State Aviation Journal - Your Best Source of State Aviation News

Sky Harbour and Chicago Executive Airport Break Ground on New Home Base Operator
Photo – 16-Acre Private Hangar Development Introduces a New Model for Business Aviation to Chicago and Generates Significant Regional Economic Impact – Sky Harbour Group Corporation and Chicago Executive Airport commemorated the groundbreaking of a new 16-acre private aviation campus last week, marking one of the largest private infrastructure investments in the airport’s history and […]
Scottsdale Airport Schedules Routine Runway Maintenance
Scottsdale Airport will temporarily close Runway 03/21 and all taxiways in October for scheduled pavement preservation maintenance designed to extend the life of the existing airfield. The routine preservation project does not expand or lengthen the runway, change its weight-bearing capacity or enable the airport to accommodate larger aircraft. It is separate from the ongoing […]
“Warbird Pilot for a Day” Leads Silent Auction for Moonlight Swing at CAF Airbase Georgia
Moonlight Swing attendees Oct. 17 will have a unique opportunity to bid on a special silent auction package, “Warbird Pilot for a Day,” which involves flying in three Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Airbase Georgia aircraft. The aircraft will include a Boeing N2S Stearman biplane trainer, an LT-6 Mosquito trainer with aerobatics, and the Airbase’s most […]
La Compagnie to Launch Direct All-Business Class Service between New York and Dusseldorf
La Compagnie, the 100% Smart Business Class airline, has announced plans to launch nonstop service between New York’s Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) in Germany, beginning in Spring 2027. Operating up to five times weekly, the route will connect New York with Düsseldorf and the Rhine-Ruhr region, one of Europe’s most […]

State News

Phoenix Airport Museum Highlights Art and Accessibility Expanding Access to All Airport Visitors

Art at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is designed to be experienced by everyone. From tactile artwork and sensory-friendly spaces to braille exhibition signage and immersive audio experiences, the Phoenix Airport Museum is expanding opportunities for travelers to engage with art in ways that are accessible to a wide range of visitors. Art You Can Touch In Terminal 4, travelers can experience several touch-friendly artworks, including Six Columns by Ron Gasowski, the large-scale mosaic pillars near the Terminal 4 food court. Created by the artist with assistance from Phoenix elementary school students in 1989, the work features a variety of recognizable shapes, including faces, cars and cacti, embedded within the mosaic tiles. The tactile qualities of Six Columns offer travelers an opportunity to visually or physically explore artwork. Its prominent location also makes it a useful visual way-finder, signaling to travelers that they have arrived near the food court. Sensory-Friendly Spaces For travelers who need a moment of respite, the exhibition Spectral Alchemy currently in the Terminal 4 gallery on level 3 includes a quiet space where travelers can sit and reduce sensory input before continuing their journey. The gallery can be especially valuable for travelers who benefit from reduced noise and lighting, but is available to anyone who simply needs a peaceful place to pause. WORD in Braille The Phoenix Airport Museum’s newest exhibition, WORD, features the museum’s first exhibition text panel incorporating braille letters. The addition allows visitors who read braille to independently access information about the artwork on display, creating a more inclusive experience and expanding how visitors can engage with the exhibition. WORD also features artists whose work is particularly striking using bold graphic elements. Highlights include Annie Lopez’ high-contrast cyanotype prints on tamale paper, Safwat Saleem’s graphically designed book covers, Beth Tom’s 12-foot-wide collaged canvas and Sawyer Boyd’s vividly painted, upcycled letters from old signage. Listen to Exhibitions Accessibility also extends beyond the visual arts. In Terminal 3, post-security, the museum’s Sounds Like Arizona exhibition features an engaging audio component highlighting dozens of Native American musicians who have recorded with Phoenix-based record label Canyon Records. Visitors can stand under an audio dome and listen to selections from the recordings, creating an immersive experience that invites travelers to engage with Arizona’s musical heritage through sound. Travelers can discover these accessible art experiences and more throughout Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Visitors can also access ReBokeh, a mobile application designed for individuals with low vision, for free while visiting the airport.
N.C. Global TransPark Welcomes U.S. Navy Maintenance Facility to Kinston

More than 400 jobs are coming to Kinston, thanks to a new U.S. Navy aircraft maintenance facility at the North Carolina Global TransPark. Last week, Governor Josh Stein and other dignitaries welcomed the U.S. Navy to the TransPark’s newest hangar for the opening of the Navy’s Fleet Readiness Center East C-130/HH-60 MRO Complex. “North Carolina aims to be the most military friendly state in the nation,” Governor Stein said. “That includes supporting servicemembers, veterans, their families, and our military installations. This military readiness complex will not only strengthen our military, but it will also create hundreds of good-paying jobs in eastern North Carolina.” The military will use the facility to maintain, repair and overhaul several military aircraft. Those include the Navy and Marine Corps C/KC-130J Super Hercules and C/KC-130T Hercules military transport aircraft and Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II advanced combat search and rescue helicopters. The Navy is leasing the facility from the Global TransPark. The Navy expects to employ more than 400 people at the facility in high-skilled jobs and generate $164 million a year for the eastern North Carolina economy. The Kinston facility is part of the Fleet Readiness Center East at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, where the military overhauls, assembles and tests military aircraft. Thursday’s event was one of the largest announcements in the history of the Global TransPark, a multimodal industrial park owned and managed by the N.C. Department of Transportation. Officials estimate more than 500 people gathered inside the facility, which is roughly the size of 12 American football fields under one roof. “The Global TransPark was first envisioned over 30 years ago as a multimodal industrial park that could become a catalyst to drive the economy of eastern North Carolina,” State Transportation Secretary Daniel Johnson said. “With the completion of this project and several other economic development wins, the Global TransPark is taking another major step toward realizing that goal.” Behind the stage stood a C‑130 and an HH‑60, forming a commanding backdrop of the military hardware that will soon be made mission‑ready at the new facility. In addition to the governor and Johnson, Thursday’s speakers included former N.C. Senator Jim Perry and Erica Plath, deputy assistant Secretary of War for Logistics. The new complex follows a string of economic development announcements at the Global TransPark, including May’s opening of an academy for Lenoir Community College students seeking careers in aviation. “This state-of-the-art facility represents a commitment by the U.S. Navy, by Fleet Readiness Center East, and by partners at every level of government – to invest in eastern North Carolina, to create hundreds of skilled jobs and to anchor long-term economic growth in this region,” said GTP Executive Director Jeremy Stroud, who served as the event’s emcee. The idea for the C-130 complex started in 2020. The Navy selected GTP because the park could accommodate a facility large enough to maintain and repair large military aircraft and the park was centrally located on the East Coast, which maximizes the branch’s military readiness. “The opening of this major C-130/HH60 MRO facility and Lenoir Community College’s Aviation Center for Excellence, coupled with the arrival of Airbus, all within nine months’ time, marks a historic watershed moment for the North Carolina Global TransPark,” said Tom Hendrickson, chairman of the GTP Authority Board of Directors. State lawmakers approved a $350 million loan in 2023 to make accommodations for the facility. Most of the construction on the first phase of the complex, which began in March 2024, has been completed with final work expected to be finished next summer. “This facility puts peace through strength into action – more mission-ready aircraft, faster, for the warfighters who need them,” said U.S. Marine Corps Maj. General David Walsh, deputy portfolio acquisition executive (Aviation) for Marine Corps Aviation.

National News

Joby Completes First-Ever Fully Autonomous Flight Across the United States

Joby Aviation, Inc. announced that an aircraft equipped with its autonomy technology has completed the first-ever autonomous flight across the United States. The aircraft flew 3,199 miles with zero control inputs from its onboard safety pilot, concluding the eastbound leg of its month-long tour in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, near the site of the Wright brothers’ first powered flight. The aircraft, a converted Cessna Caravan, performed autonomous taxiing, takeoffs, route navigation, and landings under remote supervision from Joby’s Autonomy Headquarters in California and Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, up to 2,323 miles away. The journey demonstrated the operational capabilities of Joby’s autonomy technology across a range of environments, supporting applications in commercial freight, medical transport, disaster response, and defense logistics. By integrating an autonomous system onto an already-certified airframe, Joby offers a scalable path to autonomous air logistics. During the cross-country journey, the aircraft proved its ability to seamlessly integrate into high-density environments like Phoenix Deer Valley, one of the nation’s busiest general aviation airports, while rerouting around severe weather and thunderstorms in real time without prior airport familiarity. “This journey across America offers a glimpse into a new era of aviation,” said JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation. “Autonomy has an important role to play in the future of flight, allowing us to connect remote communities, deliver critical supplies, respond faster to disasters, support military operations, and keep pilots out of harm’s way.” Completed Eastbound Milestones As part of Joby’s 2026 Electric Skies tour, the eastbound leg featured flight demonstrations, logistics showcases, and key operational milestones across the following stops: Concord, CA (KCCR): Departed from Buchanan Field Airport, launching the 3,199-mile transcontinental autonomous flight route. Phoenix, AZ (KDVT): Demonstrated dual-use autonomy technologies for defense, first responders, and cargo applications, as part of Arizona’s role in the uFLY coalition. Fort Worth, TX (KAFW): Showcased autonomous freight potential at Alliance Airport, a major U.S. industrial logistics hub. The stop coincided with Joby’s first air taxi eIPP flight within the White House-backed program, hosted alongside U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Texas Senator Ted Cruz. Shaw Air Force Base, SC (KSSC): Conducted a capability demonstration of representative military flight operations and tactical defense readiness. Outer Banks, NC (KMQI): Marked the transcontinental milestone with an autonomous landing at Dare County Regional Airport. Honoring Aviation History at Kitty Hawk & Expanding Remote Access Following its transcontinental arrival, the J208 flew a historic low pass near the First Flight Monument at Kitty Hawk, honoring the site where Orville and Wilbur Wright ushered in the age of powered flight in 1903. The aircraft then landed at Dare County Regional Airport (KMQI), demonstrating how flexible, lower-cost autonomous flights can expand point-to-point air logistics and deliver critical medical supplies and emergency freight to remote, underserved communities. In North Carolina, flights supported NCDOT’s eLIFT-NC initiative for statewide healthcare logistics, while western flights contributed to UDOT’s multi-state uFLY coalition to evaluate high-altitude, extreme-environment airspace integration for the FAA. Proven Operational Track Record Joby’s autonomous technology is grounded in more than 400 flights and 800 automated flight hours in controlled and uncontrolled airspace, building on the mature autonomy stack acquired from Xwing in 2024. The system has also been proven in three major U.S. military exercises, including Air Force readiness exercise Agile Flag, where it delivered critical replacement parts 24 hours faster than conventional logistics, and REFORPAC, where aircraft in Hawaii were operated remotely from Guam, nearly 4,000 miles away. The aircraft will now begin its return westbound journey, including stops in Raleigh (KRDU), Fredericksburg/Washington, D.C. (KRMN), Louisville (KSDF), Wichita (KICT), Oklahoma City (KOKC), Salt Lake City (KSLC), and Portland (KPDX).
New Aviation Safety Campaign Seeks to Change How Pilots View Go-Arounds

Go-Arounds Are Awesome!, a new aviation safety initiative founded by expert flight instructor and pilot examiner Jim Pitman, officially launches this month with a campaign to help pilots view a go-around as a normal, positive decision—not a failed landing attempt. The campaign addresses a familiar hazard in general aviation: the temptation to continue an unstable approach. Continuing an unstable approach can contribute to runway excursions, hard landings, and loss-of-control accidents. Although pilots are trained to go-around, external pressures, goal-oriented thinking, and repeated successful outcomes from marginal approaches can make the safer choice feel unnecessarily difficult. “Pilots are wired to complete the mission,” Pitman said. “That mindset can make a go-around feel like a failure, even when it is the best course of action. A go-around is awesome because it is evidence of good aeronautical decision-making.” As an airline pilot, Pitman has experience operating within a safety culture that demands a stabilized approach, and calls for an automatic rejection of the approach if those parameters are not met at a given altitude. Go-Arounds Are Awesome! aims to complement similar procedural training with a cultural shift. The campaign encourages pilots, instructors, and flight schools to positively reinforce go-arounds and to treat the decision to discontinue an approach as an example of sound judgment. “Training teaches pilots how to execute a go-around, but culture determines whether they will actually do it when they should,” Pitman said. “If we can change how pilots feel about going around, we can change behavior—and help prevent accidents.” The campaign’s lighthearted name is intentional. It is meant to replace the reluctant thought, “Oh no, I think I need to go around,” with a more constructive response: “I get to do a go-around and set up a better approach.” At GoAroundsAreAwesome.com, pilots and instructors are encouraged to: Learn about stabilized approaches and go-arounds. Sign the Go-Around Pledge. Share GoAroundsAreAwesome.com with other pilots and instructors.

International News

Toronto Pearson Announces New Chief Financial Officer

Deborah Flint, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (“GTAA”), has announced that Gareth D. Jones has been appointed Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), effective October 5, 2026. A Canadian executive, Gareth is a strategic CFO with experience in global asset management, investment banking and complex infrastructure, financing and government transactions across the public and private sectors. He has served as a chief financial officer, worked in private equity asset management and advised the Government of Canada on major transactions involving Telesat, the Gordie Howe International Bridge, the Canada Growth fund and the Canadian AI Compute Strategy. Most recently, Jones served as CFO of Cardone Enterprises, a global consulting and corporate training company, and as CFO of Squeeze Group, a global insurance and utility services firm based in Utah. He also served as a principal with global private equity asset management firm The Carlyle Group. From 2016 to 2018 and from 2021 to 2024, he served as a special adviser to Cabinet and lead negotiator for the Government of Canada on significant transactions involving Telesat, the Gordie Howe International Bridge, the Canada Growth Fund and the Canadian AI Compute Strategy, including a significant investment in Cohere. His expertise includes infrastructure finance, capital markets and government transactions, as well as liquidity management, debt management, lender reporting, tax strategy and infrastructure credit. Jones is well positioned to support Toronto Pearson as it advances Pearson LIFT and enters its next phase of growth and enterprise development. “Gareth is joining at a pivotal time as we work with the federal government on its plans to provide institutional capital to airports. His experience in capital markets and large infrastructure projects will be beneficial as we advance Pearson LIFT, our multi-billion investment capital program,” says Deborah Flint, CEO of Toronto Pearson. “Gareth’s expertise in complex transactions will be critical as we position Toronto Pearson to compete and grow. His appointment provides long-term focus and continuity as Toronto Pearson implements its strategic plan over the coming years.” Jones succeeds Debbie Simpson, who is stepping down from her role to pursue other opportunities. Simpson joined the GTAA in November 2024 and has been instrumental in strengthening its finance and procurement functions, enabling Toronto Pearson to progress its 10-year strategic plan and prepare for Pearson LIFT. She developed the financial structures that supported the launch of the first three programs under our capital investment program. Jones will join the organization on October 5, and Simpson will remain available to support the new CFO’s smooth transition.
Stroud-Based Mint Turbines Earns Pratt & Whitney Canada Authorization, Strengthening Oklahoma’s Aerospace Industry

Mint Turbines, a turbine engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) company based in Stroud, has been named a Pratt & Whitney Canada Designated Overhaul Facility (DOF), becoming part of the aircraft engine manufacturer’s global network of authorized service providers. The designation expands Mint Turbines’ portfolio of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) authorizations while further strengthening Oklahoma’s reputation as a national leader in aerospace maintenance and repair. The authorization allows Mint Turbines to perform Pratt & Whitney Canada-approved overhaul services for PT6A and PT6T series engines, which power business aircraft, agricultural aircraft, utility helicopters, air ambulances and other aircraft. Mint Turbines must meet the manufacturer’s rigorous standards for quality systems, technical capabilities and regulatory compliance. For operators, the designation provides access to OEM-authorized overhaul services combined with Mint Turbines’ responsive decision-making, 24/7 customer support and field service expertise. “This authorization represents years of investment in our people, our quality systems and our commitment to doing things the right way,” said Rob Ruck, chief operating officer of M International, the parent company of Mint Turbines. “We believe customers shouldn’t have to choose between responsive service and OEM-certified quality. Becoming a Pratt & Whitney Canada DOF reflects the trust we’ve earned through decades of supporting operators and reinforces the standard our team brings to every engine that comes through our facility.” As one of the world’s leading aircraft engine manufacturers, Pratt & Whitney Canada supports operators through a global network of company-owned and designated service facilities. DOFs are selected for their demonstrated ability to deliver OEM-approved maintenance while meeting the company’s standards for quality, technical expertise and customer service. For Oklahoma, the designation represents more than a milestone for one company. Aerospace is one of the state’s largest economic drivers, and Oklahoma has earned national recognition for its concentration of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul expertise. Mint Turbines’ latest authorization further showcases the technical capabilities found in Oklahoma companies and reinforces the state’s growing role in supporting commercial, government and defense aviation around the world. This designation joins Mint Turbines’ growing portfolio of OEM authorizations, including General Electric, Ozark Aeroworks and Rolls-Royce through sister company Airborne Engines in Canada. Together, these relationships position the company among a select group of independent MRO providers trusted by multiple leading engine manufacturers. For more than 45 years, Mint Turbines has grown its Stroud operation into a globally recognized turbine engine maintenance, repair and overhaul provider serving commercial, government and defense operators.

Unmanned Systems

Commercial Drone Alliance Welcomes Christopher Todd, Founder and President of Airborne Response to Its Board of Directors

The Commercial Drone Alliance (CDA) has announced that Christopher Todd, Founder and President of Airborne Response Corp has joined its Board of Directors. The CDA’s Board acts on behalf of the entire membership, helping to shape the organization’s strategic direction. Christopher Todd Todd has over 30 years of business technology experience advising Fortune 500 companies, READ MORE
Dronamics to Shape the Integration of Large Drones into European Airspace

Europe is advancing the integration of large drones into its airspace, a necessary step towards uncrewed aviation at scale. Launched at the EUROCONTROL headquarters in Brussels on the 1st of September, the SESAR IRINA2 project brings together leading European public and private aviation organizations with a common goal to set the standard and protocols for READ MORE

Aviation Education

New Aviation Safety Campaign Seeks to Change How Pilots View Go-Arounds

Go-Arounds Are Awesome!, a new aviation safety initiative founded by expert flight instructor and pilot examiner Jim Pitman, officially launches this month with a campaign to help pilots view a go-around as a normal, positive decision—not a failed landing attempt. The campaign addresses a familiar hazard in general aviation: the temptation to continue an unstable READ MORE
“Warbird Pilot for a Day” Leads Silent Auction for Moonlight Swing at CAF Airbase Georgia

Moonlight Swing attendees Oct. 17 will have a unique opportunity to bid on a special silent auction package, “Warbird Pilot for a Day,” which involves flying in three Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Airbase Georgia aircraft. The aircraft will include a Boeing N2S Stearman biplane trainer, an LT-6 Mosquito trainer with aerobatics, and the Airbase’s most READ MORE

Phoenix Airport Museum Highlights Art and Accessibility Expanding Access to All Airport Visitors

September 21, 2026September 21, 2026 Kim Stevens

Art at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is designed to be experienced by everyone. From tactile artwork and sensory-friendly spaces to braille exhibition signage and immersive audio experiences, the Phoenix Airport Museum is expanding opportunities for travelers to engage with art in ways that are accessible to a wide range of visitors. Art You Can […]

N.C. Global TransPark Welcomes U.S. Navy Maintenance Facility to Kinston

September 21, 2026September 21, 2026 Kim Stevens

More than 400 jobs are coming to Kinston, thanks to a new U.S. Navy aircraft maintenance facility at the North Carolina Global TransPark. Last week, Governor Josh Stein and other dignitaries welcomed the U.S. Navy to the TransPark’s newest hangar for the opening of the Navy’s Fleet Readiness Center East C-130/HH-60 MRO Complex. “North Carolina […]

Sky Harbour and Chicago Executive Airport Break Ground on New Home Base Operator

September 21, 2026September 21, 2026 Eric Blinderman

Photo – 16-Acre Private Hangar Development Introduces a New Model for Business Aviation to Chicago and Generates Significant Regional Economic Impact – Sky Harbour Group Corporation and Chicago Executive Airport commemorated the groundbreaking of a new 16-acre private aviation campus last week, marking one of the largest private infrastructure investments in the airport’s history and […]

Joby Completes First-Ever Fully Autonomous Flight Across the United States

September 21, 2026September 21, 2026 Kim Stevens

Joby Aviation, Inc. announced that an aircraft equipped with its autonomy technology has completed the first-ever autonomous flight across the United States. The aircraft flew 3,199 miles with zero control inputs from its onboard safety pilot, concluding the eastbound leg of its month-long tour in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, near the site of the Wright […]

Toronto Pearson Announces New Chief Financial Officer

September 21, 2026September 21, 2026 Kim Stevens

Deborah Flint, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (“GTAA”), has announced that Gareth D. Jones has been appointed Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), effective October 5, 2026. A Canadian executive, Gareth is a strategic CFO with experience in global asset management, investment banking and complex infrastructure, financing and government transactions across […]

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum Breaks Ground on Major Transformation of Historic Hangar 79

September 21, 2026September 21, 2026 Kim Stevens

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum has announced a major milestone in its Remember Pearl Harbor National Campaign—the groundbreaking to transform its 80,000-square-foot Hangar 79. This battle-scarred World War II aircraft hangar on Ford Island still bears visible evidence of the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. “This groundbreaking represents much more than the beginning of […]

New Aviation Safety Campaign Seeks to Change How Pilots View Go-Arounds

September 20, 2026September 20, 2026 Kim Stevens

Go-Arounds Are Awesome!, a new aviation safety initiative founded by expert flight instructor and pilot examiner Jim Pitman, officially launches this month with a campaign to help pilots view a go-around as a normal, positive decision—not a failed landing attempt. The campaign addresses a familiar hazard in general aviation: the temptation to continue an unstable […]

Flagstaff Awarded Federal Grant to Expand Air Service

September 20, 2026September 20, 2026 Kim Stevens

Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) is one of 14 airports across the United States selected to receive a Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The $800,000 in federal grant funding will be used to incentivize an air carrier to provide new nonstop service to Denver or Salt Lake […]

South Dakota Aeronautics Commission Approves Updated Funding Policy to Support Airport Terminal Development

September 20, 2026September 20, 2026 Kim Stevens

The South Dakota Aeronautics Commission approved significant updates to its funding policy at its regularly scheduled September meeting, strengthening state support for airport terminal development. The policy changes address growing infrastructure needs and modernize how state aeronautics funds are allocated to commercial service airport terminal projects. “The Commission recognizes the significant infrastructure needs facing our […]

MAC, MDOT Announce Award Winners for Outstanding Achievements in Improving Michigan Aviation

September 19, 2026September 19, 2026 Kim Stevens

At their Sept. 17 meeting held in Harbor Springs in conjunction with the Michigan Association of Airport Executives (MAAE) fall conference, the Michigan Aeronautics Commission (MAC) and Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) announced the Award of Excellence winners for achievements in promoting and improving aviation. These awards are presented to airports, aviators, professionals, consultants and […]

Sky Harbour and Chicago Executive Airport Break Ground on New Home Base Operator

Scottsdale Airport Schedules Routine Runway Maintenance

“Warbird Pilot for a Day” Leads Silent Auction for Moonlight Swing at CAF Airbase Georgia

La Compagnie to Launch Direct All-Business Class Service between New York and Dusseldorf