NEWS RELEASE
Date: April 16, 2009
Contact: Laura Witlox 815.648.4591 x10
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For Immediate Release
CHICAGO EXECUTIVE AIRPORT PLAYS A CRITICAL ECONOMIC ROLE
Prospect Heights / Wheeling, Illinois - April 16, 2009 During times of financial uncertainty, and in the face of today's economic head winds, business leaders across the nation and around the globe continue to rely on General Aviation as a prime tool for conducting business. Chicago Executive Airport, only minutes from the heart of Chicago, provides access to over 5,000 airports in cities and small towns across the nation as well as destinations around the world, while serving as a powerful economic engine for the local, regional and national economy.
Signature Flight Support, one of Chicago Executive's most innovative enterprises is an organization well prepared to weather the current economic storm. Signature continues to contribute significantly to the local economy as well as to the airport's regional and national business partners. Throughout 2008, Signature Flight Support generated substantial revenue for the local economy. For example, area hotels realized revenue estimated to be over $136,000.00, directly as a result of Signature's referral program. In addition, with consideration for ground transportation services, catering services, building maintenance activities, hangar rentals and fuel sales, Signature Flight Support pours estimated annual revenues of seven million dollars into the local economy.
Priester Aviation, a world-renowned aviation organization, manages a fleet of over 50 aircraft and employs more than fifty pilots, technical and support staff at its Chicago Executive Airport corporate headquarters. The Priester organization has long been a champion of General Aviation and points with pride to the fact that they employ more than 150 individuals across their national network. In addition, Priester Charter operation is proud to offer specialized services that the airlines are unable to provide. For example, Priester Aviation often transports elderly or seriously ill patients who are unable to tolerate airline travel. Priester jets are ready at a moment's notice for business executives and government officials when time is a critical factor. Over the course of the last 63 years, since the company's founding in 1945, Priester Aviation has contributed many millions of dollars to the local and regional economy and, in the process, has provided livelihoods for countless area residents and families.
A third major contributor to the success of Chicago Executive Airport, and a significant contributor to the region's economic strength, is Atlantic Aviation. Atlantic’s Chicago Executive Airport operation is part of one of the country’s largest networks of FBO's. Atlantic Aviation offers a wide range of aviation services, provides well-paying jobs for highly skilled individuals and generates hundreds of thousands of salaries and tax dollars annually, directly impacting the local economy.
Chicago Executive Airport is a powerful economic engine for the City of Wheeling, the Village of Prospect Heights the surrounding communities, the region and the entire Midwest. In addition to the firms profiled here, dozens of other enterprises contribute to the economic vitality of the airport. Aviation related businesses, both on and of the field, employ hundreds of technical experts, managers, pilots, mechanics and support staff. The airport produces direct and indirect economics benefits including sales tax revenue, increased business activity for local industry and retail operations including hotels, restaurants, and a wide range of aviation related and not-related enterprises.
Chicago Executive Airport, an intergovernmental cooperative of the City of Prospect Heights and the Village of Wheeling, is a major aviation facility catering primarily to general aviation and the corporate aviation user.
For more information contact:
Chicago Executive Airport
847.537.2580
