DALLAS, Tex. – June 25, 2008 – Associated Air Center, a DAE company, celebrated its 60th anniversary in style at a gala event at the Westin City Center in Dallas, Tex. the evening of June 14, 2008. Attendees enjoyed an evening of dinner and entertainment themed to “An Evening with the Oscars” including celebrity impersonators. Lee Juan Lanford, considered to be “The Founder” of Associated Air Center, joined the celebration.
“Associated Air Center customers have enjoyed a long history of trusting their transport-category aircraft modifications needs to a passionate and dedicated group of people,” said StandardAero President and CEO, Paul Soubry. He added: “This group has created an amazing array of conversions and modifications for customers around the world. Their passion for their work is exemplified in every aircraft that leaves the facility. Today, we celebrate their dedication and six decades of extraordinary modifications work.”
The Associated Air Center (AAC) operation began in Dallas in 1948, installing surplus radio equipment in former military aircraft that were operated by individuals and corporations. As part of these conversions, extensive avionics upgrades and installations were required to satisfy the latest regulations governing aviation.
Since then, AAC has become a world leader in the maintenance and modifications of air-transport aircraft by meeting increasingly demanding requirements in the outfitting, overhaul, maintenance and modification of transport category aircraft. AAC’s customers include numerous internationally known individuals, corporations and heads of state.
Regarded as a specialist in the modification and maintenance of Boeing, McDonnell-Douglas (now Boeing) and Airbus aircraft, AAC’s customers depend on quality work, customized service and timely delivery. AAC performs completions on the entire range of Boeing narrow body and wide body aircraft, from the 707 through the 747, the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) and the Airbus Corporate Jet (ACJ).
AAC is world renowned for custom design and VIP interior completions, MRO services and avionics, as well as engineering and certification. It is an authorized completion and service center for both Boeing and Airbus, and is an FAA repair station and designated alteration station (DAS). AAC can also perform heavy maintenance up through a “D” check.
The Dallas Love Field facilities include three oversized hangars, an administration building and terminal, and more than one million square feet of hangar, ramp and shop space. Backshop space includes a finish department, design department, certification, avionics and electrical department, sheet metal shop, a cabinet department and upholstery department. The engineering department is capable of designing structure, cabinetry and installing state-of-the-art avionics, entertainment and communications systems, and has in-house designated engineering representatives (DERs).
StandardAero, a Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) company with $1.4 billion in annual revenue, specializes in engine maintenance, repair and overhaul, and nose-to-tail services that include airframe, interior refurbishments and paint for business and general aviation, air transport, and military aircraft. The company, part of the DAE Engineering division, forms a global services network of 12 primary facilities in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Singapore and Australia, with an additional 14 regionally located service and support locations.
About DAE: DAE is a fast developing global aerospace, manufacturing and services corporation made up of six divisions – Airports, Capital, Engineering, Manufacturing, Services and University. Headquartered in Dubai, the group is growing through a series of phased developments and acquisitions to become a global player and produce an integrated aerospace cluster based at Dubai World Central – the new 140 square kilometer airport and logistics city. It is forming international partnerships at the highest level of industry, with the aim of establishing one of the most innovative and successful businesses in the global aerospace industry within the next decade. DAE’s shareholders include EMAAR, ISTITHMAR, Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority (DAFZA), Dubai International Capital, DIFC Investments LLC, the Government of Dubai and AMLAK Finance.