Aircraft Owners and Operators Join Aerospace Giant in Massive Operation to Transport Athletes to Orlando Event

Textron Aviation and upward of 120 Cessna, Beechcraft, and Hawker owners and operators are making ready to transport more than 800 athletes and coaches from across the U.S. to the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando, Florida. 

The 2022 Airlift will be the eighth Textron Aviation has coordinated. With the generous help of its aircraft customers, industry partners, and volunteers, Textron has transported thousands of athletes and their coaches to participate in the popular games. So popular, prolific, and well-organized is this year’s airlift that a Textron Aviation aircraft will take off or land every two minutes throughout the effort. 

Textron Aviation works closely with the FAA to create a roster of precise aircraft departure times from airports around the country and to identify specific, prioritized airways for airlift participants. Each aircraft receives a special Dove call sign which affords it priority treatment in the air traffic system—thereby ensuring the massive operation remains on schedule throughout both Saturday, 04 June, when the athletes arrive in Orlando, and 12 June, when they return to their home bases.

Longtime customer and Special Olympics supporter Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc.—the largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States—will be the first aircraft to land at the Orlando Executive Airport. The company’s Cessna Citation XLS+ will receive the special designation, “Dove 1.” 

Kimberly Kuo, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability, Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. states, "It's an enormous honor for Coca-Cola Consolidated to be named Dove 1 in the Special Olympics Airlift," 

"Our involvement with the Airlift supports our Purpose and Values -- which include a deep commitment to serving others. We feel blessed to be leading this convoy of aircraft to deliver Special Olympics athletes to the USA Games." 

The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities, thereby providing these individuals continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and exhibit their skills to the wide world. 

FMI: https://txtav.com/en/airlift