FedEx donates 727 aircraft to Spokane International

SPOKANE - A Boeing 727-200F aircraft from FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp., made its final taxi Wednesday onto the east side cargo apron at Spokane International Airport.

Community leaders gathered to celebrate the donation and tour the aircraft after its arrival.

"As we retire this 727 from our fleet, we are proud to give back to the aviation community," said David Sutton, managing director of aircraft acquisition and sales for FedEx. "The donation of this aircraft by FedEx is just one example of the many ways we support educational endeavors, reflecting the community spirit shared by all FedEx employees in the communities where we live and work."

Sutton noted the "hands-on training value" the large freighter will provide to not only Aircraft Rescue Firefighting personnel, but also to Spokane Community College's aviation maintenance program.

Since 2000, FedEx has donated 52 of its Boeing 727 aircraft to various organizations for educational purposes. Before its final flight, the donated 727-200 provided FedEx with 20 years of service transporting packages to destinations throughout the United States.

"The donation of this airframe by FedEx for training use at Spokane International Airport offers our public safety employees the most significant permanent training platform ever made available to the region for the purpose of aircraft emergency preparedness," said Lawrence Krauter, CEO at Spokane International Airport. "The donation of this FedEx B-727 to Spokane International Airport will take our training to an entirely different level.

"Not only does this airframe provide the ultimate public safety training aid, it will also allow us to strengthen the relationship that we have with SCC to provide hands-on experience for aviation maintenance students in order to help them prepare to join a growing aerospace workforce in the Spokane region," Krauter added.

FedEx Express is the world's largest express transportation company, providing fast and reliable delivery to more than 220 countries and territories. FedEx Express uses a global air-and-ground network to speed delivery of time-sensitive shipments, by a definite time and date with a money-back guarantee.

Spokane International Airport is a 4,800 acre commercial service airport served by six airlines and two air cargo carriers. The airport processed more than 3 million passengers and 54,129.6 U.S. air cargo tons in 2011. It is the second largest airport in the state of Washington and recognized by the FAA as a small hub.

For more information, visit www.spokaneairports.net.