NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wheels Up, the revolutionary private aviation company that reduces the upfront investment needed to fly privately and provides unparalleled flexibility and service, participated in the 2014 Citation Special Olympics Airlift (CSOA) this past weekend. For the first time in the event’s 27-year history, Beechcraft owners participated in the effort alongside Cessna Citation operators.
Wheels Up aircraft, flying under the call signs of Dove 111 and Dove 113, transported several athletes and their coaches from the Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN) to Morgantown Municipal Airport (MGW) and Oakland County International (PTK). Wheels Up provided two King Air 350i aircraft manufactured by Beechcraft Corporation, a subsidiary of Textron Aviation Inc.
“We are pleased to be involved with this very special event and assist in making the dreams of these young athletes come true,” said Kenny Dichter, Wheels Up Founder and CEO. “We are honored to work in tandem with Textron Aviation and be a part of this experience helping create unforgettable memories for the Special Olympics athletes and their families.”
The first Citation Special Olympics Airlift (CSOA) in 1987 involved more than 130 Cessna Citation jets carrying nearly 1,000 athletes to and from South Bend, Ind., while the most recent airlift in 2010 involved 161 Citation owners transporting 832 athletes and coaches to Lincoln, Nebraska. It has been called the largest peacetime airlift in the world, as a Citation business jet will land or takeoff every as often as every three minutes for 10 hours at Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN). The event had transported nearly 10,000 athletes and coaches from across the United States.
About Wheels Up
Wheels Up is a revolutionary membership-based private aviation company that greatly reduces the upfront investment needed to fly privately. Created and led by Kenny Dichter, the Founder of Marquis Jet and original innovator of the 25-hour fractional jet card, Wheels Up has identified a need for one company to offer a total private aviation solution. With a modest initiation fee and reasonable annual dues, Wheels Up offers members “mission-appropriate” aircraft, ranging from the King Air 350i to the Global 6000, through partnerships with industry leaders such as Beechcraft, Cessna, Jet Aviation, JetSuite, Heliflite and VistaJet. Wheels Up is developing proprietary cutting-edge booking and rideshare applications, and provides members with unmatched accessibility, flexibility, and the finest personalized service. With an 8,760-hour (referencing the number of hours in a year) culture, Wheels Up membership includes Wheels Down, the ultimate in client entertaining engaging members through exclusive events and opportunities to meet luminaries from the worlds of entertainment, sports, politics and business.
Wheels Up acts as agent for the Wheels Up members, and is not the operator of the program aircraft; FAA licensed and DOT registered air carriers participating in the program exercise full operational control of the program aircraft. Any aircraft owned by Wheels Up are dry leased to the operating air carrier to facilitate operations by that carrier. For additional information, please visit www.WheelsUp.com.
