TAC Air Acquires Central Flying Service Facilities

TAC Air has purchased the facilities of Central Flying Service at the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (KLIT) in Little Rock, and will operate its fueling, ground handling, hangar operations and other related services as part of the TAC Air network. Also included is the purchase of Airport Services Inc., which provides airline fueling services at LIT. Terms of the agreement are not being disclosed.

“The move makes sense for everyone,” said Christian Sasfai, Vice President & COO for TAC Air. He added, “The TAC Air network brings added value to customers.  Through our volume buying capability, fuel supply and other services will be improved at LIT”. TAC Air’s handling of line and fueling services will allow Central Flying Service to focus on their core business. Under the terms of the purchase, Central Flying Service operates as a tenant of TAC Air, while continuing to provide their full range of aviation services including aircraft sales, charter, flight training and a complete range of maintenance offerings.

Dick Holbert, President of Central Flying Service, added “We will continue offering services which provide Central Arkansas with unmatched aviation options.” Both Sasfai and Holbert agreed that the move allows each service provider to focus on what they do best.

New ground handling equipment has already arrived, with major improvements in general aviation facilities already in the planning stages. Sasfai stated that TAC Air has committed to investing “several million dollars” of private capital in the west side of the airport. “We started working with architects even before closing the transaction,” said Sasfai, who added that a major announcement including news on an executive terminal will be made as soon as plans are finalized.

In the meantime, all airport fixed base operator (FBO) services will be provided from the far north executive terminal on the west side of the airport. Historic “Hangar 1,” the other former Central Flying Service executive terminal, will no longer host FBO services, but will continue to be the facility from which The Flight Deck Restaurant and Catering and Central Flying Service’s Aircraft Sales, Charter and Flight Training will operate.

The transaction closed on January 30th, with all LIT line services operating February 1st under the TAC Air brand. In August 2014, TAC Air purchased the assets of fixed base operator  Supermarine at LIT, which expanded the TAC Air network to a total of 14 locations. TAC Air’s other Arkansas FBOs are located in Fort Smith and Texarkana.

Operating since 1986, TAC Air has won numerous awards for safety and customer service, including being named “#1 FBO Chain” twice in recent years by the readers of Professional Pilot magazine.

Central Flying Service was founded in 1939 as a Civilian Pilot Training Center and is celebrating its 75th Anniversary this year as one of the nation’s largest full service private aviation companies.