US's Principal Aviation acquires first jet, Legacy 600

Florida-based private jet charter broker and aviation services firm Principal Aviation has acquired a first executive jet, a Legacy 600. Co-founder and partner Lee Simon told ch-aviation the aircraft, to be operated under the Part 135 certificate of Contour Aviation (LF, Smyrna), is expected to enter charter service within the coming weeks.

“Aircraft ownership allows us to provide greater consistency in service and pricing while maintaining flexibility across our charter platform. This transaction also builds on the operational foundation we've established across brokerage, maintenance, and aircraft management partnerships,” Simon said in a statement.

Simon confirmed the jet, a 2005-built Legacy 600, N752SP (msn 14500903), is configured for up to 13 passengers and will operate on a floating base model. “The aircraft has been repainted and crew is currently in training. It should be flying charters within the next few weeks,” he added.

Principal Aviation was represented by Wolf Aircraft Advisors during the acquisition. Simon confirmed the advisory firm is also supporting Principal Aviation on additional aircraft opportunities “that would make sense”. He added the company has no plans, at present, to become an operator.

The Legacy 600 will be placed on the Part 135 certificate of Contour Aviation, a carrier focused on Alternate Essential Air Service (AEAS) contracts with an executive jet charter division. The aircraft was first active under the company's 'VTE' code on January 26, flying between Smyrna and Boca Raton.

As of July 2025, Contour Aviation's Part 135 certificate included another Legacy 600, alongside eighteen E135s, three E145s, a Challenger 800 (CRJ100), ten CRJ200ERs, and five CRJ200LRs. Since then, the company has acquired several Citation Excel and Citation XLS aircraft sold by Wheels Up (WUP, Teterboro).

Currently, four Citation Excels and four Citation XLS jets are owned by Contour Aviation and operate under the 'VTE' code, although it remains unclear whether these have been added to the carrier's Part 135 fleet.