MICNNEY, Texas, May 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- First Flight, a fully licensed air ambulance company that provides around-the-clock medical air transport for emergency and nonemergency patients from rural area hospitals, has selected McKinney National Airport (TKI) as its new headquarters. First Flight will lease a 12,000 square-foot hangar and offices at the airport. The space will serve as the base for supporting operations in East Texas. First Flight will be headquartered at the new facility as well as operate an aircraft maintenance operation for its aircraft and other aircraft.
"We are thrilled to move into our new facility at McKinney National Airport," said Denny O'Hara, President of First Flight. "This facility will allow us to continue to grow our business of supporting hospitals in smaller communities with state-of-the art aircraft to transport patients to larger medical facilities for specialized care."
First Flight's eight-aircraft include specially equipped Cessna 421s and King Airs. These pressurized planes are quiet, fast and provide room for state-of-the-art technology to provide an exceptional level of care. Each plane is equipped with highly trained flight paramedics and nurses that have earned critical care certification. First Flight will add 36 employees within three years.
"We know First Flight will have a positive impact on the community and the airport," said McKinney Mayor Brian Loughmiller. "McKinney National Airport is an ideal place for First Flight to continue to grow their business with access to all the resources of a major urban area without the congestion we see around other local airports."
"We are impressed with the facilities and staff at the airport," said O'Hara. "The city's investment in improvement and the presence of an FAA control tower as well as the professional staff fit our goals of providing the very best level of service, safety and comfort to the patients we serve."
McKinney National Airport is on the extreme edge of DFW Class-B airspace, simplifying and shortening aircraft arrival and departure times. While emergency medical flights receive priority clearance, other flights coming into McKinney National Airport avoid having to be sequenced along with more than 3,800 daily aircraft operations to and from larger commercial airports and other general aviation airports that are deep within the tightly controlled Class-B space.
"In aviation time, whether it is on the ground taxiing, waiting for clearance to land or take off or circling the airport in a holding pattern is real money," said Ken Wiegand, Executive Director of McKinney National Airport. "Operations at McKinney National Airport do not have to deal with that issue."
McKinney National Airport is home to many businesses that understand the competitive advantage they have using business aviation as a tool of their trade. Among them are Fortune 500 and other well run and rapidly growing companies that recognize McKinney National Airport's standard of excellence and strategic location.
The fixed-based operator at the airport, McKinney Air Center, was named No. 1 in the nation in the 2014 Pilots' Choice Awards by FltPlan.com. The air traffic control tower at McKinney National Airport was also voted best in the country in the same awards.
About First Flight
First Flight owns, operates, and maintains an air ambulance service that serves a number of communities in Texas. It is developing markets in North and East Texas, which will improve health care availability and access for its emergent and non-emergent patients by swiftly and safely transferring patients to facilities able to provide higher level of care.
About McKinney National Airport
McKinney National Airport (TKI) is a general aviation reliever airport located in McKinney, Texas. The airport is the North Texas airport of choice for business and personal aviation transportation with convenient access to surrounding cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. McKinney National Airport offers full service for corporate fleets and general aviation. In 2012, $70 million in upgrades included the completion of a new, longer and wider runway with more weight-bearing capacity, a state-of-the-art air traffic control and managed perimeter access control. Visit www.flytki.com to learn more.
About McKinney
McKinney, Texas, is unique by nature. As one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., McKinney has a current population of more than 149,082. Established in 1848, the city is located 30 miles north of Dallas and is the county seat of Collin County. McKinney offers rolling hills, lush trees, a historic downtown square and unique neighborhoods and developments. The city ranks No. 2 on the Money Magazine Best Places to Live in America list. Visit the city's website at www.mckinneytexas.org.
About the McKinney Economic Development Corporation
The McKinney Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) was created in 1993 to support the development, expansion and relocation of new and existing companies. The MEDC is an organization with a mission to work to create an environment in which community-oriented businesses can thrive. The MEDC is actively pursuing investments in Aeronautics /Aviation, corporate headquarters, emerging technology, healthcare and medical device manufacturing, professional services and renewable energy. For more information, visit www.mckinneyedc.com.
SOURCE City of McKinney
