We, at FEC Heliports, would like to thank our incredible partners and loyal customers for their support in achieving a remarkable milestone—30 years in business. Truly, we couldn’t have done it alone.
How It All Started
Our story began not with a grand plan, but with a strategic opportunity and a keen eye for an unmet need. Back in 1996, our company began as a diversification move for our parent company, Federal Equipment Company. From there, we identified a key gap in the market, our President, Tom Schuman, recalls:
“Identifying a void in the elevated and ground helipad market: the use of aluminum instead of concrete in the hospital market. It was already being used offshore, but we focused on the US hospital market. Secondly, we focused on Customer Service, and becoming a one-stop shop for our clients; design, manufacture, and install….we do it all!!”
Thanks to this approach, we became an industry leader within a decade.
Our First Partnership
In the same way, a small business might frame its first dollar, we hold the story of our first client with a similar reference. It represents the pivotal moment when trust was first placed in our name. That honor belongs to the Flagstaff Medical Center in Arizona.
Tom fondly recalls how this first project “helped put us under the gun and we ultimately designed what is now the Helislat product along with our snowmelt system.” We are very proud to say this installation is still in use today.
A Milestone Forged by Trust and Partnership
We are humbled by the trust that has sustained us since our founding in 1996. We know when our clients choose us, they need a reliable product, not just for a successful project, but to save lives. Through our partnerships, FEC has the honor of being a small part of lifesaving missions worldwide, and we couldn’t be more grateful.
The People Behind the Mission: An Insider’s Perspective
The legacy we speak of is built by employees like Kim Swisshelm, our Director of Sales & Consulting. When asked what she ascribes the company’s success to, she stated:
“I’ve been with FEC heliports for 28 of its 30 years, and I can tell you that customer service, backed by expertise and the willingness to go beyond expectations with our clients, is what sets us apart. Our desire to be the people you can trust because of our experience drives us all to be at the top of our game. Just as importantly, we are always learning… from our clients, flight teams, and other industry leaders. We are proud to be a small part of saving lives.”
A Family-Owned Business, Built on Teamwork
This sense of being ‘on the same team’ starts at home. As a family-owned and operated business, we’ve worked intentionally to foster a unique culture. This culture fosters what Kim describes as “a built-in foundation of trust that carries over to the rest of the employees, with everyone on the same team.” This collaborative environment is maintained by focusing on roles and expertise first. This professional discipline ensures that we bring out the best, solution-oriented selves to work. We believe that ultimately, this internal culture of mutual trust and collaboration is the foundation for the reliable, dedicated partnerships we build with our clients and collaborators.
Our Commitment, Today and Tomorrow
This foundation of internal trust and teamwork is what has sustained our external mission for three decades. Our dedication to relentless innovation for safety, high-quality, complete solutions, and our commitment to our clients and partners have enabled us to successfully continue our mission for the last 30 years. We are honored that this commitment has been met with your continued partnership, and with gratitude as our compass, we look forward to the work ahead for decades to come.
