King Aerospace is seeing steady demand for its VVIP and special-mission services despite the global industry slowdown. However, the Addison, Texas-based company has taken precautions as it proceeds with its business.

“Our facilities are full of aircraft to be serviced and we’re pushing out as many proposals as ever,” said King Aerospace president Jarid King. “That’s not to say it’s business as usual, though. We take every day as it comes and adjust as we need to.”

Precautions have included an evaluation of its workforce to ensure at-risk employees are able to work remotely. “A few months ago, if you’d have told me I could do this job offsite, I would have said, ‘no way,’” said Randy Johnson, director of corporate aircraft services, which includes paint, interior, avionics, and minor maintenance programs. Johnson is among those working remotely. “And, honestly, I couldn’t if we didn’t have such a resourceful team. I feel very on top of things. We talk regularly and follow our proven processes, but we can, if needed, do it virtually now.”

“No projects have been derailed due to some of our staff working remotely,” added King. “That would not be the case if we didn’t have such a strong, established foundation for teamwork and problem-solving. We are staying flexible and responding to situations as they arise, but we are not having to reinvent ourselves.”

The company further has instituted best practices and OSHA guidance to safeguard the approximately 80 employees that continue to work at its Ardmore, Oklahoma facility. Customers largely are sticking to planned maintenance schedules, but if the pandemic continues longer than anticipated, King said customers might move up their scheduled work.

Last year at its Ardmore facility, King Aerospace provided maintenance, avionics, paint, and interior refurbishment for 40 Boeing BBJs, 737s and 757s, as well as 45 other business aircraft.