ATD Flight Systems at Charles B. Wheeler Airport in Kansas City suffered devasting losses during a “gustnado” that suddenly blew through the area on April 20. Eleven of its 13 flight training aircraft were totaled or severely damaged during the sudden storm, jeopardizing ATDs business and impacting about 100 flight school students.
ATD reached out for help and Revv Aviation stepped in to provide three training aircraft from their own fleet as a temporary solution for ATD to continue providing flight training to their students.
“It’s a lifeline,” said Keara Neifach, director of operations at ATD and daughter of owner Wiliam Hays, “and we are very thankful that Revv acted so fast.”
Revv Aviation’s flight schools are operating more than 55 trainer aircraft in 10 of its locations in Illinois, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Nebraska. Revv operates a Part-141 flight training program in cooperation with the University of Nebraska at Omaha Aviation Institute.
“As a flight school operator, we know the impact this type of damage has on a business,” said Lisa LaMantia, chief operating officer at Revv Aviation. “This is a small way in which we can help ATD and their students, especially those nearing their check rides, getting their private pilot licenses or getting an advanced rating.”
Revv is grateful to be in a position to help an important and long-standing Kansas City general aviation business and their local flight school community, said Guy Lieser, Revv CEO.
“One of our core values is community,” said Lieser. “This is what community looks like. ATD experienced an extremely unfortunate and sudden situation, so we looked at their immediate needs and the aircraft we could provide them to get through this critical period.”
ATD’s Neifach said, “In the short term, this allows us to get our students back in the air, and for our business to incur the least amount of disruption as possible as we rebuild our fleet. In the long term, it’s nice to know who’s on our team and who we can count on. We are looking forward to an ongoing relationship with Revv.”
