Latest news with #generalaviation
Associated Press
23-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
General Aviation Community Unites to Support the 2026 Special Olympics Airlift
OSHKOSH, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 23, 2025-- During the industry's iconic Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture event in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, leading general aviation organizations — including EAA and General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) — announced their collective support and endorsement of the 2026 Special Olympics Airlift event. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Ron Draper, president and CEO, Textron Aviation and Jack J. Pelton, chairman and CEO, Experimental Aircraft Association celebrate the general aviation community uniting to support the 2026 Special Olympics Airlift during the industry's iconic Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture event in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. (Photo: Textron Aviation) The Special Olympics Airlift, organized by Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, mobilizes hundreds of volunteer Cessna, Beechcraft and Hawker pilots and aircraft to create the world's largest peacetime airlift and provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Special Olympics athletes. This monumental event will transport hundreds of athletes and coaches across the country to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota's Twin Cities. 'The support of EAA, GAMA and our customers across the general aviation community is a powerful testament to the spirit of aviation and its ability to change lives,' said Ron Draper, president and CEO, Textron Aviation. 'Together, we are creating unforgettable experiences for these athletes and demonstrating the true heart of our industry.' The industry is calling on Cessna, Beechcraft and Hawker aircraft owners and operators to come together on Friday, June 19, 2026, and Saturday, June 27, 2026, to enable champions from all corners of the nation to travel to and from the host city, regardless of financial or logistical challenges. Owners and operators of Cessna Citation, Beechcraft King Air and Hawker aircraft can participate by volunteering their aircraft, crew, fuel and time. 'The Special Olympics Airlift is one of the most inspiring demonstrations of what aviation can do to uplift lives and unite communities,' said Jack J. Pelton, chairman and CEO, Experimental Aircraft Association. 'EAA is proud to support this extraordinary mission, and we deeply appreciate the dedication of the pilots and volunteers who make it possible. It's a shining example of aviation's heart.' Since the inception of the Special Olympics Airlift in 1987, Cessna, Beechcraft and Hawker owners have transported more than 10,000 athletes and coaches to various Special Olympics World and USA Games. During the 2026 event, participating aircraft known as Doves are expected to touch down or takeoff from St. Paul Downtown Airport Holman Field (KSTP) every three minutes throughout a 10-hour period. 'The Special Olympics Airlift is an excellent example of how the general aviation community bands together to support special missions and give back. This noble effort provides Special Olympics athletes and coaches with the transportation necessary to create lasting memories of the games and inspiring achievements by the competitors,' said James Viola, president and CEO, GAMA. Everybody needs a lift every now and then. Become a Dove for this monumental nationwide aviation event by visiting View source version on CONTACT: Media Contact:Rachel Williams [email protected] 316.706.7201 KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA WISCONSIN MINNESOTA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SPORTS GENERAL SPORTS PHILANTHROPY TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION SATELLITE OLYMPICS ENGINEERING AIR TRANSPORT OTHER PHILANTHROPY AEROSPACE MANUFACTURING SOURCE: Textron Aviation Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 07/23/2025 11:11 AM/DISC: 07/23/2025 11:11 AM
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vero Beach Regional Airport third- busiest in Florida, saw over 250,000 flights in 2024
VERO BEACH — Vero Beach Regional Airport is the third-busiest general-aviation in Florida, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics and the Federal Aviation Administration. The ranking, published earlier this year, is based on the total number of takeoffs and landings in a year. Air traffic in Vero Beach increased nearly 79% — by more than 100,000 flights — between 2022 and 2024, according to the federal agency. In 2024, 265,405 flights took off and landed at Vero Beach; it saw 207,536 flights in 2023; and 148,511 flights in 2022. Among the state's busiest general-aviation airports, Vero Beach Regional trailed only Miami Executive Airport — 314,026 flights — and North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines — 317,069 flights — in 2024. A general-aviation airport typically provides non-commercial services. Of Florida's top five airports, only Vero Beach offers commercial service, provided by Breeze Airways. "The city is becoming increasingly popular with people who fly," explained Airport Director Todd Scher. "A majority (of flights) are from the two flight schools — Skyborne and Paris Air, whereas private planes and charters round out the bulk of our flights." Breeze accounts for only 0.6% of flights into and out of the airport, according to Scher. "We're happy with how we fit into the fabric of Vero Beach Regional Airport," said Breeze Airways spokesman Ryne Williams. "Despite the large number of flights, we see Vero Beach as an underserved commercial market. We offer convenience for those who may not have the ability to fly their own planes." The fourth- and fifth-busiest general-aviation airports statewide in 2024, respectively, were Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport at 193,398 flights and New Smyrna Beach Airport with 184,047 flights, according to federal statistics. On the Treasure Coast, Witham Field in Stuart recorded 123,635 flights in 2024 and Treasure Coast International Airport north of Fort Pierce saw 139,953, according to the FAA. Local news: Florida recycling rate not even close to 75% goal. Here's how the Treasure Coast is doing Fishing pier reopens: Sebastian Inlet State Park north jetty reopens ahead of schedule The airport is in a position to handle even more flights, according to Scher. "We can feasibly see the same growth, and be in a good position," he explained. "We are ready, willing and able." The number of Breeze flights, however, is unlikely to increase for now. Its service will remain at an average of five flights per day until it increases its safety coverage, including providing another rescue/firefighting vehicle, said Scher. However, Scher and airport staff are happy with the current state of the airport. "For a small-town airport, we're doing great, and the rankings show that," said Scher. "Watching all the planes take off and land here, and admiring where we've come from, is a fantastic." Nick Slater is TCPalm's Indian River County Watchdog reporter. You can reach him at and 224-830-2875. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Vero Beach Airport third busiest in by flight total
Forbes
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Cirrus Aircraft's Safety Focus Has Been Good For Business
The new Cirrus SR G7+, which features the company's Safe Return Emergency Autoland technology Last week Cirrus Aircraft announced the introduction of a new addition to its SR series of single-engine piston aircraft, the G7+, which will feature the company's Safe Return Emergency Autoland technology as standard equipment. The safety aspect of the announcement is in keeping with the company's philosophy based on a long-ago quote from one of its two co-founders, Alan Klapmeier: 'The penalty for a mistake or bad luck should not be death.' Cirrus was founded in 1984 by Alan and his brother Dale Klapmeier. Headquartered in Duluth, Minnesota, it manufactures personal aircraft that include the SR series of propellor planes and its Vision Jet, as well as the TRAC SR20 series of specialty training airplanes. The addition of Safe Return to its piston aircraft, after originally offering the feature only on its Vision Jet, is another in a series of safety innovations from Cirrus. The most famous one, of course, is its Cirrus Airframe Parachute System, a standard feature on all its aircraft. The company's focus on safety appears to be delivering strong business results. Publicly traded Cirrus is the now world's third-largest aircraft manufacturer by units delivered for general aviation, according to their figures compiled from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association and corporate annual reports. It has delivered over 10,000 of its SR Series, including over 1,200 in just the last two years. The SR Series comprises nearly 50% unit market share and over 60% revenue market share. Last year was a record-setting one for its Vision Jet deliveries, which totaled 101 aircraft. The Safe Return Emergency Autoland feature requires the push of just a single prominent button to ... More activate it. 'As a broker who sells preowned Cirrus aircraft, I can confidently say safety is the number one reason clients seek out the brand,' said Mindy Lindheim, aircraft sales broker for Lone Mountain Aircraft and frequent contributor at Twin and Turbine Magazine, via email. 'The parachute system, the avionics, and the training ecosystem all work together to make Cirrus stand out and that reputation drives purchasing decisions every day.' The company projects that by 2027, there will be more SR Series G7+ with Safe Return delivered than any other aircraft equipped with Garmin Autoland (the technology upon which the Safe Return system is built) combined. 'It is a phenomenal technology on any airplane, but I think it's going to be significantly impactful for this level of airplane,' Ivy McIver, executive director, SR product line at Cirrus, told me in an interview. 'We've brought this technology that was once reserved for bigger, more expensive airframes, and brought it down to a more attainable, more approachable airframe.' Lindheim agreed. 'Having Garmin Aviation's Autoland technology in a piston aircraft is a huge leap forward, not just for Cirrus, but for general aviation as a whole,' she said. 'It signals a future where advanced safety tools aren't just for jets or high-performance turboprops.' The Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (here shown activated on a Vision Jet). As of the end of 2024, ... More there had been 107 successful CAPS deployments, which saved 220 lives. Safe Return is a push-button technology that autonomously flies the airplane to the nearest suitable airport in the event of pilot difficulties or incapacitation. 'It's actually a very impressive marriage of digital technology, mechanical technology, and, dare I say, compassion,' explained McIver. 'I have had the pleasure of flying an aircraft equipped with Safe Return… over 70 times. I have observed its approach to landing over 40 times at 16 different airports, and the more times that I activate it, the more and more confident I get in the system, and hands down, absolutely feel confident putting my life and the lives of my passengers in Safe Return's hands.' It's interesting to note that while Garmin introduced its Autoland technology in 2019, so far there have been no emergency activations. But McIver thinks its opportunity to save lives will come with greater numbers of planes equipped with it. 'In the first year and a half, roughly, of production, there will be more SR Series equipped with Safe Return emergency autoland than any other airframe combined,' she said. 'So I think that is where we will see the impact of a Safe Return activation. Is that low-time pilot or a pilot who gets task-saturated or overwhelmed or into a circumstance that they get disoriented? And this button gives them permission to ask for help and provide help for themselves. And so I think that the first activation that we will see of an Autoland is in the SR Series.' 'Cirrus has always understood that they're not just selling airplanes, but rather, they're selling peace of mind,' Lindheim added. 'Every new safety feature they introduce is another reason why Cirrus owners stay loyal to the brand.'
