Ithaca’s East Hill Flying Club just announced that it was one of only six flight schools in the country to receive the 2012 Flight Training Excellence Award from the 400,000-member Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). Established sixty years ago, the club is based at the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport.

Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport’s total passenger count for 2011 calendar year reached 242,493, topping 2010 totals just slightly, but still breaking records. Total enplanements topped 121,000 for the second year running. While there were 55 passengers less than the record 2010 enplanement total, more deplaning passengers were recorded, boosting total numbers. Overall, the airport handled more arriving and departing passengers than at any other time in its history. Overall load factors, or the percentage of seats filled on flights, were reported to be up slightly to 76.6% from 76.2% in 2010.

A record 121,334 passengers departed the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport this year, more than 11% over 2010 figures and an all time airport record. The second highest year for enplaned passengers dates back to 1990 with 114,154 getting on commercial service flights. What’s more, load factors, or the percentage of seats filled on flights was reported to be 70.7 % whereas 2009 figures show only 66.4%.

Airport Manager Robert Nicholas was recently asked to address the “Airports Going Green” Conference that was held November 15 through 17 at the Doubletree Hotel in downtown Chicago’s “Miracle Mile.”

US Airways Magazine features Ithaca in their promotional business series section of their in flight magazine this month.

Taughannock Aviation Corporation (TAC), the fixed base operator (FBO) for Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport, is completing a major new facility that will cap over a decade of growth and facilities expansion. TAC owners, staff, airport manager Bob Nicholas, Airport Services Board members and Doug Levine of the Tompkins County Chamber held a news conference and ribbon cutting that discussed TAC’s new facilities on Wednesday, April 2 at 66 Brown Road in Ithaca.

The Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport announced today its receipt of a substantial federal grant for safety upgrades and improvements.

David St. George, the chief pilot and chief instructor at East Hill Flying Club, was recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration and awarded Flight Instructor of the Year for the eastern region (one of six national regions) for 2008.