OCTOBER 9-10, 2026
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Piaggio Aircraft Pilots AssociationP180
Operators
Event ’26
Celebrating 40 years of the Avanti
Register NowDatesOct 9–10Friday and Saturday, 2026
VenueGrand GalvezGalveston, Texas
Registration$600Per person, guests included
FormatTwo daysSessions, Q&A, demo flights
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The first time
this room exists
Forty years after the P180 first flew, the people who own and fly it have never all been in one place. This is that room.
Two days in Galveston with Piaggio leadership, the factory’s new US service network, and the operators who actually put hours on these airplanes. Piaggio’s chairman, CEO, and head of after-sales are all attending in person, along with the test pilot who flew the certification program.
It is deliberately small. Every person in the room owns, flies, or services an Avanti, and the sessions are built for that audience rather than a trade show floor.
FBO AND AIRPORT INFORMATION
Travel
Getting there,
Getting there,
staying there
The Hotel
Grand Galvez — a 1911 Beaux-Arts landmark on the Seawall, and the venue for every session.
$275 per night, Thursday through Sunday. Friday sessions begin at 10:00 AM, so plan on arriving Thursday.
Book By Sept 18
The room block closes Friday, September 18. After that the rate and the availability both go away, and Galveston in October is busy.
Reserve through the Piaggio Aircraft Pilots link, not the general hotel site. Space is allocated first come, first served.
Flying In
Scholes International (KGLS) sits on the western end of Galveston Island, minutes from the Seawall. A 6,000-foot primary runway, an instrument approach, and everything you expect for turbine operations.
Island Jet Center handles ramp and line service, Jet-A, hangar space, courtesy vehicles, and a crew lounge. Mention the Piaggio event when you call ahead. Demo flights operate from here Saturday afternoon.
When calling ahead, mention the Piaggio Convention for preferred ramp positioning and to coordinate tie-down or hangar space. The FBO is approximately 6 miles from the Grand Galvez — about 12 minutes by car.
ATIS118.075
Ground121.9
Tower132.35
Field Elev6 ft MSL
HOTEL INFORMATION
THE GRAND GALVEZ
PAPA has secured a dedicated room block at the Grand Galvez for convention attendees at $275 per night, available Thursday October 8 through Sunday October 11. That is four nights in one of the most storied hotels on the Gulf Coast, steps from the sea, and at a rate well below what the property typically commands in October.
The Grand Galvez was built in 1911 and has served as Galveston's landmark resort for over a century. Freshly restored to its original Beaux-Arts grandeur, the hotel combines genuine historic character with modern comfort in a way that very few properties anywhere can match. High ceilings, warm service, a pool overlooking the Seawall, and some of the best dining on the island, all within a short drive of Scholes International Airport.
This is where the convention lives. We encourage you to arrive Thursday, settle in, and let Galveston do what it does before the programming begins Friday evening.
Space is limited and allocated on a first-come basis. Complete the form below to secure your spot. A confirmation email will follow within 24 hours.
Your registration covers Friday and Saturday meals, receptions, and events. Hotel accommodations are reserved separately at the Grand Galvez using the group rate code above.
AGENDA
| Friday, October 9, 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Opening Remarks & Owner Introductions | 10:00 AM - 10:20 AM |
| Piaggio Leadership Session + Q&A | 10:20 AM - 11:50 AM |
| Lunch | 11:50 AM - 1:00 PM |
| New US After-Sales Strategy | 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM |
| Fleet Roadmap, Refurbishment & Upgrades | 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM |
| Service Partner Introductions | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM |
| Break | 3:00 PM - 3:15 PM |
| Flying the P180: Envelope Expansion & Certification Flights | 3:15 PM - 3:35 PM |
| 40 Years of the P180: History of the Avanti | 3:35 PM - 4:05 PM |
| Day 1 Wrap-Up | 4:05 PM - 4:15 PM |
| Happy Hour | 4:15 PM - 6:00 PM |
| Saturday, October 10, 2026 | |
| Avanti NEXT: The New Aircraft | 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM |
| Upset Recovery | 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM |
| Break | 10:30 AM - 10:45 AM |
| Insurance Market Update | 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM |
| Common Maintenance Issues | 11:45 AM - 12:45 PM |
| Lunch | 12:45 PM - 1:45 PM |
| Engine Planning: Overhaul Costs, HOTs, Props Complete, Options | 1:45 PM - 2:45 PM |
| PAPA Future: Comms Platform Decision & Board Election | 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM |
| Closing Remarks | 3:45 PM - 4:00 PM |
| EVO Aircraft Tour & Demo Flights | 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM |