Albert Whitted Airport once again makes its mark on the City of St. Petersburg. Our City, Our Airport premiered Tuesday night at The Palladium at SPC, drawing over 1,000 people across two screenings. Among those in attendance were seven of the eight City Council members, Mayor Ken Welch, and state officials including Representative Lindsay Cross and former Florida Senate President Bill Galvano.

Albert Whitted Airport has long been a hub for aviation and relief efforts across Florida and the Caribbean. Last year, the airport that sends aid to others faced its own journey of recovery. One year after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the community is back on its feet.

As students across the Tampa Bay area head back to school, new notebooks and sharpened pencils signal the start of another year filled with possibility. But here at Albert Whitted Airport, we believe that some of the most exciting learning doesn’t just happen in the classroom—it happens in the sky.

Each year on August 19, National Aviation Day gives us the opportunity to celebrate how far aviation has come—and to imagine how far it can take us. Established in 1939 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to honor the birthday of Orville Wright, one of the pioneers of powered flight, the day is more than a nod to history. It’s a reminder of what’s possible when curiosity meets courage.

At Albert Whitted Airport, aviation has always been about more than takeoffs and landings. It’s about launching dreams.

There’s never been a better time to support the future of aviation, right here in St. Pete. We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our new and improved FOAWA Memberships—a great way for you to take flight with the Friends of Albert Whitted Airport!

Every pilot’s journey—whether it leads to a career in the skies or simply the joy of weekend flights—begins with one of the most important habits in aviation: the pre-flight check.

Summer is the perfect time for kids to let their curiosity take flight—and there’s no better place to explore aviation than right here in St. Petersburg and the greater Tampa Bay area. Whether your family is staying close to home or traveling farther afield, these seven experiences will help spark a love of flight in kids of all ages.

When people think of careers in aviation, the image that often comes to mind is that of a pilot commanding a plane from the cockpit. While piloting is undoubtedly an exciting and admirable profession—and one FOAWA is proud to support through our flight scholarships—it’s just one piece of a much larger story.

As we celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week, there’s no better time to recognize the vital role aviation plays in connecting people to places, dreams to destinations, and communities to opportunity. At the heart of this connection in St. Petersburg is Albert Whitted Airport—a gem on the waterfront.