Thu, Oct 11, 2012
Even to many who have to compete with him, Bob Showalter is "Mr. FBO." A veteran of decades of service to the GA and BizAv communities, Bob and Showalter Aviation have been working the leading edge of the airport services industry by running Orlando Exec's premier FBO.
He's pretty much seen and done it all and served the industry not only at the helm of one of the best FBOs we know, but also through his volunteer efforts on behalf of the industry via a number of positions and with several of the aviation industry's associations. The Showalter family has been serving GA for most of the past century. According to their bio, "When the new terminal was built on Orlando Municipal Airport in 1951, the Showalter Corporation was the successful bidder to initiate the first Fixed Base Operation on the Municipal Airport."
"With only three aircraft permanently based at the airport and transients avoiding Orlando because of the poor service provided by a city operated facility, the first job of Showalter Flying Service was to change the image. Using the premise that good service was the principal commodity the pilot wanted, Showalter Flying Service built a nationwide reputation striving to provide the service and accommodations the flying public desired."
More recently, Showalter (along with just a few Florida FBOs) has become the preferred destination for ANN when we need to work out of a SERIOUS full-service FBO on special projects -- AND when NBAA brings their annual Tradeshow to Orlando, FL, it is Showalter Aviation that serves as the on-airport base of ops for the best and brightest of the BizAv world. So... listen carefully, folks... Bob does more than walk the walk and talk the talk... he's been there for the best and worst of aviation's recent history and has learned more than a few lessons along the way. Sit back and enojoy a converesation with Bob Showalter...
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