The First Flight Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the legacy of the Wright Brothers, successfully hosted a vibrant celebration in honor of Wilbur Wright’s birthday on April 16th. The event, held at the historic Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, brought together more than 100 aviation enthusiasts and community members to celebrate […]
North Carolina
Recalling Our Trip to AirVenture and Camping at the Aviation Exploration Base
By Titus Drye Arriving at the Hickory Regional Airport early one Saturday morning, three cars get packed with camping equipment and excited, if slightly drowsy Aviation Explorers from EAA chapter 731. We settle in for the long first leg of the trip with pillows, snacks and eager expectation. This is the beginning of an experience […]
“Elevating Horizons: Navigating Growth and Change,” Theme of North Carolina Airports Association 46th Annual Conference
By Scotty Malta The North Carolina Airports Association (NCAA) conference committee along with Emily Winberg, Business Manager and her team, developed and pulled off another record-breaking conference. The 46th Annual Conference, themed “Elevating Horizons: Navigating Growth and Change” was held in Downtown Charlotte, NC and had over 560 attendees, 56 sponsors, 51 exhibitors and 47 […]
Asheville Regional Airport Begins Call to Artists for AVL Forward Permanent Public Art Program
Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) has launched its Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a permanent public art program as part of AVL Forward, the airport’s terminal modernization project. The RFQ invites artists and artist-led teams nationwide to submit qualifications for two large-scale, permanent installations in the new terminal. The works will anchor key spaces and reflect […]
Lucid Bots Raises $20 Million to Accelerate the Buildout of America’s Leading Exterior Cleaning Platform
Lucid Bots has announced it has raised an oversubscribed $20 million Series B round co-led by Cubit Capital and Idea Fund Partners, with participation from Taylor Rhodes, WaterStone Impact Fund, and Front Porch Ventures, in addition to existing investors. The raise brings total funding to $34 million and will be used to scale the company’s […]
NBAA Marks Passing of GA Industry Standard-Bearer John Sheehan
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has paid tribute to the legacy of John J. Sheehan, III, decorated U.S. Navy aviator, general aviation advocate, safety expert and author, who recently passed away after devoting decades of his life to the general aviation industry. Sheehan, a frequent presenter at NBAA events, was the author of the […]
North Carolina Students Earn National Recognition in Aviation Art Contest
Photo – First place winner in Junior Category Aaron Chen Multiple North Carolina students received national honors for their artwork depicting how aviation helps save lives. The annual competition, hosted by the National Association of State Aviation Officials and the National Aeronautic Association, encourages students ages 6 to 17 to explore aviation through art. This […]
Asheville Regional Airport Begins TSA Support Drive
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is part of the Department of Homeland Security, and its officers are currently working without pay during the partial federal government shutdown. At Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), approximately 96 TSA team members, friends and neighbors in our region are working without pay to keep air travel safe. The airport has […]
North Carolina Department of Transportation Selected for FAA eVTOL Pilot Program
The N.C. Department of Transportation Division of Aviation has been selected to participate in the Federal Aviation Administration’s Advanced Air Mobility and Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). As part of this federal pilot program, the division will work closely with the FAA and other selected states to explore the potential […]
Asheville Regional Airport Posts Second-Highest Year in History with 2.24 Million Passengers in 2025
Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) served 2,240,877 million passengers in 2025, marking the second-busiest year of passenger utilization in the airport’s history. This achievement underscores the region’s continued demand for air travel and highlights AVL as a vital and resilient gateway to western North Carolina. Despite significant challenges, including impacts from Hurricane Helene and ongoing terminal […]
