Firefly Aviation, Inc., located at the Athens Ben-Epps Airport, has provided exceptional service and experience to its customers throughout northeast Georgia for more than 40 years. From the Firefly Career Flight Academy to the airport’s only charter maintenance center, Firefly Aviation is here to meet all your aviation needs.
If you’re interested in pursuing a career in aviation or just learning how to fly, our Flight Academy can customize a training program tailored exclusively for you. Our passion is building aviation careers for our students, and we are committed to your professional success. At our full-service maintenance center, Firefly’s team of experienced technicians offers dependable, professional service to ensure that your aircraft stays in its best condition. We can also help you buy or sell your aircraft and make owning a plane an affordable investment. Firefly Aviation is committed to making your dreams of flight a reality!
The Athens Ben-Epps Airport offers the best combination of low stress flying and high-tech amenities. We are far enough away from complex airspace to allow you to stretch your wings, but have an ILS approach, a tower, and radar. And Athens, GA is as good as it gets for your time between training. Home to the University of Georgia, Athens offers a sizzling downtown, fantastic restaurants, and beautiful weather.
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Who We Are
Firefly Aviation would not be where it is today without the success of one well-known Athens native and aviation aficionado, Edward Harris “Sonny” Smith.
After serving in the U.S. Army from 1954-55 and working at Clark Flying Service in Athens, Smith started his own air service business in 1966 in one of the old T-hangers at the Athens Ben-Epps Airport. From that humble start, Sonny Smith grew his business and had a decisive role in crafting aviation in Georgia.
Smith is remembered for his remarkable success in transforming the Athens Ben-Epps Airport from a country airfield to a small community airport and establishing Athens as a hub for flight instruction. His passion for aviation lived through his work as he helped countless students earn their pilot’s licenses. Sonny continued his passion to the very end, passing on his business to its current owners a year before he moved on to that airfield in the sky.
Elton Dodson, Firefly’s CEO, earned his wings with Sonny and is committed to continuing Sonny’s vision for pushing the aviation envelope. Firefly unveiled its exciting new look, name, and vision in 2005 to reflect the business’s evolving mission of providing top-quality aviation service and flight training to everyone who dreams of learning to fly. Firefly Aviation, Inc. will continue to soar as an unmatched aviation training and maintenance Facility.
