Northwest Aero Services was established in 1971 by LaVerne Friesen, a Medford Oklahoma farmer, mechanic and pilot.  He sold the company to Elaine Wright Johns in October, ?00.  The company offers the business community and public the services of aircraft maintenance, aircraft sales, aircraft rental, charter services, flight school, and computerized testing.

The company has overcome many obstacles through the years.  In 1977, the hangar was demolished by a tornado.  While awaiting construction of a new hanger in 1978, the temporary facility caught fire and burned to the ground.  The current operation, housed at Woodring   Airport in Enid , Oklahoma , was completed in 1980.  The business has seen many changes in economics through the years including the oil field “bust” but continues to diversify in order to grow with the needs of the community.  During Ms. Johns first two years of service, she experienced two federal disasters and the beginning of the war on terrorism.

Taking a blind step in faith, one of the first decisions was to purchase a larger and faster aircraft for on demand air charter.  Expansion began on the modern brick and steel two-story building to accommodate the expected increase to the pilot training department.  A second floor was built above the existing engine room and upon completion offered double the existing office space.  The first floor was remodeled to accommodate additional parts and assembly rooms.  A new dust and pollutant free environment was created to house the engine overhaul facility.  On the second floor, new office space was created with reception and conference rooms.  The space is available for rental for catering and parties.

Due to the vision and hard work of the president and employees, steady growth continued and sales increased. After the attack on 9/11, the aviation community suffered losses in all areas.  Pilots previously hired by major airlines were being placed on furlough.  Due to the increase in the flight training department, additional employees were hired.

The flight school trains prospective IFS (Introductory Flight Screening) students for the Air Force.  They have been involved in this program for approx. five (5) years.   We work directly with Maxwell, Vance and Randolph AFB coordinating students training and have become their lead pilot school for implementing new procedures.  We have been successful in moving up pilot?s UPT class start dates by an avg. of two months and retraining pilots who have inclement weather and other training problems.  Because of our involvement in this program, we have developed and copy written a training syllabus and instructor handbook.  By streamlining this process of training N.W. Aero has saved the Air Force and Taxpayers over $500,000 since its inception.

As you know the tragedy of the World Trade Center bombings have affected us nationwide in a variety of ways, emotionally, physically, and economically.  Here in Enid , we were affected due to the grounding of all aviation flying.  Gradually, as restrictions were lifted, we were able to do some Angel Flights out of Enid , taking Crisis Counselors from the OKC Bombing to New York for assistance, but all flight training was grounded.

With no relief in sight, we contacted our local FAA   Tower , McAlester Flight Service and ultimately Kansas City   Center and began proceedings to try and get our military students in the air.  We thought that if we could get them approved as military training flights, we might be able to resume IFT training.  We were successful and by Tuesday afternoon, our students were approved to fly.  We were the first flight school in the nation to fly private pilot training. We recently applied for a contract to become the single site training facility for the Air Force.  Although we were not successful in securing this bid, we are a better corporation because of the application process.  

Shortly after 911, our community suffered a devastating ice storm, crippling the community and the economy.  With our business dependant on weather, this shut down all operations again.  Even with all the icy conditions, we used this time to accomplish other projects and tasks and kept our employees working.  Our employees are our biggest asset.  They are the key to any company?s success.  Northwest Aero has been consistently involved in outside humanitarian efforts.  The key to a successful business is not always a large increase in monetary sales.  The true attributes of a great business rely on the difference it makes in its community.  N.W. Aero has been involved in many efforts to aid the public.  We house the N.W. Oklahoma office of Angel Flight and help with the needs of medically disabled patients.  We are the founding sponsor of the Woodring Wall of Honor and Veteran?s Park established five years ago.  This project alone has made an enormous impact in the lives and recognition of our past and present soldiers.  This past Memorial Day we honored sixty four Oklahoma soldiers killed this past year in the war on Terrorism or stateside incidents.  Each year we offer Christmas Flights over Enid and donate the profits to charity.  Since December of ?02 we have partnered with the Department of Human Services to host an annual party for 50 disadvantaged foster children.   We have hosted the Sooner   Flight   Academy , a project which educates children in Aviation Sciences.  We are partnering with Blue Yonder Foundation, a project involving high risk teenagers, to fund $1,000 of their flight training.  This life changing program will benefit local youth.  The goals of this foundation are to offer flight training in every state by the year 2010. A new program implemented by Northwest Aero in October of 2003 offers all day tours of the airport, Veterans   Park , and aviation related business to the public school systems. In one month over 300 children were taken on tours which included the Pledge of Allegiance in the Veterans   Park , veteran?s storytelling, air traffic control tower, static aircraft displays, antique car displays, maintenance facilities, and the Transportation Security Administration screening process.  Two of our employees are members of the Civitan organization which provides multiple services to the developmentally disabled and aging community.  Other projects are Rebuilding Together, Toys for Tots, Reading is Fundamental, Secret Santa for Dev. Disabled Adults,  Flags Across Enid America, Fall Fest Fly In and the Horn of Plenty Food Drive.

Our plans this year are to add an aviation camp for at risk youth, an Easter egg hunt for physically and mentally handicapped children, and see the Woodring Wall of Honor   Museum project completed.  “I struggled with the decision to buy this business”, states Johns.  “With rising costs of aviation fuel and skyrocketing liability and work comp rates, I knew it was going to be a challenge”.  “I didn?t get into aviation to make a living?..I got in it to have a life.”  Ownership has allowed me the opportunity to give back to the community and fulfill the calling placed upon my heart.

Our company motto and promise is from Psalms 91:4  Find refuge under his wings.  For our customers that also includes the wings of a Cessna.

Elaine Johns