SOUTHBURY, CT April 30, 2014 -- McKinney Air Center, the fixed-base operator (FBO) located at McKinney National Airport (KTKI) near Dallas, has been ranked #1 among the top 50 U.S. FBOs in the 2014 Pilots' Choice Awards survey by FltPlan, the largest flight-planning service in North America.
Now in its fifth year, the Pilots' Choice Awards recognizes FBOs that provide arrival and departure services for private and business aircraft at more than 5,000 U.S. airports. The Awards survey was open to a group of over 145,000 active pilots on FltPlan representing over 65 percent of all business aviation.
This year pilots cast more votes than ever in the Pilots' Choice Awards, according to Lisa Kessler, Vice President of Marketing at FltPlan, the leading provider of flight planning tools. "With up to date retail fuel prices FltPlan is the key source for airport information for pilots," she said. "With FBO information on the web and mobile apps, pilots have the airport information they need at anytime."
Business Jet Center located at Dallas Love Field (KDAL) and Meridian at Teterboro Airport (KTEB) serving the New York area finished second and third in the Top 50 U.S. FBO category.
The top U.S. FBO regional winners were:
- Northeast U.S., Meridian, Teterboro Airport (KTEB);
- Southeast U.S., Banyan Air Service, Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (KFXE);
- South Central U.S., McKinney Air Center, McKinney National Airport (KTKI);
- Southwestern U.S., X Jet, Denver's Centennial Airport (KAPA);
- Northwest U.S., Yellowstone Jet Center, Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport MT (KBZN);
- North Central U.S., Million Air St. Louis, Spirit of St. Louis Airport (KSUS);
- East Central U.S., Atlantic Aviation, Chicago Midway International Airport (KMDW)
The Fuel Depot at Bobby's Landing, North Perry Airport, Pembroke Pines, FL (KHWO) was this year's Star FBO award winner. The Star category was created in 2011 by using airport arrival data to generate a ranking that takes into account the traffic at an airport and the amount of competition on the field.
The Redbird Skyport, San Marcos, TX Municipal Airport (KHYI) topped the ACE FBO category for receiving the most votes for airports with fewer arrivals allowing some of the smaller FBOs to receive accolades for great service as well.
The Pilots' Choice for the top Canadian FBO was Skyservice, Toronto Pearson International Airport (CYYZ). The top Mexican FBO was CSL, Cabo San Lucas International Airport (MMSL) and the leading Caribbean FBO was Odyssey Aviation, Lynden Pindling International Airport, Nassau, Bahamas (MYNN).
Million Air was the top vote getter in the Large FBO Chains category while Wilson Air Center won the Small FBO chains voting. St. Lucie County International Airport in Fort Pierce, FL (KFPR) led the U.S. Customs & Protection category. McKinney National Airport (KTKI) was recognized as the top Air Traffic Control Tower and Fort Worth Air Route Traffic Control Center was the leading ATC Center.
"The Pilots' Choice Awards is a pilot survey not a reader survey," Kessler said. "As a pilot survey, it is the most accurate way to judge FBOs because pilots are the people who walk in and use the FBO. No other survey can make that claim." FltPlan allocates one ballot per pilot per user account.
FltPlan (www. FltPlan.com), now in its 14th year on the web, is the largest flight-planning service in North America. FltPlan.com supports pilots with services ranging from flight plan filing, FBO/airport information, flight tracking, certified eAPIS submissions, SMS (IS-BAO and ACSF), runway analysis, weight and balance, eLogbook program, Mexican/Caribbean/Central America handling, Mexican and Cuban overflight services, pre-departure clearances, FAA-approved certified weather, and participation in the FAA's CDM program.
For additional information about FltPlan.com contact [email protected] or visit the corporate website at www.FltPlan.com
