.  Pilots also have access to a lounge with complimentary Wi-Fi, ice, coffee and snacks, along with courtesy vehicles, including new cars and electric Cadillac crew cars. The hangars can accommodate light to large size jets. The lobby renovation spans 10,000 square feet and represents an initial investment of $500,000.

Their motto, “Sensible Service People™,” a philosophy rooted in simplicity, extends across the operation, from line service to maintenance to customer hospitality, reflecting the owners’ belief that strong relationships are just as important as technical expertise.

“As an independent FBO, we can spoil our customers, and that’s how we compete and win on personal service. We offer a personal touch and are willing to do more than the bare minimum whenever our customer asks of us,” said Covalt.

A Collaboration a Decade in the Making
Kassam, co-owner of AvionAero, launched his aviation career in 1999 and founded a charter company that operated as Oklahoma Aviation in 2012. As the business evolved, Kassam rebranded the charter operation as Soulbird and expanded flight training. Five years ago, he separated the charter and flight school operations to allow each to grow independently.

Around the same time, Covalt was building his own reputation in the industry, spending nearly two decades with Textron Aviation Company and developing deep expertise in aircraft maintenance and operations.

The two had known each other for more than a decade through Oklahoma’s aviation community before formally joining forces in 2018 to launch a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) business in Bethany. As demand for maintenance continued to grow year after year, the partners began envisioning a larger operation that could bring fueling, maintenance and customer service together under one roof, ultimately leading to the creation of AvionAero.

“We saw a clear need in the market, with an abundance of maintenance opportunities driven by a shortage,” Kassam said. “That’s when we knew it was time to build something of our own.”

Full-Service FBO Built on MRO Experience
Before opening as a full-service FBO late last year, AvionAero had focused on providing exceptional MRO services, expanding to a 35,000-square-foot hangar and increasing capacity from one or two aircraft to eight to 10 small to large aircraft, following its selection for a government contract supporting FAA aircraft.

AvionAero specializes in aircraft maintenance and support across a broad range of airframes, including Beechcraft, Cessna, Learjet, Gulfstream, and IAI models. AvionAero has also been offering performance-enhancing modifications for the Beechcraft King Air series and the Cessna Caravan. The experienced team delivers preventative maintenance, inspections, repairs and parts support, and has operated as an FAA Part 145 repair station since 2019.

“It’s convenient that operators can buy fuel, store their aircraft, and complete maintenance all in one location,” said Covalt.

Most recently, AvionAero became a Raisbeck Engineering Authorized Dealer. Through this new partnership, AvionAero will offer Raisbeck’s advanced performance enhancement systems and modifications, expanding its capabilities to deliver improved safety margins, efficiency and enhanced operational performance for aircraft operators across the region. They will also gain direct access to Raisbeck’s portfolio of certified modifications, technical support and factory-backed resources.

“What helps us excel is hiring people who have a mix of skillsets so everyone can cross-train with one another. We also have an active training program that has achieved the FAA Diamond Award for several years,” continued Covalt.

Hospitality Backed by Phillips 66® Aviation
As a new member of the Phillips 66® branded network, the FBO is designed with pilot, crew and passenger comfort in mind.

“What helps even more in this new venture is Phillips 66® Aviation’s attentiveness, responsiveness, and accessibility, where they truly want us to succeed. Their passion and Oklahoma-rooted work ethic align with how we do business,” said Kassam.

In the end, “we’re not just a maintenance facility, we’re in the hospitality business for aircraft,” said Covalt. “Our ability to react, get the team together, and get the airplane back into the air is a big reason for our strong operational presence.”

Rooted in Community
In the community, AvionAero partners with Putnam City Schools through an on-airport aviation program that offers an A&P track. Employees volunteer their time to mentor interns and support students pursuing careers in aviation. The company also supports a local faith-based women’s recovery center. “Wherever there is a need, we rise to a challenge,” said Sho. AvionAero also has a longstanding relationship with the Oklahoma City Ballet, established early in the owners’ careers, and it has since been a lifelong commitment.

With a personal history of supporting animal welfare in Kenya, where Kassam is originally from, his passion for animals is evident in his occasional rescue of dogs and cats at the airport. “We’re very dog-friendly, and Justin’s German Shepherd, Ivan, comes to work with him every day. You’ll spot him at the MRO and FBO,” said Kassam.

Looking ahead, AvionAero is considering expanding its hangar and fueling capacity, and continuing to modernize existing facilities. Growth will be incremental and deliberate, serving both local and transient customers traveling from as far away as New England, Baltimore, Maryland, Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas, and Colorado.

For more information about AvionAero, visit https://avionaero.com/. 

(Above release provided courtesy of AvionAero FBO)