Retired Airliner Saluted After Final Flight
Officials at Dallas/Fort Worth
International Airport tell ANN FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx
Corp., recently donated a Boeing 727-200 freighter to the airport's
Department of Public Safety Fire Training Center to provide
hands-on training experience for aircraft firefighters.
The plane arrived to a "Shower of Affection" water salute from
DFW fire trucks at the FedEx facility at the Airport, and it was
handed over to the Airport Board in a ceremony attended by local
dignitaries, airport officials and employees of FedEx.
"This aircraft will complement the outstanding array of training
equipment that serves firefighters from DFW and around the world,"
said Jim Crites, executive vice president of operations for DFW.
"It will provide hands-on experience for our fire and emergency
preparedness students, and give them a realistic aircraft from
which to learn."
Since opening in 1995, the Fire Training Center has trained more
than 5,800 firefighters from 27 states, 12 countries and
representatives from state and federal agencies such as the FBI,
DEA and Texas Division of Emergency Management.
Speaking at the donation ceremony, Dallas-based FedEx Kinko's
President and CEO Ken May noted "this donation reflects the strong
relationship that already exists between FedEx and the Dallas/Fort
Worth area. As a local company, FedEx is committed to the
communities we serve and especially to those in which our employees
live and work."
"FedEx has stepped up to fulfill the needs of this Airport with
this generous donation of a retired aircraft," said Jeff Fegan, CEO
of DFW. "Our fire training team will easily be able to integrate
this new aircraft into the curriculum of our world class Fire
Training Center."
Since 2000, FedEx has donated 30 of its Boeing 727 aircraft to
various organizations for educational purposes. Before its final
flight, aircraft 727-200 (N272FE) provided FedEx with almost 15
years of service, transporting packages to destinations throughout
the United States.
"As we retire the 727 from our fleet, we are proud to give back
to the aviation community," said David Sutton, Managing Director of
Aircraft Acquisitions & Sales for FedEx. "The donation of this
plane is just one example of the many ways FedEx supports
educational endeavors."