The Riverside County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 16 voted to terminate Desert Jet Center’s temporary lease of land adjacent to its hangar facility at Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport, a decision that clears the way for a new long-term tenant but raised concerns about operational disruption during the airport’s busiest season.
At the center of the dispute was a 1.5-acre ramp adjacent to its 10,625-square-foot hangar that Desert Jet has used for several years to stage and service aircraft, particularly from January through April, the peak season for business aviation in the Coachella Valley. Desert Jet asked the board to deny or delay a 60-day notice to terminate the lease, warning that losing the space by mid-February would significantly affect its operations, employees, and customers.
“Our request remains grounded on financial reality and operational continuity,” said Scott Satko, Desert Jet’s director of finance. “Losing availability of this parcel during the first four months of the fiscal year, which is our high season, would cause major service and financial business interruption.”
Desert Jet had leased roughly two acres for aircraft staging and maintenance near its Desert Jet Center for staging and maintenance at Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport.
Desert Jet representatives emphasized that the parcel is critical during winter and early spring, when aircraft traffic increases sharply due to tourism, seasonal residents, and major regional events. German Cervantes, a land services supervisor for Desert Jet, told supervisors the space is not a convenience but a safety requirement.
“January 1 through April 30 are among the busiest and most mission-critical months of our run,” Cervantes said. “This parcel gives us the space required to stage, move, and service aircraft safely for both base and transient customers.”
A key part of Desert Jet’s argument was delays stemming from a county “through-the-fence” policy, which the company said stalled its planned long-term expansion at the airport. Through-the-fence policies govern whether aircraft and personnel can legally and safely move between privately developed airport-adjacent property and the secured airfield. Until those rules are clearly defined, aviation projects that depend on that access cannot proceed.
Desert Jet had secured rights to expand on an adjacent parcel. Still, it said uncertainty over the county’s through-the-fence policy made it impossible to finalize design, financing, and construction schedules. County officials ultimately resolved the policy earlier this year, but Desert Jet said the delay pushed its construction timeline back by months, forcing the company to rely longer than expected on the temporary parcel now being reclaimed by the county.
“The only reason the new site is not yet achieved is due to the through-the-fence delay that pushed our construction timeline,” Cervantes said. “This parcel is what allows us to maintain safe and efficient operations in the meantime.”
Desert Jet owner Jim McCool described the company’s request as limited in scope and time. “What we are asking for is simple,” McCool said. “Just allow us to retain this parcel until April 30. That is 75 more days beyond February 16. Without that space, we have absolutely nowhere to park the surge of visitors we see annually during that time of year.”
McCool also highlighted Desert Jet’s long-term investment at Jacqueline Cochran Airport. “In 2018, I funded the investment that built our 32,000-square-foot hangar and terminal complex, a project that transformed the look and feel of the airport,” he said. “We are doubling down on that commitment with new development.”
AFM Aviation representatives told supervisors they respected Desert Jet’s role at the airport but stressed that they followed the county’s competitive bidding process and were ready to move forward immediately. AFM, a veteran-owned aviation company, was selected through a request for proposals to become the long-term tenant on the site and plans to develop new hangars and aviation facilities.
“My service in the Marine Corps instilled discipline, accountability, and respect for process,” said Al Mendoza, co-owner of AFM Aviation. “AFM has done everything the county has asked of us. If approved, we are prepared to move forward once the county delivers possession of the premises.”
Mendoza said timing was critical for AFM as well. “I have several federal contracts that are reliant upon me getting access to the airfield now,” he said. “Without that, it puts us at a big disadvantage.”
County aviation officials acknowledged Desert Jet as a valued tenant but said the temporary lease was never intended to become permanent. Angela Jamison, Riverside County’s director of airports, said Desert Jet remained on the parcel well beyond the original lease term while the county pursued long-term development goals.
“This was always intended to be a short-term interim solution,” Jamison said. “The lease expired, an RFP was issued, and Desert Jet was not selected. AFM has done everything the county has asked of them.”
Jamison also noted that the county delayed bringing the termination forward at Desert Jet’s request until AFM’s lease was finalized. “That delay has already impacted AFM’s timeline,” she said.
During board discussion, supervisors focused on the competitive process and the county’s obligation to move forward with approved development plans. Supervisor Chuck Washington summarized the situation succinctly.
“It appears Desert Jet had an opportunity to bid on this property and obtain the lease, but they were not the highest bidder,” Washington said. “Now we have a lease ready to go with AFM.”
The board ultimately voted to approve the 60-day notice to terminate Desert Jet’s month-to-month tenancy, requiring the company to vacate the parcel by Feb. 14, 2026. The decision allows the county to deliver possession to AFM Aviation and proceed with a long-term lease that includes new construction and expanded aviation services.
While supervisors encouraged continued cooperation among airport tenants, the vote underscored the difficulty of balancing existing operations with long-term planning, particularly when policy delays and timing collide at one of the region’s most active and strategically important airports.
