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.”

“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.

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.

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

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.

We had a great time at this year’s MRO Americas conference in Miami, and we hope you did too. MRO is an important event for Leading Edge, and we’d like to sincerely thank all of you that came by our booth to toast over two decades in business.

For those of you who could not make it, you missed one of the best MRO Americas yet. Set in tropical Miami, the show had a tremendous turn out and virtually every company involved in the support of the commercial and military aviation industries was there ready to share, mix, mingle and of course, to do a little business too.

For us, there’s no better place than MRO Americas to connect with our customers, share ideas, and to continue building relationships that are vital to our success. And of course, it’s also a showpiece for the industry’s latest technology – technology that we continually adopt to enhance our quality, efficiency, and to stay two steps ahead of the competition.

We’re thrilled you could make the time to see us at MRO, and thank you again for your continued business and support. We’re already planning for next year’s event, which, as always, will have the ultimate Leading Edge mix of business with fun! Which reminds us – we invite you to share your favorite photo moments from Miami at LINK HERE, or take a look through the albums to see what you missed.

Thank you again for your interest in Leading Edge at MRO, and we look forward to seeing you again at MRO 2012 in Dallas.

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

The aircraft were all painted between 2009 and 2010, and included 80 CRJ-900s for Mesaba, 124 CRJ-200s for Pinnacle Airlines and 36 EMB-175s for NWA/Delta. 

The completion of these aircraft was part of Leading Edge’s long-term partnership with Delta, which contracted the airline painter to unify its fleet after its merger with Northwest Airlines in 2008.

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.

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.