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With consumer expectations remaining robust, CEO Brian Dunaway of Epic Helicopters in Fort Worth sees a lot of opportunity. “That’s grabbing market share across the board,” Dunaway, who founded the company more than 10 years ago, says. “People are opening up their pockets right now.”
Epic, which focuses on training helicopter pilots and selling charters and tours, recently rewrote its training content. “It’s designed to better prepare students for real field work,” he says. Epic has also obtained a certification that allows it to carry heavier loads, such as carrying heavy air-conditioning units to roofs. “That whole certificate has a training component to it.”
The company, which operates several Robinson helicopters and is a service center for Robinson helicopters, recently acquired a Bell 407 that Dunaway says will dramatically improve Epic’s training and charter and tour businesses. The 407 carries six passengers and one pilot. Epic’s previously largest helicopter, the Robinson R66, carries four passengers and a pilot.
“The 407 gives us ability to train people in night vision goggles,” training in demand by law enforcement departments, Dunaway says. Epic is working on obtaining Federal Aviation Administration approval to operate charters and tours in the aircraft.“That is a substantial upgrade to our capability and capacity,” he says.
The company’s international pilot training business remains steady, Dunaway says. “Mexico and China are very strong now,” and several students from those countries are training at Epic. Epic is expanding its current Meacham Airport headquarters into adjacent space being vacated by the City of Fort Worth, which increases the company’s training capacity. “We think this facility can handle up to 100 students at any given time,” compared to the previous 25-30, says Dunaway, who has 10 employees.
Epic is looking for ways to grow its charter and tour business. In April, it launched a tour partnership with Kent & Co. Wines, the offspring of the Fort Worth automobile dealer. Epic flies passengers to Kent’s Cadillac Wines in West Fort Worth. Upon landing at the Kent complex, the dealership sends a Cadillac to pick up the passengers and drives them a short distance to Cadillac Wines, where they sample wines and charcuterie and can buy bottles to bring home. The entry price is $599 per couple, which Dunaway views as a similarly priced date night to Fort Worth’s fine steakhouses.
Dunaway’s also working on an idea for a private ranch tour, guided by the helicopter pilot. The catch is, “you take a helicopter that far away, it’s not making any other revenue,” Dunaway says.
Dunaway’s also close to signing a contract for an experiential package with Reunion Tower in Dallas that could include a meal in the restaurant at the top of the tower and a stay at the Hyatt Regency Dallas at the tower. “We’ve been doing Reunion for
a while,” Dunaway says.