October 29, 2009
Chandler Air Service celebrates 30 years at Chandler Airport
CHANDLER, Ariz. – John Walkup has been operating his flight training school, Chandler Air Service, at the City’s municipal airport longer than any other business and he is inviting the community to help him celebrate.
Walkup has operated at the airport for 30 years and is throwing a “Celebration of Survival” party that will feature free refreshments and live music beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, at his company’s Main Hanger, 1675 E. Ryan Road. The date also happens to be his 65th birthday.
“Chandler Air Service brought a stable and long-term business to the airport,” said Chandler Airport Manager Greg Chenoweth. “That consistency helped provide the City with a solid vision upon which to build our facility into one of the busiest general aviation airports in the country.”
In addition to flight training, Walkup’s company provides small aircraft maintenance and aircraft fuelling. He hopes word of his anniversary event will find its way to previous customers and those who learned to fly at Chandler Air Service.
There was no air traffic control tower and few amenities when Walkup opened his flight school at the airport in 1979. Today, the airport averages more than 260,000 takeoffs and landings a year and delivers an annual economic impact of more than $53 million to Arizona's economy.
Walkup has been a Designated Pilot Examiner since 1972 and has owned and operated flight schools since 1970. He helped establish the first group of pilot examiners who work with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for improvement of certification of pilots and twice has been named Certified Flight Instructor of the Year by the FAA.
For more information, contact Chandler Air Service at 480-963-6420. |