“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.

Aviation company acquires new hangar – transforms “One Block East” into new Regional Headquarters

GREEENVILLE, MS. NOV 12, 2010. There’s a major infusion of growth coming to Greenville, thanks to a $40M expansion plan from Leading Edge Aviation Services (LEAS). The California-based company announced today it is tripling its Mississippi workforce and adding $1.6-million a year to its local payroll after signing a long-term lease for a new hangar and purchasing a new commercial building across from the proposed new Federal Building.

As part of the company’s aggressive global expansion, Leading Edge has purchased the former “One Block East” building, which will now serve as its regional headquarters for Greenville’s management and sales staff. The new hangar space, located at the Mid Delta Greenville Airport, will also undergo a major transformation, as it will now be equipped with the latest aircraft painting technologies, serving some of the biggest airlines in the country, if not the world.

“This is a pivotal investment for the community of Greenville,” said Mike Manclark, CEO, Leading Edge. “In a global economy, communities need to rally together to create a clear vision for the future, and carve out plans to own a niche market. It’s about doing one thing, and doing better than anyone else in the world. And with the right infrastructure and community support, we think Greenville can emerge as a center of excellence for commercial and military aviation services”

Since first coming to Greenville in 2003, Leading Edge has been a hub of aviation excellence, painting thousands of aircraft locally for airlines such as Continental, Delta, UPS and many others. In recent years, the company has grown to dominate the aircraft painting market, and now has its sights on gaining a foothold on the interiors market as well.

“We’re looking for new people in every facet of the business to make this work,” adds Manclark. “We’re confident that with everything Greenville has to offer, this represents a great investment for not only for our company, but our clients as well. It’s a win-win situation that keeps Mississippians in good jobs and our customers in good hands.”

The expanded hangar space will mean that capacity at the Greenville location will now increase by providing room for an additional aircraft per year. Despite the recent acquisition of the hangar, the company says it is already booked to near capacity with new contracts from airlines such as Mesaba, Pinnacle, Delta and Compass.

About Leading Edge Aviation Services

Headquartered in Santa Ana, 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, private, and military aircraft painting, the company also provides a wide range of commercial services, including complete interior refurbishments 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 www.leadingedgecorp.com.

AMARILLO, TX. Things are taking off in Texas – at least for the painting pros at Leading Edge. The company debuted a new hangar this month that will significantly increase its capacity to paint larger narrow-body aircraft. “In this industry, we’re always looking for ways to maximize our capacity,” said Dave Patterson, Executive Vice President, Leading Edge Aviation. “To do that, we’ve taken a great hangar in Amarillo and added a brand new tail enclosure. With that increased flexibility, we can now paint a much wider range of aircraft, including the larger narrow-body aircraft that are being favored by major fleets today.”

Officially opened on September 15th, the new hangar already has a number of paint lines scheduled thanks to contracts with clients such as Continental who served as the inaugural client with a B737-800.

About Leading Edge Aviation Services
Headquartered in Santa Ana, CA 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, private, and military aircraft painting, the company also provides a wide range of commercial services, including fuel system, 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 www.LeadingEdgeCorp.com.

For Interview Opportunities, please contact: Amanda Ching @ aching@leascorp.com

“There’s no question about it, we’re gearing up for significant growth both domestically and globally,” said Mike Manclark, CEO, LEAS. “In this business, we need the ability to deliver world-class service at the drop of a hat, even for the most demanding and challenging of jobs, We can’t do that alone. It takes a wide range of skilled and talented people. For anyone looking for long and rewarding careers, Leading Edge is the way to go. It’s never been more ripe with opportunity.”

About Leading Edge Aviation Services

Headquartered in Santa Ana, CA 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, private, and military aircraft painting, the company also provides a wide range of commercial services, including fuel system, 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 Interview Opportunities, please contact: jobs@leascorp.com