2016 spring palmetto aviation edition

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S E A E S o u t h E A S T A v i a t i o n E X P O June 25-26, 2016 Greenwood County Airport Greenwood, SC EAA Fly-In, R/C Fly-In, Car Show, Air Show & more! Education and networking opportunities for pilots. Palmetto Aviation 2015-16 WINTER/SPRING EDITION

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Page 1: 2016 Spring Palmetto Aviation Edition

Palmetto Aviation 1

SEA E

South

EAST

Aviatio n

EXPO

June 25-26, 2016 Greenwood County Airport

Greenwood, SC

EAA Fly-In, R/C Fly-In,Car Show, Air Show & more!

Education and networking opportunities for pilots.

Palmetto Aviation 2015-16 WINTER/SPRING EDITION

Page 2: 2016 Spring Palmetto Aviation Edition

2 Palmetto Aviation

President’s MessageD O N P U R C E L L

Well, the 2016 Annual Meeting is behind us. If you weren’t there, all I can say is “ WOW, you missed the meeting of a lifetime.” Record attendance, record num-ber of exhibitors, a record number of sponsors and fantastic speakers. From the opening dinner on the Yorktown aircraft carrier, where everyone was allowed to explore the entire ship, enjoy BBQ on the hangar deck while listening to the band, and shuck oysters on the fantail, every event just got better and better. Thursday morning started off with the colors being presented by The Citadel Color Guard and Rebecca Busbee singing the National Anthem. Presentations were then made by James Stephens, director of the South Carolina Aeronautics Commission, and Larry Clark, FAA Manager of Atlanta Airports District Office, where they filled us in on what was happening in their organizations. Michael O’Donnell, director of the Office of Airport Safety and Standards in Washington DC, then gave a indepth talk on Airport Safety, followed up by a great question and answer session. From there, we had a standing-room-only Awards Luncheon, where Doug Decker received the Wilbur Wright Master Pilot Award from the FAA for 50 years of safe flying,14 people received their leather jackets for completing the Passport Program and the 2016 SCAA board announced its induction of Greg Jones from ADC Engineering and Leo Berube from Flight Path, LLC. After lunch, Matt Baker from the SC Aeronautics Commission gave a great presentation on the Commission’s plans to use a UAS to survey, map, etc. South Carolina’s airports. When approved by the FAA, (which the commission thinks is eminent), it will be the first approved use of a UAS on airports. The education sessions followed, and everyone called them “excellent.” While these activities were going on, the spouses tour went to Charleston Cooks to learn how to prepare specialty dishes. They later challenged us at the evening dinner to find the difference between a male and female pepper, and of course making sure we all knew which one was sweeter! Thursday evening began with a great dinner where every seat was taken. It ended with a fantastic, personal, and moving talk by former Astronaut Winston Scott, who flew on the Endeavor and Challenger missions. Winston told us what is was like to prepare and blast off into orbit, be in the space capsule, and return to earth, including the time required to re-adapt to earth’s gravity. Attendees waited in line for more than an hour to shake Winston’s hand, get autographs and have their picture taken. Friday morning started off with a bang, as Dan Mooney, vice president of engineering - Boeing Commercial Airplanes, spoke on how Boeing got to South Carolina, what they are doing now and how they envision aviation in the future. I must say that I can’t wait to ride the “Space Elevator” he talked about!! After his speech, we wrapped up with announcements and broke into one-on-one sessions with FAA personnel. As many people said, “I don’t know how you are going to top this conference!” All I can tell you is that the Committee, headed by Joe Barkevich, is already hard at work planning for the 2017 Convention, which will be held February 8th-10th at Wild Dunes. As a reminder, effective January 1, the sales tax on parts used in aircraft repair was eliminated. Be sure to remind your repair facilities. The legislation can be seen on both SCAAOnline.com and SCAeronautics.com (House bill #3568 which changed paragraph #55 to exempt all aircraft parts during repair). An opinion letter from the Department of Revenue can be found in this issue. This year, the SCAA is working to help the Aeronautics Commission receive a more stable funding base through changes in the State Aviation fund. Ken Holt has been serving as our key legislative liaison, and he is working with the Aeronautics Commission to ensure a favorable response to this proposal. While we are not all done, Ken feels very positive about this change and has been getting a great response. Approaching on June 25th and 26th is the Southeastern Aviation Expo in Greenwood. Last year, 5,000 people attended the event. This year promises to be even bigger and better with sponsors and exhibitors already signing up, and the SC Breakfast Club is also planning to have their breakfast fly-in meeting there that Sunday. Make plans to attend now. With the price of aviation fuel coming down and the weather improving daily, it’s time to get out and fly. We currently have 630 pilots signed up in the Passport Program. Have you earned your leather jacket yet? Thanks for helping to make South Carolina “Aviation Friendly.” Don PurcellPresident

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2 0 1 6 A N N U A L C O N F E R E N C EPassion for Aviation...

The 2016 SCAA Conference was a huge success. We had a strong attendance, record number of exhibitors, a record number of spon-sors and a fantastic keynote speaker, Winston Scott.

The conference kicked off at the Yorktown aircraft carrier on Wednesday evening, where we had good BBQ, drinks, live music and oysters on the fantail of the ship. Thursday morning had a great opening with The Citadel Color Guard and Rebecca Busbee singing our National Anthem. Educational presentations followed all day, from our general sessions to our breakout sessions. SCAA is known for bringing diverse educational tracks for professional companies in the industry, pilots and airport management tool tracks. A big thanks goes to all our speakers: James Stephens, Micheal O’Donnell, Matt Baker, John Hodge, Art Byers, Lt. Col Kristopher Padilla, Capt. John Waters, Bill Dunn, Jon Walker, Steve Hedges, Bruce Landsberg, Steve Gould, and Lara Kaufmann.

During our Awards Luncheon on Thursday, SCAA presented 14 Passport participants their leather jackets for completing the Passport Program. Doug Decker received the Wilbur Wright Master Pilot Award from the FAA for 50 years of safe flying. Also, the SCAA Board of Directors was recognized, with Leo Berube and Greg Jones were announced as a new directors.

Thursday evening stole the show with our keynote speaker, Astronaut Winston Scott, who flew on the Endeavor and Challenger mis-sions. Winston shared photos and stories of his time in space. Every attendee was sitting on the edge of his or her seat. You could have heard a pin drop.

Friday morning pulled the conference to a close with another great speaker, Dan Mooney, vice president of engineering for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, who gave an update on what they are doing now and their vision for the future.

If you missed this fantastic conference, mark your calendars for next year. The committee has already started planning for February 8-10, 2017, once again at the Wild Dunes Resort.

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P A S S P O R T J A C K E T W I N N E R S Evan Amaya Dicky Amaya

Jim Getty Billy Holden Mike Hutson

Bill Magill Don Purcell

Robert Seawright Sidney Skinner

David Smith Daniel Smith

James Stephens George Weeks

2 0

1 6

From Right to Left: Father and son, Dicky Amaya and Evan Amaya, and father and son, David Smith and Daniel Smith.

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Thank you for coming.

See you Next year!

Wild Dunes Resort

1 Sundial CircleIsle of Palms, SC

29451

FEBRUARY 8-10, 2017

Check out SCAAONLINE.COMfor additional 2017 conference

information coming soon.

Thank you 2016 sponsors!

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6 Palmetto Aviation

Legislative Recap

SCAA’s 2016 Legislative Breakfast was a successful effort. SCAA saw a huge turn out from legislators and their staff as attendance reached 200. Thank you to SCAA members for being a part of this important event.

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Palmetto Aviation 7

• How do we meet increasing funding needs while dedicated revenue streams are decreasing?• How do we establish and ensure a perpetual revenue stream to meet the needs of SC’s airport

system?

• State Aviation Fund…. used for maintenance, rehabilitation, and capital improvements at public use airports, including matching funds for FAA Airport Improvement Grants. This year: - $1.6M is needed for maintenance and rehabilitation, and - $3.4M is needed to match FAA Airport Improvement Grants.• 10-Year average annual Fuel Sales Tax Revenue: $2,059,036.02 - Down due to lower gas prices - Down due to “Transportation Company” exemptions• 10-Year average annual Airline Tax Revenue: $4,985,751.93 - The intent of Title 55-5-280(B) regarding Airline Tax Revenue has never been met. • 10-Year FAA Airport Improvement Grant average: $46M - However, this year and the past two years averaged $60M. - For every $1M spent on FAA Matching Grants, $20M is realized in capital improvements at SC Airports (95% return on investment).• Our neighboring states’ (GA & NC) annual airport funding programs are estimated to be $20M - If SC is not ready to accept FAA Airport Improvement Grants, GA and NC will.

FACTS

&

CHALLENGES

SOLUTIONS

• A one-time $5M General Fund Appropriation • House Bill H.4577 • Senate Bill S.954

V O T E Y E A F O R :

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Annual Safety Fly-In

Airmen from South Carolina gathered in the Midlands on Friday, March 11 to par-ticipate in the annual Safety Fly-In hosted by the South Carolina Aviation Safety Council. The event was conducted at the Airport Campus of Midlands Technical College, which is in close proximity to Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) into which many participants flew and parked their aircraft for the day.

The Safety Fly-In is a day-long event, free to participants, and offers an opportunity for pilots to receive refresher aviation safety training and associated FAA WINGS credits. The program replaced the 2015 Fly-In which had to be cancelled because of the October flooding that heavily impacted the Midlands area. The sessions included: “Real World Weather” by Mark Grady of the AOPA Air Safety Institute; a “See and Avoid” Panel Presentation and USAF - Civilian Aviation outreach by retired Marine Colonel Randy Myers of the Safety Council’s Board of Directors (and a FAA Safety Team Representative); Captain “Rain” Waters, USAF of the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw AFB; and Captain Jack Talkington, USAF of the 437th Air Wing at Charleston AFB; “Close Calls: Lesson Learned” also by Mark Grady of the AOPA Air Safety Institute.

More than 60 private pilots participated in the event which included a free lunch and the Safety Council’s annual general membership meeting. The newly appointed FAA Safety Team Program Manager for South Carolina, Todd Clamp, was also introduced. “I got very posi-tive and enthusiastic feedback from each attendee I spoke with throughout the course of the day,” said Leo Berube of the Safety Council and a new member of the SCAA Board of Directors. “A very good overall event, with a great venue - and VERY good presentations. Mark Grady was very pertinent and entertaining, and the military were right on with their presentations” agreed Gere Gaige, a Safety Council Board member and pilot based at GMU. The event was generously underwritten by a grant from the South Carolina Aeronautics Com-mission as well as financial contributions from the Greenville Downtown Airport Commission, Wings Insurance of Eden Prairie, MN, Hope Aviation, as well as services provided by Eagle Aviation. Vendor displays included the South Carolina Aeronautics Commission, the Civil Air Patrol, the United States Air Force, and the South Carolina Aviation Association.

The Safety Council is the safety arm SCAA. Our mission is “To promote and improve positive attitudes and behaviors towards all areas of aviation safety (ground and flight) in order to reduce occurrence of personal injury and death, and property and equipment damage and destruction while ensuring the future of general aviation in South Carolina.” Learn more at http://scaviationsafety.org/.

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Palmetto Aviation 9

The Carolina’s IA Renewal & Safety Symposium, hosted by Concorde Battery, Tempest, and ACF 50, presented a $1,000 scholarship to A&P student John Wingate at the January 30 event. It was held at Midlands Technical College in Columbia and was the only IA renewal in the state for more than a quarter century. John is a second career student, driving over 230 miles round trip each day to earn his degree at Greenville Technical College. He hopes to enter the aviation field somewhere on the West Coast. The Carolina’s IA Renewal has been providing

recurrent training to technicians on the last Saturday of January each year for the last 18 years. Nearly 4,000 technicians have received recurrent training certificates during this period. For more information on the event, please contact Chris Holder @ 864-325-9835 or [email protected].

$1,000 Scholarship Awarded to Aspiring Aviation Student

Have you downloaded SCAA’s mobile app? SCAA is working to make this app a great resource for members.

• Stay up-to-date on the association’s latest happenings through app notifications. • Quickly retrieve SCAA information. • Use at SCAA events for directions, agendas, attendee lists, etc.

This app is for you! Download it today!

Simply search “SCAA” in your

App Store.

Page 10: 2016 Spring Palmetto Aviation Edition

10 Palmetto Aviation

Chief among the SCAA Member Benefits is belonging to the only South Carolina state affiliated group for aviation professionals and enthusiasts. Here are three other reasons to join and get involved in SCAA:

• Become a part of an all inclusive group of pilots, airport executives, airport consultants, FBOs and other aviation enthusi asts who are interested in the continued growth of aviation in South Carolina. • Gain access to events and information that provide a platform for facing industry-related challenges and issues. • Receive the quarterly newsletter, Palmetto Aviation, as well as timely updates about the organization and other pressing aviation industry news via website, e-mail and fax.

Be part of a collective voice, representing the aviation industry in the state and promoting the importance of aviation to the general public and state leaders. SCAA is here for you!

The South Carolina Aviation Association appreciates its members.

Membership

Benefits

Have you renewed for 2016? REGISTER ONLINE AT SCAAONLINE.COM

Page 11: 2016 Spring Palmetto Aviation Edition

Palmetto Aviation 11

SCAA MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

Student Membership $ 25 Individual Membership $ 40 Government Membership $250 Corporate Membership $450 Total Membership Category

Check which category best describes you.

Pilot Government Official* FBO Consultant Vendor Airport Manager

* Includes airport commission member, state, federal, or other government agencies.

Please include any additional descriptions that apply to you on the line below. (Examples: Commissioner, Commissioner Chair, Airport, Executive Director, Manager, FBO, Consultant, Vendor, Pilot [include ratings]).

Name

Affiliation

Address

City, St., Zip

Phone

Fax

E-mail

Method of Payment

Check Visa MC Am Exp. Bill Me CC # Exp.

Signature

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12 Palmetto Aviation

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14 Palmetto Aviation

Learning stations go up at airport’s Runway ParkBy General Aviation News Staff, General Aviation News

New educational aviation signs have been installed at the Runway Park at the Greenville Downtown Airport (KGMU) in South Carolina.

“Almost 900 children toured our airport last summer,” said Joe Frasher, Airport Director. “People of all ages and genders are very interested in learning about aviation and our main terminal facility just can’t handle the number of people that want to visit. This, coupled with the fact that our industry predicts that many career jobs will be widely available in the future, is why we were inspired to create Runway Park with an educational emphasis.

“When thinking about careers in aviation, most people think of pilots,” he continued, “If an individual doesn’t want to be a pilot, then our industry is often dismissed. We want people to know that there are many more employment opportunities that they can consider. Those are only two of the reasons why we have created, designed, and installed these unique learning stations throughout our park.” The 17 signs took about two years to make from conception to the finished product, Frasher noted, “We looked for ones that we could buy ‘off the shelf’ that someone else had created and we just didn’t find anything. If anyone would like to add something like this at their airport, we’d be happy to let them use the content in exchange for a donation to help us complete our park,” joked Frasher. “We still need about $200,000 to level and pave a huge plot of land to make extra parking available for the increasingly large number of visitors that come by car and bus.”

The signs cover topics that include careers in aviation, how runways are numbered, features of an airport, air traffic control, parts of aircraft, how they achieve flight, why aviation is important, weather and some about aviation history. The Aeronautics Commission, SCAA, Michelin and Lockheed Martin sponsored the project. “We have over 400 children scheduled to take a guided park tour this summer. In addition to seeing the signs, they will be able to climb inside of a real aircraft donated to Runway Park,” Frasher said. “We have ordered kid friendly weather instruments that will be incorporated into their educational visits.” Tours are weather dependent as they are conducted outside. To help raise money for the parking lot and maintenance, tours are scheduled with a $5 per person donation. GMU is the busiest general aviation airport and the third busiest airport in South Carolina. It is a self-sufficient entity with financial strength that doesn’t rely on local taxpayers for funding. GMU is home to Greenville Jet Center, the largest Fixed Base Operator (FBO) in SC, as well as more than 25 other aviation-related businesses that are creating 453 jobs which annually contribute more than $35.2 million to the local economy.

L O C A L A I R P O R T L O V E

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Palmetto Aviation 15

SC Aeronautics Commission Update

J A M E S S T E P H E N S , E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R South Carolina airports continue to support critical roles in the state and federal transportation systems. Our airports continuous-ly strive to maintain high standards of safety and service. As I look forward to the future, and do my best to support our airport system, I do so because I see the many needs related to the maintenance and enhancement that our system has planned.

Over the past few months, the South Carolina Aeronautics Commission (SCAC) has been making our annual budget request to the State Legislature. Our requests included a $5 million appropriation for the State Aviation Fund. Currently, the State Aviation Fund’s only source of revenue is the taxes that are received from aircraft fuel sales taxes. However, this revenue, at its current state, does not meet the projected need of the state’s airport system maintenance and improvement plans. Along with the appropria-tion, a number of House members and a Senator sponsored a few bills that, if passed, would provide a long-term solution to the funding issues that we currently face. At this point in time, House Bill 4577 has passed the House and has now been referred to the Senate Finance Committee. If you care at all about your local airport, please contact your local legislative members and the members of Senate Finance Committee to make your concerns known. I have worked alongside Ken Holt with the SCAA, however our discussions with members carry more weight if there is local support. If you have particular questions about how you can help, feel free to reach out to me or the SCAA.

At the federal level, H.R. 4721 has gone to the White House for the President’s signature. Once signed, the bill provides a short-term extension to the FAA, but is only good until July 15. That being said, Congress and the Senate still are not in agreement on a long-term FAA reauthorization. Discussions still include Air Traffic Control privatization, among other items that have the potential to impact airports and users of the National Airspace System. SCAC will continue to monitor the progress of FAA reauthorization, the proposals that impact the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), and other services offered to our airports by way of FAA programs.

The South Carolina Aerospace Education Working Group has been formed to analyze aerospace educational efforts here in South Carolina. This group will catalog current aviation educational efforts, interview current aerospace firms to determine workforce development needs, perform a ‘gaps analysis’ between needs and current educa-tional programs, then create a white-paper that will highlight the needs assessment and plans for educational development here in the state.

Finally, here at SCAC, we are in the beginning stages of an Airport System Plan update and Economic Impact update. The system plan update will provide guidance to the agency for the system in the coming years while the economic impact update will offer marketing materials for each of our public use airports. These materials will be ideal for helping locals tell the story of the value of their local airport. Also, SCAC continues to monitor the pavements within our airport system. A Pavement Condition Index (PCI) will be beginning next month, and the results of the study will offer airport sponsors, their consultants, and staff here at SCAC the information needed to make informed decisions about where maintenance and rehabilitation dollars are most needed in our system. More information will be coming for all of these projects.

Blue Skies…..

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W E L C O M E A B O A R D

L E O B E R U B E Board of Directors Easley, SC - Leo has been active in aviation since 1967. An alumnus of both the State University of New York and the University of Georgia, he holds both a Commercial Pilot’s License and Flight Instructor Ratings (CFI, CFII, MEI) for Multi-Engine Land-Instrument; Single Engine Land-Instrument and Single Engine Sea. He provides specialty flight instruction, instrument & FTD instruction, and profi-ciency training to certified flight instructors, commercial pilots, and private pilots. He serves on the South Carolina Aviation Safety Council Board of Directors and manages the SCASC Speakers’ Bureau. He has also served as FAA Aviation Safety Team (FAAS-Team) Administrative Board Member in North Carolina and as FAA Aviation Safety Counselor, Charlotte FSDO. An aircraft owner, he is a program facilitator and present-er at SCAA, SCASC, FAA Aviation Safety Team Seminars and CFI Workshops.

G R E G J O N E S Greg Jones joined ADC in 1997 as a civil engineering principal. His work portfolio includes site development projects in commercial devel-opments, K-12 schools, higher education institutions, healthcare and military facilities, and infrastructure. In addition to conventional site de-velopment, Greg specializes in aviation design with projects that include all aspects of airfields and aviation facilities.

In 1985 Greg graduated from The Citadel in civil engineering and in 1992 he received his masters in civil engineering from Clemson Univer-sity. Greg is LEED accredited and a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Construction Specifications Institute, the Charleston Civil Engineers Club and the American Concrete Pavement Association. Greg currently serves on the Dorchester County Planning Commission.

Greg and the other partners of ADC Engineering are dedicated to the company’s continued growth as well as its involvement in the community. Greg is an active volunteer at local schools and is a longtime advocate and volunteer for many youth programs.

Greg is married to Leslie and has two daughters; Jessica attends Clemson University and Lacey attends Wofford College.

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The SC Aviation Medallion has moved its home base to the South Carolina Aviation Association. It is an original, aviation art medal-lion commissioned to help promote and celebrate aviation in the State of South Carolina and across the southeastern region of the United States.

It’s intended that the medal be flown by aircraft owners and pilots in the course of their normal routines and be handed off to other pilots to continue its journey of promoting aviation and sport flying through-out the region. Its accompanying logbook and website allow pilots to document the flights they share with the medallion. As the medallion passes from hand to hand, pilots are encouraged to annotate the logbook appropriately and to update the website accordingly. This is the only way we will always know the answer to the question: “Where is the Medallion?”

SCAA MedallionIf you would like to fly the medallion and record a story, please sign up at scaaonline.com.

K E E P U P W I T H T H E

Did you know we created a blog for you? Check it out at scaaonline.com and learn of the medallion’s various travels.

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SCAA takes Pride in its MembersDouglas Decker Receives Wright Brothers Master Pilots Award

The FAA recently presented SCAA member, Douglas Decker of Pawleys Island with the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. This most prestigious award recognizes Decker’s 50 years of safe flying and his contribution to aviation safety. The award was presented at SCAA’s Annual Conference this past February. In addition to the plaque pictured above, Decker’s name will be added to the FAA’s Roll of Honor in Washington, D.C. This award is named after the aviation pioneers, the Wright Brothers. It recognizes indi-viduals who have exhibited professionalism, skill, and aviation expertise for at least 50 years while piloting aircrafts as Master Pilots.

Decker began his flying career for the sake of business in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1964. As a young sales engineer for Johnson Con-trols, he found that flying was a business asset. Decker has held many aviation positions during the years, including: Commissioner on the Utah State Aeronautics Board, member of Salt Lake City International Airport Advisory Board, and member of the Capital Im-provements Committee at General Mitchell Milwaukee International Airport. In addition, he was appointed a member of the State of Wisconsin Aviation Master Plan Task Force. Decker spearheaded the successful effort to open the Wendover AFB in Utah for public use in 1974. The city renamed the airport “DECKER FIELD” and he also received the Utah Pilot’s award for Outstanding Service to Aviation in Utah.

Decker currently holds an Airline Transport pilot’s license. He owns a single engine A-36 Beechcraft Bonanza airplane, which he flies from the Grand Strand area. He currently serves with Angel Flight and Mercy Flight as a pilot. Angel Flight and Mercy Flight are non-profit organizations that arrange for volunteer pilots to fly individuals to distant health-care facilities for medical needs. The pilot, Decker said, provides the airplane and all costs associated with the flight.

Decker is also a current member of EAA’s Young Eagle program and a member of the South Carolina Aviation Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association – AOPA, Experimental Aviation Association- EAA and American Bonanza Society – ABS.

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N O T E W O R T H Y D E A L After nearly two decades of pursuit, Ranger finally closes on “Our Best Deal Ever”By Publisher, SC Manufacturing, The Business of Manufacturing

What began in late 2000, finally came to a fruitful conclusion when ACL Airshop and Ranger Aerospace agreed to team up for expansion. The two South Carolina companies announced the partnership today, March 20, in an executive press briefing at the IATA World Cargo Symposium in Berlin, Germany. ACL Airshop, a provider of products to leading air carriers out of Easley, operates in five highly complementary business segments, including cargo control products manufacturing, ULD leasing, ULD sales, ULD repairs, and ULD logistics management. ULDs, or Unit Load Devic-es, are the various pallets, containers, straps, and nets that are FAA-mandated to secure cargo loads inside airplanes.

Since 1997, Greenville’s Ranger Aerospace teams with institu-tional private equity funds to acquire, lead, improve, and grow companies in aerospace, air cargo, aviation services, government services, airfield operations, and the trades and technologies that serve the global aerospace/defense and aviation sectors. As part of the deal, Ranger Airshop, an investment platform created and managed by Ranger Aerospace, will bring in additional capital strength and management resources to support ACL Airshop’s growth. This teaming investment is “our best deal ever”, said Steve Townes, a 1975 engineering graduate of West Point and CEO of Ranger Aerospace. “The chemistry among the leadership teams and employees is genuinely positive,” he said. “This deal bears a close ‘analog’ to our successes with ASIG and Keystone Helicopter, and I predict it will lead to our largest and most valu-able enterprise. ACL Airshop has the potential to double, triple, maybe even more in the next decade.”

The partnership with ACL will push Ranger’s 19-year total to more than $490 million in buying, selling and investing transactions. Along with four institutional partners led by Argosy Capital, Ranger assembled the strongest capitalization in the company’s history to ensure growth. At Ranger, “we’re not financiers, aviation is in our blood as long-serving industry veterans,” Townes said. “We come together with ACL as like-minded partners from the aviation industry.”

To keep pace with rising industry trends, ACL Airshop intends to invest for growth and expand geographically. “By teaming with Ranger, ACL will now have the growth resources to accomplish even more for our customers,” said ACL Airshop President and CEO, Tony Morgan. “We will expand our geographic footprint in response to customers’ needs, while increasing our technical depth with the best cargo control products in the industry,” he said. Currently, ACL is increasing its operational footprint in North America, South America, and Europe. The company also has a significant service presence in Dubai, Hong Kong and mainland China, with plans for opening a service and repair center at Tokyo, Japan’s, Narita Airport.The use of air cargo as a preferred shipping method is growing steadily, reflecting the global shift to speedy logistics.

Published reports recently cited over $5 trillion in new orders for commercial planes through the year 2035, and almost all of those planes will carry cargo--not just the air cargo freighters. In addition, the U.S. military’s air transport requirements, along with allied nations, comprises another global cargo airlift segment that utilizes huge quantities of pallets, nets, straps, containers, and other equipment. “We were at a point where steadily rising orders were beginning to push the envelope of our manufacturing capacity,” Morgan said. “Ranger’s capital and expertise will allow ACL Airshop to increase manpower, production capabilities and efficiency,” he said. “Having equipment where you need, when you need, is the key to our success, and partnering with Ranger will increase our ability to continually accomplish this goal.”

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PO Box 12067Columbia, SC 29211

1-877-FLY SCAA (359-7222)www.scaaonline.com