Firecrown’s Aviation Group Charts Course for 2026; Ryan Ewing Named Group President

Brand refreshes, new digital platforms, and expanded editorial investments follow a transitional year for the company’s aviation portfolio.

FLYING Staff

Wednesday, January 07, 2026 at 09:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Aircraft in flight [Credit: Jim Barrett]

Key Takeaways:

Firecrown Media's Aviation Group appointed Ryan Ewing as president and announced a 2026 strategic vision focused on renewed growth and investment across its aviation media portfolio.
The group reported record financial performance in 2025, with a 270 percent increase in net operating income and a 160 percent rise in subscriptions, following significant post-acquisition integrations and investments.
Key initiatives for 2026 include refreshing brands like *The Aviation Consumer* and *Plane + Pilot*, launching new digital platforms for journal content, and expanding investment in editorial, digital, and multimedia storytelling.
The strategy aims to build modern, digital-first experiences and deepen audience engagement, leveraging the legacy of brands like *FLYING* as it approaches its 100th anniversary in 2027.

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Firecrown Media’s Aviation Group this week outlined its strategic vision for 2026, emphasizing a renewed phase of growth and investment across its aviation media portfolio. The company also announced the appointment of Ryan Ewing as president of Firecrown’s Aviation Group, effective immediately.

The announcement follows a transitional 2025 for the Aviation Group, during which Firecrown completed post-acquisition integrations while investing in long-term editorial leadership, digital infrastructure, and platform modernization. These efforts build on previously announced portfolio investments and editorial appointments over the past year.