King Aerospace Growing, Even During Pandemic

December 22, 2020

DALLAS, TX – Global pandemics make it difficult to plan. King Aerospace has always taken a conservative approach to growth, preferring to have the proverbial bird in the hand rather than the two in the bush. So, when the company announced plans last May to add a new 90,000-square-foot hangar, it was only after enjoying a long stretch of year-over-year growth.

“COVID-19 supply chain disruptions and final planning with the City of Ardmore pushed things back a bit, but general contractor bid solicitation is underway, and we’re looking good to break ground by Q1 2021,” says Ron Soret, executive vice president of King Aerospace Commercial Corporation. Soret rejoined the company in July 2020 after nine years with AERIA Luxury Interiors. Soret is overseeing the hangar expansion. Construction could take a year to 15 months.

More Space Fosters Added Capabilities

The new facility represents a 45 percent increase to King’s current 200,000-square feet of hangar space at the 2,900-acre Ardmore (OK) Industrial Airpark. King Aerospace has enjoyed a presence at the airpark, part of the Ardmore Municipal Airport (ADM), since 1993. The longest of the two runways, at 9,000 feet, accommodates commercial airliners and ultra-long-range business jets. The other, at 5,300 feet, serves turboprop planes, and light-to-midsize jets. A BNSF railroad spur, solid utilities and accessible location offer additional advantages. Ardmore sits between DFW International (Dallas) and Will Rogers World Airport (Oklahoma City). Each is 90 miles away.

The new hangar will hold multiple large aircraft and shop facilities that will support large aircraft interior projects. This larger footprint will enable King Aerospace to accommodate Boeing 737 and 757 narrow-body and 747, 767 and even 777 widebody aircraft. It also will allow King to diversify its product line to include green completions, a longtime corporate goal.

King Aerospace’s corporate aircraft division supports VVIP aircraft, specializing in the Boeing Business Jet, and serves as a primary subcontractor for the company’s military/government aircraft division. The Ardmore location acts as a full-service maintenance and modification depot facility, is AS9110C certified, is a FAA and EASA certified repair station, and offers avionics, interiors, modifications and paint. On any given day, walking through the Ardmore facilities, you might see everything from a head-of-state aircraft getting an interior upgrade to a business magnate’s BBJ undergoing engine maintenance and repair.

FBO Footprint Expands

King Aerospace recently took over the space once operated by Lakeland Aviation, a full-service FBO located in the main terminal building at the municipal airport (ADM). This transient lounge has undergone a complete refurbishment, guided by aviation interior designer Jeannine Ohrmundt, and is now part of King Aerospace’s Line Shack complex. The FBO offers aircraft ground handling, Jet A full-service fueling, self-service avgas and assisted fueling after hours and on weekends.

The original Line Shack, built in 2011, pays tribute to the airpark’s rich history as a World War II-era U.S. Army Base by displaying a large collection of vintage flight uniforms, instruments and equipment from every branch of the U.S. military. The Line Shack is adjacent to JAKE’s Joint, named for Jerry Allan King-Echevarria (JAKE) and offering a broad mix of gourmet cuisine and country-style favorites.

Corporate Home Office Grows, Too

Recent additions to the King Aerospace management team have necessitated the expansion of office space as well. The company was able to secure additional footage within its existing home office in Addison, part of the Dallas metro area. The new office space includes a centralized area for support staff as well as individual offices and conference rooms.

“We’ve always based our services on proactive, here-for-you support,” says Jarid King, King Aerospace president. “Our growth reflects our determination to continue delivering outstanding performance at every level.”

About King Aerospace

King Aerospace Commercial Corporation (KACC) is a leading one-stop provider of aircraft services with offices and facilities in Dallas, TX, and Ardmore, OK. KACC is a GE OnPoint™ service center. It specializes in avionics design/installation, interior design/refurbishment, engineering services, maintenance and paint. KACC is an authorized FAA and EASA Repair Station and is AS9110C-certified. It also provides aircraft project management, offsite maintenance and other aircraft-related management services. Its sister company, King Aerospace, Inc. (KAI), is a global operation that serves the U.S. military and government to deliver responsive aircraft maintenance and logistics support in some of the world’s most hostile, remote and harsh locations. KAI operates facilities at Biggs Army Airfield, El Paso, TX; Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, NM; Camp Humphreys, South Korea; and 24/7 logistics outposts around the world. Founded in 1992, King Aerospace is a privately owned company focused on customer and team member satisfaction.