Sen. Berthel Celebrates Tradewind Aviation Fleet Expansion at Waterbury-Oxford Airport

(Pictured from left to right) Tradewind Aviation COO Adam Shaefer, State Sen. and Chief Deputy Republican Leader Eric C. Berthel (R-Watertown), Tradewind Aviation CFO Richard McKnight, Tradewind Aviation Co-Founder and CMO David Zipkin, Tradewind Aviation Co-Founder and CEO Eric Zipkin, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bill Purcell in Hangar D at Waterbury-Oxford Airport for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the arrival of the first of 20 new Tradewind Pilatus PC-12 NGX aircraft.

OXFORD – Chief Deputy Senate Republican Leader Eric Berthel (R-Watertown) on January 12 joined Tradewind Aviation founder and CEO Eric Zipkin, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and other Tradewind executives and local leaders in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Tradewind Aviation’s purchase agreement for 20 additional brand-new Pilatus PC-12 NGX aircraft, adding to its existing fleet of 25 aircraft. The new aircraft are valued at more than $6 million each and will be delivered during the next five years. Tradewind Aviation is a family-owned business that operates out of the Waterbury-Oxford Airport and employs more than 220 people in Connecticut, New York and San Juan, PR.

“This is tremendous economic news for our area. It ensures the continued viability of Waterbury-Oxford Airport, which is the largest general aviation airport in the state and will also create new jobs and additional economic activity for the area. These fuel-efficient, environmentally responsible aircraft are quieter and truly state-of-the-art. During the last 21 years, Tradewind Aviation demonstrated that they are an exemplary corporate citizen, and I am thrilled to see their substantial investment,” said Sen. Berthel.