Avantair Recalls Furloughed Pilots

Clearwater, Fla.-based Piaggio Avanti fractional provider Avantair recalled all of its remaining 15 furloughed pilots yesterday, company CEO Steve Santo told AIN. This brings Avantair’s pilot ranks to 194 people, not including 10 pilots who opted to bypass during the recalls following a voluntary fleet grounding and subsequent pilot furlough late last year. The company also has plans to renew almost a third of its 60-aircraft fleet over the next 18 months, trading in all of its older Piaggio Avanti Is for factory-new Avanti IIs.