Editor's Note

Aug. 2, 2006
The Worldwide Directory provides you with a listing of categories and companies from A to Z.

...Wide Directory. It’s that time of year again … you are receiving the MOST widely used GROUND SUPPORT resource in the industry. The Worldwide Directory provides you with a listing of categories and companies from A to Z. We have 14,500 readers (more than 68 percent are comprised of Commercial Airlines (passenger and cargo) and Ground Service Providers (handlers and FBO’s) from the world over who rely on our publication 10 times a year to keep them up-to-date and informed. To increase recognition of our global reach we made a simple, but important change to the title of our publication. Ground Support Magazine is now Ground Support Worldwide. As a 10-time publication we offer at least 10 unique reasons to continue to be a part of the Ground Support Worldwide family. Those reasons include our: market coverage, global reach, frequency, unique editorial, Product/Service Showcase and Worldwide Directory, presence in the industry, enhanced website, quarterly military e-Issue, Ground Support Leader of the Year Award, and Aviation Industry Expo.

The Good Word Is...

In June, this “cheese head” made the trek from Wisconsin out to the “Big Apple” to visit the Stearns at Fortbrand, Michael Bloomfield from Sage Parts, Barry Spilka from Aviation Ground Equipment and Henry Paulino at Landmark Aviation. I asked what they are experiencing in their corner of the ground support world and here is what they had to say:

“With regard to ground support equipment, as lead times from OEMs continue to increase, Fortbrand is seeing a growing demand for short term rentals to fill the gap between when equipment is needed and when new equipment can be delivered. In our airfield maintenance equipment business, there is an increasing demand for multi-function equipment, enabling airport operators to manage their limited resources more effectively.” — Peter Stearn, Vice President

“An exciting boon for Sage Parts is a rapid expansion in the areas of supply and sourcing in international growth.” — Michael Bloomfield, President

“Aviation Ground Equipment was recently awarded a $31,262,200 contract with the U.S. Department of Defense for the procurement of Land Based/Shipboard Mobile Frequency Converters for the Navy and Marine Corps including five pre-production units and up to 364 production units … this will certainly be keeping us extremely busy!” — Barry Spilka, President

“Landmark Aviation continues to expand its FBO, MRO, aircraft completions, and sales & charter services with our recent FBO acquisitions at Westchester and Scottsdale, Ariz. And we are making significant investments in refurbishments at flagship FBO locations, including Los Angeles, Dulles, and Toronto” — Henry Paulino, Site General Manager

It’s encouraging to hear such positive comments in what has been and continues to be a desultory economy, however, following paradigmatic business practices by staying lean, keeping your overhead in check and growing through diversification; will not only keep you “in the game” but will increase profitability,

As Always, thank you for reading,

Karen Reinhardt