by admin on Apr 25, 2012, under Leading Edge Aviation News, Leading Edge Aviation Press Release, leading edge aviation services
After 75 Years, airline says goodbye to legendary namesake, converting entire fleet to new United Livery.
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.
by admin on Jun 6, 2011, under Uncategorized
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.
by admin on Jun 11, 2010, under Leading Edge Aviation News
Summer. For most Americans, it’s a time to relax with family, head to the beach, and grill up our favorite treats on the barbeque. But for our country’s passenger airlines, it’s a time when business, like the weather, really starts to heat up.
“Our hangars are pretty full most of the year, but we tend to have greater flexibility in the summer, since that’s when airlines are the busiest,” said Dave Patterson, Executive Vice President, Leading Edge Aviation Services. “That means three things for customers. Faster turnaround. More flexible scheduling. And quite frankly, better pricing.
Summer is really the only time of year when customers can get their aircraft painted on extremely short notice, with lightning-fast turnaround, and at an unbeatable price.
“From a customer service perspective, there’s no better time to get an aircraft painted than in the summer,” adds Patterson. “Whether you’re an MRO that wants a mobile team to come to you, or an airline that needs a 747 repainted and out the door in a week, this is the time of year when just about anything is possible.”
Patterson adds that this increased flexibility has lead to creation of the company’s “Summer Advantage Program” that features seasonal price reductions for a wide range of fleet painting services.
“The whole thing is really our way of saying thanks for squeezing us into these busy months with preferential pricing and scheduling,” says Patterson.
If you’d like to hear more about the program and how we can help you make the most of your maintenance needs this summer, please contact Leading Edge at any time. We’re here to help.
Regards,
Dave Patterson
Executive Vice President
