Despite its name, Sky Security Services didn’t buy a business airplane until 2008.

“But since getting our twin-engine Beech Baron, we’ve been able to add 80 employees and over a million and a half dollars in wages, because it’s much easier to enter new markets,” says 43-year-old founder Keith Leedom. The Burbank, California-based company recently expanded to Phoenix, Arizona; San Diego, San Francisco and Palm Springs, California; and Las Vegas, Nevada.

“When I needed to be at certain client sites at certain times, the airline schedules just didn’t fit,” he explains. “With our business aircraft, I’m able to arrive efficiently and take care of business with more clients, more efficiently.”

In this challenging economy, city leaders are delighted to see that their airports have brought new business through Sky Security’s expansion. “We’re leasing office space, we’re employing people in those areas at $10 to $15 an hour,” says Leedom. “Not many people think of business aviation as helping people in that salary range, but we are.” He also points to supplies the company buys locally, taxes paid, and health plan benefits for the formerly unemployed.

“Yes, we’re absolutely proud to say we use a business airplane,” Leedom says.