For Immediate Release
November 13, 2008
Contact:
Contact: Larry T. Eiler
Eiler Communications
734 - 761-3399
734 - 646-6593 cell
larry@eilerpr.com
ANN ARBOR, MI -- A new private flight service, Flagship Private Air, was inaugurated and will provide its primary services from Ann Arbor Airport.
"We have always had a need for this type of private air service for area business people and individuals," said Matt Kulhanek, airport manager. "Flagship adds a new dimension of convenience and time savings for travelers."
“We believe this private air service provides business people, coaches, educators, physicians and family travelers the safety, convenience and comfort that they desire,” said Tim Patton of Patton Holdings, a local entrepreneur and businessman who launched the new service. “There has never been a private air service this convenient in this region and our market studies uncovered a solid desire for it from business people, residents who travel up north, down south or elsewhere in summer and winter holidays, educators, physicians and others.”
The company said it feels this is a great time to open the new private air service because many larger businesses with internal plane fleets are cutting back and seeking private air
availability. Flagship also cited the fact that Ann Arbor does not have a private service
and its market studies showed that business and family people in the region desire the convenience and safety of the service at costs comparable to commercial carriers.
Flagship initially has a fleet of three aircraft, the largest an eight-passenger Piaggio Avanti P-180 and two smaller craft, a Piper Meridian and a King Air C90. Flagship's goal is to serve 80 percent of its customers with non-stop service.
Flagship's director of operations is Loren Harmon, a longtime military and commercial pilot. Jim Wise is the chief pilot. Loren and Jim together have more than 60 years of experience flying in the military, commercial airlines and private flights.
“There are lots of advantages to flying in private aircraft,” said Patton. One of them is timesavings with the travel time based around the flyer's needs and those of families and business people. Driving to a major airport well in advance of departure time is not necessary.
Another is operational flexibility - the planes can fly in and out of small airports with shorter runways. There is less air traffic and such airports are generally closer to destinations.
The Piaggio can fly non-stop from Ann Arbor to Denver, Dallas or South Florida.
Flagship's team of seasoned pilots is available 24 x 7 and all three planes are consistently serviced and maintained between trips.
Custom catering services as well as ground transportation and lodging logistics are available through the flight team.
Flagship's planes will be in a new Ann Arbor Airport hanger being built at the west end of Airport Drive. Travel arrangements can be made by contacting the firm at 734 - 327-6527 or going to its web site, www.flagshipprivateair.com
A resident of Ann Arbor since 1983 Tim has been married for 26 years to Shann Patton. They have six children.
From 1981-1988 Tim held progressively higher management positions at McGaw Labs, the Intravenous Products Division of American Hospital Supply. From 1988 to now, Tim initiated the start-up of five companies, primarily in the health care services field.
He is presently the principal shareholder of Patton Holdings, a diversified holding company with controlling interests in Jordan Reses Supply Company, a distributor of respiratory products into the Veterans Administration Hospitals; Sleep Well Centers, which provides outpatient sleep apnea diagnostic testing; Shamrock Respiratory Services, a provider of oxygen and sleep therapies in patients private homes; and Flagship Private Air.
Tim is a founder and Director of the Ann Arbor State Bank. He serves on the Board of Arbor Vitae, Holy Cross Children's Services, Renewal Ministries, Hope Clinic, Crime-Cog Technologies and Fr. Gabriel Richard High School, where he is President of the Board. He also serves on the Board of the Ann Arbor chapter of Legatus International, a Catholic business leaders organization.
Loren Harmon. Director of Operations
Loren has more than 15,000 flight hours in over 40 different types of aircraft. His experiences include a 20-year military career with more than 500 carrier landings, building and flying experimental aircraft, flying for major airlines, as well as operating other aircraft for the past three years.
Loren began his aviation career in 1967 flying a C150 prior to enlisting in the U.S. Navy as an aircraft engine mechanic. In 1972 he was selected by the Navy to attend the University of Washington where he graduated with a BS in Oceanography in 1975.
Upon receiving his commission as Ensign, he went to Pensacola for flight training. Earning his Navy wings in 1976, he then flew A-4's and A-7's for the next 12 years, amassing over 500 aircraft carrier landings during four overseas deployments. Harmon retired from the U.S. Navy in 1988 as a lieutenant commander.
Loren opened a fixed base operator service center in St. Mary's GA where he instructed in small aircraft while building an experimental aircraft. In 1990 he was hired by Continental Airlines and for the next five-plus years, he flew the B727 across the United States and the Pacific Ocean. Moving to Northwest Airlines, Loren flew the DC-9 and the B757 for the next 10 years, prior to embarking on his latest career three years ago.
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