The History of Cutter Aviation & Cutter
Flying Service
A Story of America’s Oldest Continually Family Owned & Operated FBO Network
The story of Cutter Aviation follows the story of the birth of modern General
Aviation in many ways. Before the passage of the Air Commerce Act of 1926,
most aviation activity in the United States was completely unregulated and
lacked standards for pilot licensing, aerial navigation and airspace, aircraft
registration, aviation businesses and air charter operators — and as a result
safety and consumer protection in any aviation activity was at an all time low.
After the passage of the Air Commerce Act, legitimate aviation businesses
started to take shape nationwide — with official licensing to do business at an
airport or operate aircraft. In fact, the term used to describe an aviation
business serving General Aviation at an airport… a “Fixed Base Operator” or
“FBO” comes from that original 1926 act.
Considering Cutter Aviation (or Cutter Flying Service as it was known originally)
started doing business only two years after the passage of the Air Commerce
Act, our history parallels the dynamic history of General Aviation in America
through today.
In the Beginning
Cutter Flying Service Inc. was founded in 1928 by William P. Cutter to
serve a fledgling aviation community in the Southwestern United States from its
birthplace in Albuquerque, NM. Cutter Flying Service survived the Great
Depression and World War II by providing needed air charter to reach ranches,
towns and businesses scattered across the rugged landscape of New Mexico,
Arizona and Texas. In addition, Cutter Flying Service offered aircraft sales, line
and fuel services to transient pilots as a Phillips 66 Aviation fuel dealer beginning
in 1938, and aircraft maintenance to support the growing number of aircraft in
the Southwest.
Cutter During World War II
At the outbreak of World War II, when much of General Aviation and the
businesses that supported it came to a halt, Cutter Flying Service became a pilot
training provider for the United States military to stay in business from 1941 to
1945. In addition to basic flight training, many pilots were trained for glider
operations, and the U.S. Navy designated Cutter as a Naval Air Training School
as part of the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) at its primary business
location at West Mesa Airport in Albuquerque.
Post-War Growth for Cutter
As American life returned to a state of normalcy after the end of the war, so did
Cutter Flying Service. A growing business, reflecting the trend of prosperity that
was being enjoyed by most of America in the post-war years, Cutter began a
long-standing affiliation with the Beechcraft Aircraft Corporation in 1947 and
remained one of the most successful dealers of new Beechcraft Aircraft for over
62 years. Along with aircraft sales, Cutter became widely known for aircraft
maintenance service supporting Beechcraft as well as many other General
Aviation aircraft being built during this time, and continued to offer fuel service
and operate on-demand air charter. Cutter moved to the larger Albuquerque
International Sunport in 1947 as activity at West Mesa Airport began to decline,
but continued to offer refueling from West Mesa until the late 1950’s.
Expanding the Cutter Aviation Network
Expanding West, Cutter Aviation, Inc. located at Phoenix Sky Harbor
International Airport, first opened its doors in 1959 and offered aircraft sales,
maintenance and charter to support the growing city of Phoenix. Expanding into
Texas, Cutter Aviation established an FBO facility in El Paso, TX in 1982 at El
Paso International Airport. In 1988, Cutter Aviation opened a brand-new FBO
facility on the South Side of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and
consolidated its aircraft sales, maintenance, and charter to the new facility and
started providing fuel and line service. The new facility became the company
headquarters for Cutter Aviation as well, though the Albuquerque location
remained a full-service facility.
Establishing a second Phoenix facility in 1997, Cutter Aviation opened its Deer
Valley Airport location in 1997 to support the quickly growing General Aviation
airport in North Phoenix. A year later, Cutter Aviation San Antonio. Colorado
Springs (COS) location opened in 2006. A new, state-of-the-art FBO facility in El
Paso, TX opened in 2006 as well, replacing the FBO that had been occupied by
Cutter Aviation since 1982 and an aircraft maintenance and sales facility, opened
in 2013 at Dallas-Addison (ADS).
Aircraft Sales has always been a core part of the business and as a result, Cutter
Aircraft Sales has grown and added new dealerships as the company has grown.
In 2004 Cutter Aviation became the dealer for new Piper Aircraft for the state of
Texas under the Texas Piper name. Cutter Aviation also became a dealer for
Socata Aircraft and is the current dealership for the Daher-Socata TBM 900 line
representing Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. In
2006, Cutter Aviation established HondaJet Southwest, the Southwestern United
States dealership for the revolutionary HondaJet advanced light jet developed by
the Honda Corporation. HondaJet Southwest will provide sales and service for
the new HondaJet for Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Clark County / Las Vegas,
NV, Southern California and Hawaii. Cutter Aviation became the Southwestern
U.S. sales dealership for American Champion Aircraft in 2010 offering the ACA
line of light, single-engine sport and aerobatic aircraft.
The Cutter Aviation network currently operates eight locations in seven major
cities in the Southwest. The Phoenix Sky Harbor, AZ (PHX), Phoenix Deer Valley,
AZ (DVT); and Albuquerque, NM (ABQ) facilities are full-service, fixed-base
operations as well as aircraft sales, maintenance and avionics, and aircraft
charter and management. The El Paso, TX (ELP) and Colorado Springs, CO
(COS) locations provide line services for transient & based aircraft. The San
Antonio, TX (SAT) and Dallas-Addison (ADS) facilities offers new & pre-owned
aircraft sales and aircraft maintenance services only. The Carlsbad, CA (CRQ)
facility offers aircraft sales services.
Cutter Aviation is a member of the Pinnacle Air Network, National Business
Aviation Association (NBAA), and the National Air Transportation Association
(NATA).
Cutter Aviation Today
What Makes Cutter Aviation Unique in the General & Business Aviation Industry
Cutter Aviation is one of America’s strongest FBO & Aviation Service
providers for the Business & General Aviation industry. Our strength
comes from a combination of our experience and eight decade history serving
the industry and our diversity of services, products, and locations in support of a
wide range of customers: from the smallest single engine piston aircraft through
large airline-class aircraft… civilian and military. This combination has
established Cutter Aviation as one of the most respected FBO brands in aviation
today.
Where some companies may only offer a limited number of services to
customers, Cutter Aviation believes more in providing a complete package of
services and products that best serve the needs of a wide range of customers.
Cutter Aviation offers high-quality aviation fueling and professionally trained line
service at six locations around the Southwest and complements it with attentive
guest services representatives to assist passengers and crews alike. Supporting
guest services is Cutter Aviation’s unique full-service professional travel agency
that is available to assist in any way with pleasure or business travel for any
customer. Five Cutter Aviation locations operate full-service, FAA Certified Repair
Stations for aircraft maintenance and avionics service, sales, and support. Cutter
Aviation is also a trusted name in both new and pre-owned aircraft sales with
regional aircraft sales advisers covering the Southwest and beyond. To assist
after the sale, Cutter Aviation’s dedicated aircraft management team paired with
Cutter Flight Management, the on-demand air charter division of Cutter Aviation,
helps owners and businesses develop sound operational strategies to operate
their aircraft in the most effective manner. Additionally, Cutter Flight
Management Air Charter provides on-demand air charter to a wide variety of
locations for customers using the highest quality aircraft ranging from twinengine turboprop aircraft through medium and large jet aircraft — all staffed and
flown by highly trained professional flight crews.
Cutter Aviation locations are strategically located around the Southwest in
growing and established metropolitan areas where general aviation provides a
crucial transportation link for businesses and individuals requiring the efficiency
of private air travel without the hassles of operations from congested or highcost facilities that may be found in the same region. By providing the absolute
best service for the best value, Cutter Aviation leads the way.
“The key ingredients are Tradition, Respect, and Integrity” quotes Cutter Aviation
President & CEO Will Cutter. “It is a formula that has kept us at the forefront of
the industry for over eighty years. They have helped us establish a reputation
that we are all proud of, and without them, Cutter Aviation would be just another
run-of-the-mill service station for airplanes.”
Celebrating over 86 years of family ownership and operation, Cutter Aviation has
been the leader in the business of aviation in the Southwestern United States
and beyond for over eight decades. As a full-service aviation company, Cutter
Aviation provides customers a wide range of quality General Aviation services
including: fuel and line service support, new and pre-owned aircraft sales,
aircraft maintenance, avionics design/installation/repair, aircraft management
services, and aircraft charter through Cutter Flight Management, Inc. Cutter
Aviation’s convenient FBO & Service facilities in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico,
and Texas are known for providing exceptional customer service and amenities
for domestic and international travelers of all types. Originally founded in 1928 in
Albuquerque, New Mexico, Cutter Aviation remains the oldest continually familyowned and operated aviation services company in the United States and is a
member of the Pinnacle Air Network. For more information, please visit
http://www.cutteraviation.com.