February 27, 2006
Landmark Aviation earns top Beechcraft sales award
Winston-Salem FBO Has Earned Award Every Year Since 1994
Tempe, Arizona, — Landmark Aviation has been named the Beechcraft Domestic Dealer of the Year Award winner for 2005 for retailing more new airplanes than any other authorized dealer in the United States. It was the 11th straight year that Landmark or one of its predecessor companies has earned the distinction. Landmark sold 16 new aircraft valued at more than $26 million during 2005.The award was presented by Randy Groom, president of Raytheon Aircraft Company's Beechcraft Division, to Tom Mekis, Landmark's vice president of aircraft sales, charter and management at the Annual Raytheon Aircraft Sales Awards Banquet in Wichita on Wednesday, February 1, 2006.
"Landmark Aviation (and the predecessor company Piedmont Hawthorne) has been a top performing Beechcraft dealer for many years," said Randy Groom, Beechcraft president and general manager. "It was my pleasure to present them the Top dealer award again for 2005. The Landmark team's commitment to excellence in new Beechcraft sales and service makes them a real winning partner which we know we can depend on," he added.
"At Landmark, we take great pride in our ability to sell new Raytheon-built aircraft," Mekis said. "Since 1994, this Beechcraft award has been a tradition for us. Piedmont Aviation Services, which has been affiliated with Beechcraft for more than 60 years, won it in '94 and every year since, except in 1995, when American Beechcraft took the top spot. Both are among the companies that merged together to form Landmark Aviation in 2005, so we can rightfully claim that the award has gone to a member of the Landmark family for each of the past eleven years," he explained.
Landmark currently employs four full-time new aircraft sales professionals. They completed the sales of 10 new piston aircraft, two King Air C90Bs, one King Air 350, two Premier I business jets and one Beechjet 400XP during the year. The largest Beechcraft dealer in the world, Landmark Aviation's sales territory stretches from upstate New York to the Carolinas.
It also includes seven service center locations within the territory. Since 1998, the combination of Piedmont Aviation Services and American Beechcraft has sold more than 200 new Beechcraft airplanes.
Left to Right, Brad Stancil, Vice President, Worldwide Beechcraft Sales; Tom Mekis, Vice President Aircraft Sales, Charter & Management, Landmark Aviation; Randy Groom, President and General Manager, Beechcraft.
Landmark Aviation, formerly known as Garrett/Piedmont Hawthorne/Associated, is one of North America's largest providers of comprehensive services for the business aviation industry. With 43 locations in North America, the company offers a full range of fixed base operations; maintenance, repair and overhaul; aircraft charter, sales and management; and large aircraft completions. Landmark Aviation is headquartered in Tempe, Ariz. Landmark Aviation is a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group.
Media Contact: Cathy Gedvilas Phone: 480.784.6167