When Jerry Holland started his residential and commercial construction business in 1963, he did not expect his venture to evolve into an aviation development pioneer and become the largest and most successful family-owned FBO network in the country.
“My father built his first hangar in the early 1970s, and that’s when he became interested in airport property development,” explains his daughter, Sheltair President Lisa Holland. “After developing several hangar facilities at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, he acquired Walker’s Cay Aviation at Fort Lauderdale International Airport in 1986, giving birth to the Sheltair brand.
“He’s always done things differently,” she proudly states. “Anyone can fuel an airplane, but we pride ourselves in our ability to build infrastructure for the industry’s future, developing premium FBO facilities, and our commitment to support the communities we serve.”
Under this promise, Sheltair is continuously reinvesting in enhancing and expanding its existing network and still actively pursuing new strategic real estate and FBO locations.
Family and Safety Come First
While Sheltair’s first-class FBO services and premier development philosophy are indeed unique, Lisa Holland acknowledges that their family values and safety focus are what sets them apart. Making staff and customers the core of its “aviation family,” the company strives to deliver aviation’s safest and finest products while supporting the development and success of its people.
“Our guests appreciate that they are heard and known by our Sheltair team members,” Holland continues. “Everything we do revolves around delivering an exceptional guest experience.”
Holland stresses that the company’s commitment to safety is paramount. All of the network’s FBOs are IS-BAH Stage II certified and ICAO registered and have earned NATA’s Safety 1st certification.
While meeting the needs of today’s employees and customers is the priority, Sheltair has also set its sights on the future of aviation by empowering young generations. For this reason, Kai Seymour, grandson of Jerry and son of Lisa Holland, joined Sheltair in 2020 after graduating from the University of Tampa. At the same time, in partnership with Avfuel, Sheltair founded the Future Takes Flight Scholarship, and pledged commitments to educational programs Project Liftoff in Daytona and Project Skylab in Lakeland, by Embry Riddle and the Aerospace Center for Excellence, respectively.
“We need to promote and facilitate the path for aspiring young generations of aviators in our communities,” Holland says. “Providing that guidance and support is part of who we are.”
