National Aviation Day, celebrated each year on August 19, recognizes the innovation, progress and people who make aviation possible. To mark the occasion, Envoy partnered with Avenger Flight Group (AFG) for the fourth consecutive year to give a group of aviation enthusiasts the opportunity to experience life in the flight deck through our full-motion flight simulators. All five of Envoy’s E170/175 flight simulators are housed at the AFG DFW 2 facility, just 10 minutes away from Envoy Headquarters.
Interest in this year’s event soared, with hundreds of aviation fans entering Envoy’s social media contest for a chance to step into the flight deck. From those entries, nine winners were selected to join us for this one-of-a-kind experience, with some traveling from as far as California, Pennsylvania, Idaho and Kentucky.
Throughout the day, winners rotated through the simulators in small groups, spending time at the controls under the guidance of Envoy Check Airman Captain Dennis Long.
“I love any opportunity to connect with and encourage aspiring aviators,” said Dennis. “This is the fourth year I’ve had the privilege of participating, and it’s always rewarding to see the excitement when the simulator takes off.”
The experience extended beyond the simulator bays. Guests received a behind-the-scenes tour of the AFG facility, connected with aviation professionals and gained valuable career insights from Envoy Vice President of Air Operations Ric Wilson, Talent Acquisition Recruiter Nicole Burgos, First Officer Mitch McKie and First Officer Jennifer Carlson.
Of course, no celebration is complete without a little fun. Attendees enjoyed swag bags, cooled off with snow cones and spent the day connecting with fellow aviation enthusiasts who share the same passion for flight.
While the simulators were a highlight, the true purpose of the event was to inspire the next generation of aviation professionals and celebrate the opportunities that aviation creates. Thank you to Avenger Flight Group for helping make this experience possible and to everyone who traveled near and far to spend National Aviation Day with us. We can’t wait to do it again next year. Happy National Aviation Day!
