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."

FMI: www.fedex.com, www.dfwairport.com