The Piaggio Owners and Pilots Association (PAPA) held its inaugural U.S. gathering in Galveston, Texas, from 8 to 10 October, bringing together operators and pilots of the P.180 Avanti. Sixteen aircraft flew into Scholes International Airport, including Avanti I, Avanti II and Avanti Evo variants, while Piaggio Aerospace personnel joined sessions on operations, maintenance and ownership.
PAPA is an independent association serving the U.S. Avanti owner-operator community, although Piaggio Aerospace played a prominent role in the meeting. Owners, pilots, operators and family members attended alongside representatives from the manufacturer’s aftermarket, marketing and communications functions.
The two-day programme provided a forum for technical presentations, operational discussions and the exchange of experience among members of the P.180 fleet. Piaggio’s P.180 Avanti Evo was flown to Galveston by lead test pilot Lorenzo Villi, giving participants access to the manufacturer’s latest variant alongside legacy aircraft.
The meeting focused on practical issues associated with operating and maintaining the aircraft, while also creating direct links between owners and Piaggio’s customer-support teams. The gathering included the U.S. Avanti community’s first reported meeting under PAPA and established a dedicated setting for continued knowledge-sharing across the fleet.