WINCHESTER — ProJet Aviation pulled out all the stops Tuesday night at a grand opening ceremony for its new corporate hangar at the Winchester Regional Airport.

The 13,200-square-foot addition, which features secure access, camera monitoring and a showroom finish, effectively doubles the amount of space the aircraft management and charter jet operator can offer to individuals and corporations seeking a home for their private planes.

"Our new facility will bring continued economic growth and expanded services to the Winchester community that we are proud to call home," said ProJet President and CEO Shye Gilad.

Since opening its first hangar at the regional airport in November, the company has invested more than $3 million in facilities and equipment and created 16 jobs.

"They've obviously added to the tax base here in Frederick County, and it's the kind of industry we're looking to attract," said state Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel, who spoke at Tuesday's event.

ProJet Vice President Paul Kosubinsky said the new facility can house about a half-dozen aircraft of varying classes, and is in line with the company's goal to increase capacity to 12 planes by 2012.

"We're growing by leaps and bounds," he said, in large part because of the added expense and hassle of flying commercial airlines since 9/11.

"Prices are up, and convenience and service [are] way down," he said of the industry.

Demand for air charter service is up 25 percent in the last five years, and ProJet, based in the shadow of the Washington metropolitan region, outside the federal no-fly zone, is well positioned to capitalize on the trend, Kosubinsky said.

"We think we're in the right place at the right time."

The company's ascent has lifted its host's fortunes as well.

Winchester Regional Airport has seen an additional $435,000 in revenue over the past 12 months from fuel sales and lease agreements, according to manager Serena "Renny" Manuel.

In addition, ProJet's corporate aviation facility, which now boasts more than 40,000 square feet of state-of-the-art hangar and office space, serves as an important marketing tool to lure large corporate jets, she said.

"Typically those type of aircraft don't like to be parked out on a ramp, they like to be housed in a hangar."

The company landed a high-profile client in late 2007 in Middleburg entrepreneur Shelia C. Johnson, CEO of Salamander Hospitality and ambassador for the global humanitarian organization CARE. Johnson houses her corporate jet at the local facility.

Also on Tuesday, ProJet showcased the latest addition to its growing charter fleet — the new Piaggio Avanti II, an Italian-made luxury aircraft loaded with amenities, including a beverage and snack bar, XM radio, iPod dock, Xbox, DVD/CD players, moving map and wireless headsets.

The model is so popular that ProJet pre-sold 200 hours of charter time prior to its delivery.

"We are very excited to bring this exciting new aircraft to the Mid-Atlantic charter market," Gilad said.

Officials with Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini of Washington were on hand Tuesday, and Italian fare was served in keeping with the event's theme.

Founded in 2005 by Gilad, Kosubinsky and fellow airline pilot Craig McAteer, ProJet provides a full range of private aviation services, from housing and maintaining the aircraft to piloting it and scheduling trips. The company also handles concierge and on-board catering services, limousine travel to and from destinations and corporate security.

ProJet's primary service area is the Washington metro region, though longer flights are also available.

The company's future plans include venturing into aircraft maintenance and repair.

"That's always been a part of our business plan," Kosubinsky said. "When the time is right to expand our services, we'd like to get into that."