Central missouri aviation: the right people, the right place, the right fbo
Longtime Phillips 66® Aviation branded location, Central Missouri Aviation, Inc. (CMA) is coming up on their 40th anniversary in aviation – no small feat for any business. So what's the secret to the FBO's success?
According to CMA's General Manager, Randy Clark, "If you don't have the right people, you don't have much. And maybe part of our success is being in the right place at the right time."
The right place is Columbia, a town of 120,000 persons and growing, located in the heart of Missouri. CMA is the only FBO on the field at Columbia Regional Airport (KCOU) offering a full range of services, including Phillips premixed Jet A and 100LL Fuel, aircraft management, pilot services, flight instruction and light twin aircraft charter service. They have the capabilities to handle single engines through 767s.
"We're the big airport for the surrounding area, so we need to be prepared every day for whatever challenges present themselves," said Clark. "We've proudly been a Phillips 66 Aviation dealer since we opened our doors in 1977, and they provide us with great resources, including NATA Safety 1st Online Training, to ensure our staff has the knowledge and experience to deliver great service and a great product."
Clark also touts the Phillips 66 Aviation Partners-Into-Plane contract fuel program as a business offering that has helped CMA's business boom. The program is in its 40th year, making it the longest active contract fuel program offered by any U.S. refiner. The program continues to not require fuel releases or contract fuel cards for processing, which streamlines the fuel sales process for customer service representatives and accounting personnel, allowing flights to take off faster.
If You've Visited One Airport – You've Visited One Airport
The day-to-day happenings at any airport and FBO are unique, and depending on the time of year, or the sporting season, CMA can see quite an influx of traffic. Located in close proximity to The University of Missouri, during Mizzou football home games, there can be as many as 80 aircraft on the ramp.
CMA has also aligned with the University through community betterment initiatives, including donating one of its seven hangars and volunteers to hold a fashion show to benefit University Children's Hospital.
A Pilot and His Plane
CMA sees its fair share of military traffic as a United States government contract fuel provider; however one military aircraft stopped through on October 15, 2016 to do much more than fuel up. Lieutenant Colonel Ferrill A. Purdy was reunited with his Corsair F4U-1A he flew in the South Pacific during World War II. A children's book, "A Trip To Remember" by Michele Spry, has since been published that commemorates the story of Lt. Col. Purdy, his wingman and the very special plane they flew during World War II.
It's clear that CMA will continue to invest in its community, veterans and employees alike for the next forty-plus years.
To learn more about Central Missouri Aviation, visit their website at www.cmaair.com.