About Leading Edge Services
Headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, with facilities across the United States, Leading Edge Aviation Services, Inc. has one of the most advanced, commercial aircraft services companies in the world. Specializing in commercial and military aircraft painting, the company also provides a wide range of commercial services, including fuel system servicing, mod-center support, contract labor, line-turn maintenance, composite and sheet metal, long and short term aircraft storage, field audits, fleet assessments, interior deep cleaning, and strip and painting services to various branches of the United States Military. For more information, visit our web site.

As a special thanks to our hardworking crews, turkeys will be handed our for Thanksgiving and Christmas

 To help airlines maximize downtimes with the highs and lows of the season, Leading Edge Aviation’s paint crews are amping up their holiday schedule, working around the Christmas clock to prep and paint aircraft on those rare holiday moments when some aircraft are sitting empty. “For most people, Christmas and New Years are days to relax, celebrate with family, or take in a football game or two,” said Dave Patterson, EVP, Leading Edge Aviation Services. “But for us, it’s probably one of the most important, and busiest times of the year.” According to Patterson, travel typically dips during those days, presenting a narrow window that airlines can use to complete routine maintenancesuch as paint or fuel systems servicing.

“This service really gives airlines the tools to capitalize on those holiday drops in demand, so they’re at their best during the post-holiday rush. It’s just one of the many ways, Leading Edge and its employees give back to our customers during thisand every season.”

Costa Mesa, Calif.  – October 6, 2011. Leading Edge Aviation Services (LEAS), the largest commercial/military aircraft painting and interiors Company in the world, announced today that it has successfully completed its audit and has received recommendation for AS9100 certification at its Victorville, Calif. facility and corporate headquarters.

The news puts Leading Edge at a distinct advantage globally, making it the only aircraft painting company in the world to be awarded this new standard of excellence. Additionally it is a key stage in the final preparations for the upcoming Boeing B787’s arrival at the Leading Edge Fort Worth Texas facility.

Created specifically for the aerospace industry, AS9100 is a quality management system that outlines global standards for best practices that meets the unique and complex requirements of this sector. It requires strict adherence to quality and reliability standards in aerospace, and documentation of procedures, rigorous quality measurements and corrective actions to drive consistency in mission-critical products.

“AS9100C certification will further solidify Leading Edge and its global footprint in the aerospace sector, providing a new high quality and cost-competitive services to both commercial and defense fleets,” said Mike Manclark, President of Leading Edge. “This milestone builds on Leading Edge’s proven track record of providing aerospace customers with regulatory and compliance expertise unmatched by our competitors, and further demonstrates    our continued commitment to being an industry leader in quality and reliability.”

The Victorville facility and corporate headquarters will be the first Leading Edge sites to become  AS9100-certified centers of excellence, and will be joined by the company’s other facilities in Amarillo Texas,  Greenville MS, and the new Dallas Fort Worth site over the coming months.

“For more than 25 years we’ve ingrained a culture of constant innovation and continuous process improvement,” added Manclark. “The success of this audit is a direct result of that, and the next of many steps as we continue to lead the industry globally. We are very proud to receive this certification, and look forward to rolling it out to all our facilities company-wide.”

About Leading Edge Aviation Services

Headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., with facilities across the United States, Leading Edge Aviation Services, Inc. is one of the most advanced, commercial aircraft services companies in the world. Specializing in commercial and military aircraft painting, the company also provides a wide range of commercial services, including fuel system servicing, mod-center support, contract labor, line-turn maintenance, composite and sheet metal, long and short term aircraft storage, field audits, fleet assessments, interior deep cleaning, and strip and painting services to various branches of the United States Military.

“Seeing old friends and meeting new ones, getting together with valued partners—this is the best part of our annual fun-filled customer appreciation weekend at the Miramar Air Show,” said Mike Manclark, CEO of Leading Edge Corp.  “We love using the spectacular backdrop of this world-famous event to say ‘Thank You’ to everyone who has helped make Leading Edge the leader in aircraft painting and the partner of choice for America’s top airlines.”

Leading Edge guests joined nearly 750,000 spectators during the three-day run of the show, which celebrated the Centennial of Naval Aviation with the theme “A Salute to San Diego: Birthplace of Naval Aviation 1911-2011.”

The Blue Angels showcased their impressive formations and complex maneuvers along with military and civilian jets and warbirds. The Boeing F/A-18 Hornet lit up the skies with its afterburners and cruised at speeds nearing 500 mph above the flight line. The Saturday Twilight Show featured special aerial pyrotechnics, a fireworks display and the always popular “Great Wall of Fire.”  

Leading Edge guests got to take it all in from the best views at the show—runway seating at the company’s exclusive VIP Chalet tent, where they enjoyed a varied menu of fine foods and refreshments. 

Leading Edge guests stayed at the Empress Hotel, an elegant, upscale coastal resort nestled in the heart of the charming village of La Jolla and known for its access to the sandy beaches and rocky shorelines that dominate the stunning landscape.

In addition to the air show, Leading Edge guests were able to choose among other company festivities, including:

The 15th Annual Leading Edge Golf Tournament was held at the MCAS Miramar Memorial Golf Course, ranked among the top eight military golf courses in the U.S. by Travel & Leisure Golf Magazine. In addition to the spectacular fairways and greens, golfers were treated to a breakfast, a Bloody Mary bar, lunch and drinks while aircraft from the show roared overhead.  Crystal golf trophies and cups were awarded to the winners (see box).

•  A limo bus outing to SeaWorld San Diego enabled guests to experience the wonders of this world-class theme park, oceanarium and marine mammal park.
• The tiki-torch sunset BBQ dinner at La Jolla Shores Beach featured sumptuous fare served on tables covered in regal teal linens and lit with wind-resistant electronic LED “candles.”

“This year’s event was a great success,” said Manclark, “and we’re already looking forward to next year’s party.  Mark your calendars now because you won’t want to miss it.”

About Leading Edge Aviation Services

Headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., with facilities across the United States, Leading Edge Aviation Services, Inc. is one of the most advanced, commercial aircraft services companies in the world. Specializing in commercial and military aircraft painting, the company also provides a wide range of commercial services, including fuel system servicing, mod-center support, contract labor, line-turn maintenance, composite and sheet metal, long and short term aircraft storage, field audits, fleet assessments, interior deep cleaning, and strip and painting services to various branches of the United States Military.

“In addition to the stunning displays, demonstrations and aviation excellence, this show is really about taking the time to thank the friends, family and clients that have played such a vital part of our success,” said Mike Manclark, CEO, LEAS. “We try to make this fun for the whole family, with everything from barbecues on the beach and trips to local attractions, to fully-hosted meals and runway seating at our VIP chalet. It’s definitely an event you won’t want to miss.”

“Simply put, you won’t find a better view of the Miramar Air show unless you’re flying in it,” added Manclark. “As the event’s longest-standing VIP supporter, our corporate chalet seats are the best in the house. We’re proud to share this unbeatable view with the people whose trust and loyalty has made Leading Edge the number one partner of choice for aircraft painting services.”

Due to popular demand, Leading Edge Aviation will once again be hosting its Annual golf Tournament at MCAS Miramar Memorial Golf Course while the air show rages on overhead. The shotgun-style tourney will once again feature a full bloody mary bar, complimentary breakfast and lunch along with awards.

For more information on the Miramar Air Show, visit click here

Bookings Soar Bolstered by Major Fleet Contracts and New Hangars

Leading Edge Aviation Services (LEAS), the world’s largest aircraft painting company has shattered an industry record today, painting more than 400 aircraft in the first half of 2011. Bolstered by contracts from newly-merged airlines such as United and Delta, the company is reporting a record increase in bookings over last year, adding two new facilities in the process – one in Dallas, and another in Miami to keep up with demand.

“The numbers are in, and the message is clear. Nobody paints more aircraft for more airlines than Leading Edge,” said Mike Manclark, CEO, LEAS. “This is a true global milestone that we’ve worked toward for over 25 years, and we’re extremely proud of our team for their dedication and tenacity in making us the world’s best.”

With a total of seven facilities located in California, Mississippi, Texas, Florida and South Carolina, Leading Edge has the highest capacity of any commercial aircraft painting company in the world. As the industry’s largest and fastest-growing choice for global fleets, the company has been on a path of continuous growth since 1989, completing over 570 aircraft in 2010 alone.

“With strong bookings for the remainder of the year, and a push into new markets like VIP conversions, 2011 should be a banner year for Leading Edge,” added Manclark. “We`re more focused than ever on our customers, offering everything from new interiors to fuel-system maintenance to minimize downtime. It`s a tremendous value in today`s competitive landscape, and the market is clearly responding. We look forward to working with all of our customers in what we hope is another period of successful growth, unmatched served and commitment.

Leading Edge Aviation Services (LEAS), the largest commercial aircraft painting and interiors company in the world, announced today that Steve Hastings has joined the company as V.P. Operations. In his new role, Steve will leverage his 25 years of expertise in aircraft maintenance and appearance with United Airlines to further grow the company’s leadership in quality, performance and customer service. As part of his new position, Steve will work closely with the company’s facilities in California, Mississippi, Texas, South Carolina, Florida and Indiana, building relationships with key clients, and streamlining the compliance of each site’s operations.

“We’re extremely happy that Steve is joining us during this time of unprecedented expansion,” said Mike Manclark, President and CEO, Leading Edge Aviation. “It’s extremely rare to find someone with that level of experience and expertise who truly understands our commitment to quality control and assurance on a global scale. We’re pleased to have him join the team, and look forward to continuing serving our customers with the best team in the business.”

Prior to joining Leading Edge, Steve spearheaded United’s global standards for aircraft appearance, responsible for a fleet of more than 360 aircraft, and played an instrumental part in planning that company’s aggressive approach to merged paint livery with Continental. An expert in global quality standards and a licensed mechanic with Airframe and Powerplan (A&P) certification, Steve lives and works in the San Francisco area.

Tohnni "TJ" Jones, President of Leading Edge Worldwide Completions Center

Leading Edge Aviation Services (LEAS), the world’s largest aviation paint and coatings company, announced today the addition of a new VIP wide body hangar complex in Fort Worth Texas. The new location expands Leading Edge’s capacity for climate controlled VIP wide body paint projects. The facility also includes a fully integrated completions center for narrow and wide body VIP completions. Tohnni Jones, formerly of MAV Aircraft Services, will spearhead the completions division, which will officially be known as Leading Edge Completions.

“We have greatly increased our capacity with the addition of this state-of-the-art climate-controlled wide body paint facility, and have added the benefit of VVIP, and VIP completions capabilities. By combining the two offerings, we are able to provide the very highest level of customer service and quality to our clients ” said Mike Manclark, CEO, Leading Edge Aviation Services. “There’s never been a better time for Leading Edge to launch our completion efforts and take advantage of this anticipated industry need, and I assure you no company in the world will be doing it better than Leading Edge.  The Fort Worth  complex will also be dedicated to our very high profile VIP and corporate aircraft painting customers.”

Based in Fort Worth, Texas, the new complex will offer exclusive customer amenities and a high-end manufacturing that is second-to-none. Temperature and humidity controls provide an  optimal decorative paint finishing environment. The company’s elite team of designers, craftsmen, engineers and artisans will collaborate with customers to create stunning, custom designs. We will fabricate – in-house - all components related to VIP and VVIP completions. Leading Edge has a complete design center, engineering capabilities, cabinet and component fabrication, structures, maintenance, upholstery/seat design, cabinet finishing, emulsion transfer, certification, and exterior paint services. With this launch, Leading Edge becomes just one of a handful of companies capable of serving global clientele of this caliber.

“I am thrilled to join Leading Edge as we build our brand in this exciting and growing market place,” said Tohnni Jones, President of Leading Edge Conversions. “We share a true passion for excellence that the world’s most discerning customers simply won’t find anywhere else. And with Leading Edge’s workforce and commitment to quality and reduced turn times, we will set the bar at a level not currently achievable at our competitors.”

Contact

Tohnni Jones

President
Leading Edge Completions

(817) 750-0000

tjones@leascorp.com

Headquartered in Santa Ana, California, Leading Edge Aviation Services, Inc. has facilities across the United States. Leading Edge is the most advanced commercial aircraft services company in the world. Specializing paint and completions for commercial, private, VVIP and military aircraft, Leading Edge delivers a wide range of aircraft services including fuel systems, mod-center support, contract labor, line-turn maintenance, composite and sheet metal work, aircraft storage, field audits, fleet assessments, interior deep cleaning, and strip & paint. For more information, visit www.leadingedgecorp.com

But to us, the Fourth of July has always been about more than just waving the American flag and eating one too many hotdogs. It’s a time to remember and honor those who serve this country, and a chance to celebrate the proud military tradition that we’ve cultivated here in America.

At Leading Edge, we got our start washing and detailing fighter jets. When we were looking for that one big break to build our business, it was America’s armed forces who gave us that chance. And we’ve been grateful ever since.
Today, we are proud to support a variety of programs that give back to our troops. Whether it’s turkeys on Thanksgiving or toys for Christmas Day, we’re happy to do what we can to help improve the quality of life of those who do so much to ensure ours.

This year also marks the fifth anniversary of our support of the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the charity, it’s a wonderful organization that provides financial aid and quality of life solutions to Marines when they become injured in post 9/11 combat or training. The charity helps defray the expenses incurred during hospitalization, rehabilitation and recovery; helps with the purchase of specialized equipment, adaptive vehicles and home modifications; and provides education to the public about the special needs of our wounded service members and their families.

We all owe a lot to the men and women of our military. And at Leading Edge, we owe them even more. On this Fourth of July, we thank each and every service man and woman for their part in making America’s what it is today. A place of freedom, and a place of opportunity.