Piaggio Organizes Inaugural Avanti Owners’ Meet in U.S.

Piaggio Aerospace has announced the inaugural Piaggio Owners and Pilots Association (PAPA) meetup, set to take place October 8 to 10 at Grand Galvez Resort in Galveston, Texas. The newly formed PAPA group—which the Italian OEM notes “is independent of Piaggio Aerospace and serves as the collective voice of its members”—has been specifically set up as a U.S.-based community. 

Piaggio promises that the three-day event next week will provide P.180 Avanti and Evo owners and pilots “an opportunity to meet fellow members, exchange experiences and operational knowledge, share ideas, and strengthen connections.” This includes presentations, technical discussions, and talks from parts suppliers and service organizations. 

Representatives from Piaggio will include the chairman, CEO, head of after-sales support, and a company test pilot. However, Piaggio stresses that the event is designed to be “deliberately small,” looking to cultivate a more intimate environment of owner-operators rather than a “trade show floor.” It also coincides with the Avanti’s 40th anniversary year. 

Delegates wishing to fly in should use the nearby Scholes International Airport (KGLS), with support from the Island Jet Center FBO there. Evo customer demonstration flights will also take place at the airport on the conference’s last day.