Lew Emery founded the first flight school at the Rockford airport. That operation eventually became a full-service FBO, including maintenance, air charter and had a major role providing service to the rapidly expanding airline industry.
About this time, the airport changed its name to the Greater Rockford Airport.
Hartzog Aviation was sold to Beech Holdings (Raytheon Aircraft Corporation). The facility became a Beech factory-owned and operated Factory Service Center.
Emery Air Charter acquired the Raytheon facility, consolidating all the cargo services, and becoming one of the largest aviation service companies in the Midwest.
The name was changed to Emery Air, Inc., to reflect their wide range of services.
In 2017, Airfreight business expanded greatly in RFD. The airport handled more than 1.3 billion pounds of cargo, a 50 percent increase over the 2016 number.
In 2021, Emery Completed the first Cargo facility expansion.
Emery Air Advantages
- 10,000-gallon refuelers
- De-ice trucks
- Airstairs
- Pushback
- Tugs
- K-loaders
- Lavatory and water service equipment
- Ground Power Units
- Air start
- Heat carts
- TSA approved cargo screening: K9 & ETD
- ULD build-up and breakdown.
- Dangerous goods & pharma capability
- Documentation for import and export, U.S. Customs & Border Control clearance, and irregularities management.
- Cargo transport to/from aircraft, airfreight trucking services, trucking access,
- TSA compliance RFD-ORD route
- Warehousing services, equipment supply, inventory control, & cargo security.
- Standards: ACMR certified / IATA Audit / Quality management system / Safety Management System
- Tech: Cargo spot tracking & IT: AMS / customs clearance & messaging
