Costa Mesa, Calif., May 11, 2012 —Leading Edge Aviation Services (LEAS), the largest commercial and military aircraft painting company in the world, today announced it has won the prestigious 2012 MRO of the Year Award for Innovative Service Supplier. The award, given annually by Aviation Week and Overhaul & Maintenance, honor outstanding achievement and innovation in aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO). Just four companies receive the award each year, one for Outstanding Airline Maintenance Group, Military Center of Excellence, Independent MRO, and Innovative Service Supplier.

Leading Edge received the award at a special ceremony during Aviation Week’s MRO Americas Conference & Exhibition at the Dallas Convention Center on April 2, 2012. Among the innovative accomplishments that Leading Edge was selected for were its ground-breaking work supporting the United-Continental livery transition, in which the entire fleet of 671 aircraft will be refinished in just 24-36 months, and its selection by Boeing to paint the new 787 Dreamliners coming out of Charleston.

“Our winners provide exemplary models for business leadership, especially with regard to smart expansion and sustainable energy,” said Lee Ann Tegtmeier, editor-in-chief of Overhaul & Maintenance. “They have made significant contributions to military and commercial fleet readiness, have championed new technologies, and are driving efficiency through innovation. Leading Edge did just that, providing innovative paint solutions that saved United in excess of five million dollars over the course of the program. We are proud to honor this achievement.”

Conceived more than 50 years ago, Aviation Week’s awards have since grown to become the most coveted awards in the aviation industry. Today, they signify global excellence, recognizing the extraordinary achievements of individuals and teams in aerospace, aviation and defense.

“Being recognized as an innovative service supplier by such marquee organizations like Aviation Week and Overhaul & Maintenance is a significant accomplishment,” said Mike Manclark, CEO, LEAS. “Since we founded the company over 20 years ago, we’ve held onto an unwavering commitment to outstanding quality, innovation and value. It’s those core principles that have allowed us to make advances in quality, flexibility and service times that airlines around the world have come to depend on. We are thrilled to have earned this award.”

About Leading Edge Aviation Services
Headquartered in Costa Mesa, California with state-of-the-art facilities nationwide, Leading Edge Aviation Services, Inc. is the largest, most advanced commercial and military aircraft painting company in the world. Founded in 1989, the company’s undeniable success is attributed to its strong vision and a continuous commitment to quality and excellence. Today, Leading Edge delivers an extensive range of commercial services including aircraft interior and exterior painting, OEM production coatings application support, mod-center painting services support, VVIP aircraft interior completions and exterior paint, aviation graphics, aircraft weighing, long- and short-term aircraft storage, field audits, fleet assessments, interior deep cleaning, and aircraft exterior wash and polish. For more information, visit our web site at www.leadingedgecorp.com.

About Aviation Week:
Aviation Week, part of The McGraw-Hill Companies, is the largest multimedia information and services provider to the global aviation, aerospace and defense industries, and includes Aviation Week, Aviation Week & Space Technology, Defense Technology International, Business & Commercial Aviation, Overhaul & Maintenance, ShowNews, Aviation Daily, Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, The Weekly of Business Aviation, Aviation Week Intelligence Network, MRO Links and MRO Prospector. The group also produces major events around the world.

Costa Mesa, Calif., May 4, 2012 —Leading Edge Aviation Services (LEAS), the largest commercial and military aircraft painting company in the world, today announced that Mike Manclark, Founder and CEO, has won Orange County Business Journal’s prestigious Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award. Announced on March 21, the awards are presented annually to five individuals who best exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit through their vision, execution, business accomplishments and potential for continued success.

“Mike Manclark’s vision and leadership have propelled Leading Edge into the largest aircraft painting company in the world, counting virtually every major airline as a customer,” said Richard Reisman, publisher, OCBJ. “During the past few years, the company has grown revenue by more than 14% in what’s widely been recognized as one of the toughest periods in history for commercial aviation. It’s accomplishments like these that warrant Manclark’s inclusion in our Excellence in Entrepreneurship Awards.”

Originally founded as an aircraft detailing business at John Wayne Airport, Manclark quickly expanded the business to accommodate a growing need for premium aircraft painting. Within a few years, the company amassed major contracts with clients such as Delta, Continental, United, Air Canada, Southwest, the U.S. Military and even NASA. Today the company boasts state-of-the-art hangars in eight cities across America, revenues of more than $46M, and a total of more than 1,300 employees.

“This has been another landmark year for Leading Edge, and we are honored to have our accomplishments recognized by the OCBJ,” said Manclark. “We are proud to be part of a community that values and supports entrepreneurship and innovation.”

About Leading Edge Aviation Services
Headquartered in Costa Mesa, California with state-of-the-art facilities nationwide, Leading Edge Aviation Services, Inc. is the largest, most advanced commercial and military aircraft painting company in the world. Founded in 1989, the company’s undeniable success is attributed to its strong vision and a continuous commitment to quality and excellence. Today, Leading Edge delivers an extensive range of commercial services including aircraft interior and exterior painting, OEM production coatings application support, mod-center painting services support, VVIP aircraft interior completions and exterior paint, aviation graphics, aircraft weighing, long- and short-term aircraft storage, field audits, fleet assessments, interior deep cleaning, and aircraft exterior wash and polish. For more information, visit our web site at www.leadingedgecorp.com.

About the OCBJ
Each week, the Orange County Business Journal delivers the most complete package of news and information on Orange County’s companies, industries and businesspeople. It is comprehensive, authoritative, concise and entertaining. Presented in a lively and accessible format, the Business Journal is required reading for Orange County executives, managers and professionals—written in an up-tempo, breezy style that reveals the drama, excitement and fun in business. For more information, go to www.ocbj.com.

Costa Mesa, Calif., APRIL 25, 2012 —Leading Edge Aviation Services (LEAS), the largest commercial and military aircraft painting company in the world, celebrated the end of an era today, as it converts the world’s last remaining Continental aircraft to the newly merged United livery. A fixture of the skies since 1937, Continental grew to become one of America’s largest commercial carriers before announcing its merger with United in 2010. Since then, Leading Edge has worked around the clock to transition the entire fleet of 345 aircraft to its new look, completing a steady stream of aircraft from painting facilities in Texas, Mississippi, and California.

“We’re honored to be a part of this historic moment as we say goodbye to one of the oldest and most celebrated brands in aviation history,” said Mike Manclark, President and CEO, LEAS. “Since before WWII, Continental has been a part of the American fabric, shaping the way we travel for more than 75 years. With both domestic and international service, few airlines impacted as many travelers for as many years as Continental. It’s a truly remarkable story.”

The final Continental aircraft, a Boeing 737, is scheduled to be completed on April 26th in Amarillo, TX. It marks the second major fleet transition for Leading Edge, which also converted more than 500 aircraft for the recent Delta/Northwest merger. In all, Leading Edge painted more than 550 aircraft last year, more than any other company in the world.

“Completing this project was a major accomplishment for Leading Edge, and a true team effort,” added Manclark. “Since 2010, at least one freshly-painted aircraft has emerged from our hangars virtually every day with fresh United livery. Four facilities worked day and night to make it happen, often supporting 11 lines of aircraft painting at a single time. It’s a testament to both our capacity and our drive. Although it’s hard to say goodbye to such an historic American icon, we’re thrilled to be a part of its reinvention as the new United.”

About Leading Edge Aviation Services
Headquartered in Costa Mesa, California with state-of-the-art facilities nationwide, Leading Edge Aviation Services, Inc. is the largest, most advanced commercial and military aircraft painting company in the world. Founded in 1989, the company’s undeniable success is attributed to its strong vision and a continuous commitment to quality and excellence. Today, Leading Edge delivers an extensive range of commercial services including aircraft interior and exterior painting, OEM production coatings application support, mod-center painting services support, VVIP aircraft interior completions and exterior paint, aviation graphics, aircraft weighing, long- and short-term aircraft storage, field audits, fleet assessments, interior deep cleaning, and aircraft exterior wash and polish. For more information, visit our web site at www.leadingedgecorp.com.

“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

For those of you who made it to the Regional Airline Association (RAA) conference, it was a pleasure to see you. As the last big conference before summer, it was the perfect opportunity to hear first-hand the challenges and opportunities faced by airlines as they come head-to-head with their busiest – and most critical time of the year.

And at Leading Edge, we’re listening. We know that minimizing downtime and making a good impression are key elements to your success. Most recently our Victorville facility has added a new 747 Hangar giving us the largest commercial aircraft painting capacity in the country; we’re the only facility nationwide that can accommodate five wide bodies at a time! We’re also the only aircraft painting company in the world with an AS-9110 certification program.

We’re thrilled you could make time to see us at RAA, and thank you for your continued business and support. Click here to view a few of our favorite moments, or take a look to see what you missed.

Whether it’s a new coat of paint or a fully refreshed interior, Leading Edge has the capacity, expertise, and drive to help you make the most of summer. To find out more information, please contact us at your convenience.  As always, we’re here to help.

Mike Manclark, CEO, Leading Edge Aviation Services

Leading Edge Aviation Services, the world’s largest commercial aircraft painting company, announced that it’s CEO, Mike Manclark is a semi-finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2011 Award.  According to Ernst & Young LLP, the awards program recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.  Manclark was selected as a semi-finalist by a panel of independent judges. Award winners will be announced at a special gala event on June 11 at the Hyatt Regency in Huntington Beach. 

Manclark started the company over 20 years ago as a small aircraft detailing business at John Wayne Airport. Since then, he’s grown the company into the largest commercial aircraft painting company in the world with over 1300 employees from coast-to-coast that service over 600 aircraft a year. Today, no company paints more aircraft for more airlines than Leading Edge.

“Orange County has always been a hotbed of entrepreneurial spirit, so to be recognized amongst the area’s many successes is a real honor,” said Manclark. “This is a great place to live, work, and do business, and we’re thrilled to be a part of it. We thank the judges for their consideration, and look forward to participating in the awards gala this summer.”

The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year awards program celebrates its 25^th anniversary this year. The program has expanded to recognize business leaders in over 140 cities and over 50 countries throughout the world. 

Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Ernst & Young LLP Entrepreneur Of The Year national program. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the overall national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California on November 12, 2011. The awards are the culminating event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies, and is held from November 9-13, 2011.

About Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year® Awards Program

Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year® is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The award makes a difference through the unique way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 135 cities in 50 countries.

Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young LLP is a client-serving member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited located in the U.S.

Leading Edge Aviation Services and Boeing sign contract during ceremony on February 2, 2011

Leading Edge Aviation Services (LEAS), the world’s largest commercial aircraft painting company, has been selected by The Boeing Company to provide the final painting and livery applications for all 787’s being delivered from the company’s new 787 Final Assembly & Delivery facility in North Charleston, South Carolina.

The work will be performed in Leading Edge’s Amarillo, Texas facility, which is currently configuring and upgrading their wide body hangar to accommodate this very special aircraft and program. The facility currently employs over 200 workers, and serves as the dedicated paint hub for major airlines such as Southwest, UPS, and United Airlines.

 “It is truly an honor to be part of the Boeing team on this ground-breaking project,” said Mike Manclark, Chief Executive Officer, LEAS. “Since day one Leading Edge’s goal was to set up and establish quality systems and facilities to eventually become an integral part and team member with Boeing. This contract culminates many years of effort and thousands s of quality aircraft deliveries to finally make this goal a reality. Being selected to contribute to such an amazing project and truly remarkable aircraft is a great honor. We are proud to join Boeing on this historic contract, and look forward to working with them in the years ahead.”

Dr. Marco L.E. Cavazzoni of Boeing South Carolina and Mike Manclark of LEAS making it official

 “It’s great to work with a company that is as committed to quality as we are here at Leading Edge,” added Manclark. “Boeing is one of the most highly respected companies on the planet, and we are honored to be selected to play a key role  in helping to make the new South Carolina 787 facility a success.”

For more information please click here

As we look back to the year 2010, we can’t miss it just a little. Despite America’s slow climb from the recession, we’ve managed to keep things ticking here at Leading Edge Aviation Services. We launched an aircraft interiors program to help reduce out of service times, we opened several new hangars to increase our capacity, and we helped transform hundreds of Northwest aircraft to Delta colors in a matter of months.

Beyond building capacity, we also spent the year building something just as important – relationships. And we’ve done that by listening, learning, and innovating. Quality, price, and reliability are important in every industry, and at Leading Edge, we push the limits of all three on a daily basis. To us, quality is more than just a destination, it’s a journey. That’s why in 2010, we took the lead to become the very first commerical aircraft painting company in America to become ISO-900 certified.

But building relationships isn’t just about driving quality, new services, and meeting demanding client timelines. Sometimes it’s about something much simpler, like having a little fun. Yes, in a year fraught with so much uncertainty, we managed to have a little of that too. In October we celebrated our 14th consecutive year at the Miramar Air Show and Golf Tournament and more than 120 friends and family joined us for a sunset beach party, world-class golfing, spectacular theme parks, and of course some of the most incredible aircraft and military demonstrations ever to hit California.

At Leading Edge Aviation Services, we put quality and innovation into everything we do. We constantly look for new ways to partner with our clients to help them reduce costs, maximize their budgets, and reduce downtime.

Our new full-service aircraft interiors program is the perfect complement to our airline painting services. And our mobile aircraft painting experts, or “Away Team” as they’re called, are now traveling the globe, making MRO painting fast, efficient, and profitable, for both commercial aircraft and military mod centers alike.

So no matter where you are or what you do, Leading Edge Aviation wants to be your aircraft paint shop. From vintage airplane painting and military painting, to special “Hollywood” projects, we’ve done it all. To find out more, contact Leading Edge today.