'Gustnado' Takes Out Kansas City Flight School Fleet

The aircraft were left outside on the ramp, which is controlled by Signature Flight Support.

Friday, April 21, 2023 at 06:32 PM ET

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Gustnados, according to the National Weather Service, are not considered tornadoes. The peak winds from Thursday's storm were estimated to have reached 65 mph. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

ATD Flight Systems LLC lost 11 of its 13 aircraft due to a "gustnado" (strong winds up to 65 mph) at Kansas City's Downtown Airport (KMKC) on April 20.
The aircraft were parked on the ramp, instead of in their hangar, as the hangar was being prepared to host a fashion show fundraiser.
Despite severe weather warnings, the aircraft were reportedly only chocked and not tied down, a detail Signature Flight Support (the ramp controller) did not confirm when stating they followed standard operating procedures.
This incident has severely impacted the busy Part 141 flight school's operations, with photos showing extensive damage to the fleet.

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Poor timing and a severe weather event have put a major dent in the operations of ATD Flight Systems LLC at Kansas City’s Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport (KMKC) in Kansas City, Missouri.

The busy part 141 flight school lost 11 of its 13 aircraft the morning of April 20 when strong winds, known as a gustnado, blew through the area. The aircraft, normally kept in a hangar, were parked on the ramp because the hangar was being prepared to host a fashion show fundraiser for cancer survivors.