Our Timeline: A Rich History

In 1969 Henry A. Laughlin, Jr.—fondly known as “Sandy” in the aviation industry—founded Northeast Air. Sandy had been a Major in the Army Air Corps and commanded a squadron of B-29 Bombers in the Pacific Theater during World War II. The discipline, integrity, and courage he displayed in the Army Air Corps served him well on his return to civilian life.

Over the next 30 years, Sandy built a solid business that supported not only his family, but created a livelihood for many dedicated employees. His passion and true love of aviation helped sustain him until his retirement in 1985. Sandy’s son Henry has taken over the leadership of the company.

Throughout 2016, Henry Laughlin III invested over $3,000,000 to bring Northeast Air’s FBO facilities to the forefront of the aviation industry, with a state of the art General Aviation Terminal, expanded parking, and updated amenities.

1939

  • Henry ‘Sandy’ Laughlin Jr. joins the United States Army Air Corps
  • Earns the rank of Major and commands a squadron of B-29 Bombers the Pacific Theater of World War II

1945

  • Sandy returns to civilian life after the war

1948

  • Sandy opens North Atlantic Aviation in Beverly, Massachusetts

1953

  • Sandy sells his first Aero Commander
  • Sandy travels to Oshkosh, WI to purchase his first Cessna aircraft to sell, but after seeing the Aero Commander, cancels his order and flies home in a Commander 520

1963

  • Sandy sells North Atlantic Aviation and moves to Portland, ME

1969

  • The start of Northeast Air in Portland, ME, which consisted of a single hangar connect to an administrative building

1978

  • Northeast Air begins fueling commercial airline flights out of Portland, ME

1979

  • An extension of the original hangar is built to house the avionics shop, conveniently name the ‘avionics hangar’

1983

  • Sandy’s son, Henry A. Laughlin III, completes his private pilot training in Beverly, MA

1984

  • After a successful career in computer sales, Henry joins the family business at Northeast Air

1986

  • Henry and Sandy complete an impressive sale of 10 Aero Commander 690s to the Australian Coast Watch, which would go on to be used in anti-drug running missions off the coast of northern Australia

1996

  • Construction begins on new FBO building, featuring nearly 19,000 square foot hangar, completed in 1998

1998

  • Henry and his business partners begin Pro Star Aviation at Boston-Manchester Regional Airport

2000

  • Northeast Air takes on all airline support services, including ground support handling and de-icing.

2009

  • Henry secures sales territory for the Northeastern dealership of the Pilatus franchise, featuring the well-known PC-12; Pro Star Pilatus Service Center begins.

2015

  • Henry’s son, Jesse, completes his Private Pilot training in Augusta, ME

2016

  • Northeast Air completes a 2-year, $3,000,000 project to upgrade its General Aviation terminal to a modern, state-of-the-art facility

Our Timeline: A Rich History

In 1969 Henry A. Laughlin, Jr.—fondly known as “Sandy” in the aviation industry—founded Northeast Air. Sandy had been a Major in the Army Air Corps and commanded a squadron of B-29 Bombers in the Pacific Theater during World War II. The discipline, integrity, and courage he displayed in the Army Air Corps served him well on his return to civilian life.

Over the next 30 years, Sandy built a solid business that supported not only his family, but created a livelihood for many dedicated employees. His passion and true love of aviation helped sustain him until his retirement in 1985. Sandy’s son Henry has taken over the leadership of the company.

Throughout 2016, Henry Laughlin III invested over $3,000,000 to bring Northeast Air’s FBO facilities to the forefront of the aviation industry, with a state of the art General Aviation Terminal, expanded parking, and updated amenities.

1939

  • Henry ‘Sandy’ Laughlin Jr. joins the United States Army Air Corps
  • Earns the rank of Major and commands a squadron of B-29 Bombers the Pacific Theater of World War II

1945

  • Sandy returns to civilian life after the war

1948

  • Sandy opens North Atlantic Aviation in Beverly, Massachusetts

1953

  • Sandy sells his first Aero Commander
  • Sandy travels to Oshkosh, WI to purchase his first Cessna aircraft to sell, but after seeing the Aero Commander, cancels his order and flies home in a Commander 520

1963

  • Sandy sells North Atlantic Aviation and moves to Portland, ME

1969

  • The start of Northeast Air in Portland, ME, which consisted of a single hangar connect to an administrative building

1978

  • Northeast Air begins fueling commercial airline flights out of Portland, ME

1979

  • An extension of the original hangar is built to house the avionics shop, conveniently name the ‘avionics hangar’

1983

  • Sandy’s son, Henry A. Laughlin III, completes his private pilot training in Beverley, MA

1984

  • After a successful career in computer sales, Henry joins the family business at Northeast Air

1986

  • Henry and Sandy complete an impressive sale of 10 Aero Commander 690s to the Australian Coast Watch, which would go on to be used in anti-drug running missions off the coast of northern Australia

1996

  • Construction begins on new FBO building, featuring nearly 19,000 square foot hangar, completed in 1998

1998

  • Henry and his business partners begin Pro Star Aviation at Boston-Manchester Regional Airport

2000

  • Northeast Air takes on all airline support services, including ground support handling and de-icing.

2009

  • Henry secures sales territory for the Northeastern dealership of the Pilatus franchise, featuring the well-known PC-12; Pro Star Pilatus Service Center begins.

2015

  • Henry’s son, Jesse, completes his Private Pilot training in Augusta, ME

2016

  • Northeast Air completes a 2-year, $3,000,000 project to upgrade its General Aviation terminal to a modern, state-of-the-art facility

This is my favorite FBO.  The service is fast, friendly and efficient.  The desk staff is always helpful and accommodating. The facility is immaculate.  My clients, business associates and I have always been treated like royalty. Very professional, everybody goes above and beyond.

AINOnline, July 4, 2019

Northeast Air is a topnotch FBO.  Management and staff constantly strive to ensure that visiting passengers and crews have a fantastic experience.  The FBO ops team goes above and beyond on every visit. If you have any maintenance or avionics issues…they are fantastic.  I highly recommend Northeast Air.

AINOnline July 9, 2019

Northeast Air has established itself as the premier FBO in New England. The new building is fantastic, and the CSR,s are the best in the business. I’ve used Northeast for a training point for our crew 299 check on a Challenger 300, an intermediate stop for several TBM charters, and a great FBO for my clients in their light twins. No matter what the aircraft, the Northeast crew treats everyone like they are the most important aircraft on the ramp. Northeast also did an avionics upgrade on my recently purchased aircraft. They were on budget and on time, and ensured the final installation surpassed my expectations. 

AIN Online February 2020

NEA personnel excel with prompt service with a smile and willing to bend over backwards to please. Working with people like this makes coming to work a joy. 

AINOneline, February 2020

This FBO improves more and more every time I come here. I’m always greeted by line service always asking if we need anything. If we call ahead for a quick turn, the truck is pulling up as we park. Fastest quick turns in the New England area. Walking into the building again always greeted by a friendly well trained CSR. Pilot lounge, and gym a definite plus if you’re going to have a layover.

Brian First Chief Pilot TFT Aviation, February 2020

We have been going here for years; we love it! The line service is in the top tier in the industry and the new facilities are beautiful. We have 10 stars for the CSRs. The Best!!! 

AINOnline, February 2020

My twin turboprop is maintained here over the last 8 years, and the maintenance team is excellent. There has also been an obvious continuous set of facility improvements, and the new FBO facility is top notch. Everyone, up to Henry Laughlin the owner, is approachable, friendly, and available to deal with any needs I have. Great place! Recently I had major service done by another facility on the West coast, and it was a very bad experience, resulting in my having lack of confidence in the aircraft’s condition. I had a North Atlantic trip coming up, and with no notice asked NEA’s mx team to run their eyes over the plane. They found and corrected numerous faults from the other facility, and got my pax and I airborne on time, in a safe aircraft. They are the best! 

AINOnline, February 2020

Northeast Air is our primary maintenance provider for our very busy small PC12 charter company. Additionally, the CSR reps at Northeast Air are some of the best in the business. Especially when you land with pax unannounced because of dense fog at our initial destination and the CSR team wrangles numerous rental cars and makes other arrangements within minutes of our surprise arrival.

AINOnline, February 2020

Whether it was waiting for the air ambulance carrying my father from Switzerland; where the staff gave me updates on the flight’s progress, to making my 93 year old father’s travel to his son’s house via a charter, Northeast Air is the best! Their new facilities are top rate and accommodating. The staff goes above and beyond to help out. Even coming to my rescue when I arrived back late one evening and my car’s battery was dead. The person on duty stayed with me until AAA arrived at almost midnight to insure I was not stranded. That is what makes this FBO outstanding.

AINOnline February 2020

Based with Northeast Air in 73 in a shrike and utilized their maintenance facility for 50 inspections over 20 years in mostly turbine equipment. Line service takes the same good care whether I show up in the club Bonanza or the Gulfstream. Always pleasant and efficient with the “What can we do to help” attitude even when it’s beyond the scope of airplane service.

Dennis Hattie ATP

A beautiful facility, with very friendly and attentive CSRs, and great line service. One of the best FBOs we visit across the country. We always look forward to our visits to this great Northeast facility!

AINOnline, March 2020

Acadian Seaplanes has used Northeast Air exclusively for over ten years. Their line service, CSRs, facilities, maintenance and avionics team are top notch. Their location on the field easily facilitates airline transfers to our amphibious aircraft. I feel like family whenever I use Northeast Air for fuel, maintenance or picking up passengers. Bravo to the entire team at Northeast Air!

AINOnline, January 2020

I’ve been doing business with Northeast Air since the mid 90s. They are a class A operation with counter people always kind and have a warm welcome. The line guys are out on the ramp snow, rain, cold and heat of the summer with a warm greeting and always eager to help anyway they can. The maintenance by far is one of the best. They have repaired many of the planes I’ve flown from piston to jet. They do major engine installs and avionics upgrades to a simple switch or light bulb replacement. It’s been a pleasure to do business with northeast air all these years.

AINOnline, January 2020

At Mountain Aviation, we have the opportunity to visit Downeast Maine about once each quarter. Northeast Air has always went above and beyond with regard to customer service for both our crews and our clients. Now they’ve matched that customer service excellence with an outstanding new FBO building, providing the complete experience. We will continue to rate Northeast Air as one of our top 5% FBO’s nationwide and our favorite FBO in New England.

AINOnline January 2020

I cannot say enough great things about this facility. The people are what make this FBO special. From the line to the front desk to the maintenance shop and up to the office, every employee is 100% customer focused – professional-grade all the way. I wouldn’t let anyone else touch my airplane.

AINOnline, January 2020

We park our Falcon 900EX at Northeast every time we go to Portland (which is often in the summer) They always manage to get us in the hangar and treat us like gold. Our company also uses NEA for all of our PC12 trips. The new facility is really special and a nice place to be when I have a full day sit!

AINOnline, January 2020

I have based my Cessna 182 Skylane here since 1995. While the facility has changed, the people who staff the line counter, those on the line, the maintenance personnel and administrative have always provided excellent service. I have visited many FBO’s from Canada to Wyoming and down to the Bahamas. I have not yet found one that can match Northeast Air.

AINOnline, December 2019

Northeast Air is managed with the perfect balance of customer service and a clean FBO building for your passengers. During Camp Week (2018), we arrived in our G650. Northeast employees, from line service to front desk CSR’s, treated us like we were the only client there. We received first class service with a smile. Crew car availability and lunch in the lobby was a nice touch.

AINOnline December 2019

CONTACT INFO

NorthEast Air
UNICOM 122.95

24-Hour Toll Free Number:
(877) 354 7881

1011 Westbrook Street,
Portland, ME 04102

Repair Station FTUR030E

Phone: (207) 774-6318
Text: (207) 613-5531

Email Contacts:

General Information Inquiries

General Aviation,
Customer Service

Alec Kindred ,
Director of Maintenance

Ricky Vigue,
General Aviation Manager

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