Charles City Aeronautics passes to next generation of Kyle family

To The Press

Charles City Aeronautics Inc. has announced that William R. Kyle has sold the company to his son, Todd E. Kyle.

Charles City Aeronautics, based in Charles City, is an organization of fixed base operators (FBOs) providing aircraft charter, aircraft maintenance, aircraft management, flight instruction, aircraft sales, airport management, aircraft fueling and storage at its three bases of operations in Charles City, Mason City and Ames.

The company was founded in 1957 by Lyle Kyle and Norbert Baltes in Charles City. It expanded as North Iowa Air Service at the Mason City Municipal Airport in 2001. In 2017, the company expanded once again as Central Iowa Air Service at the Ames Municipal Airport, according to Director of Marketing Nikki Kyle.

“Today, the company employs over 37 full and part-time employees among all three locations, providing daily air charter, flight instruction and maintenance,” she said.

As a result of this sale, a new Charles City Aeronautics board of directors has been elected. William Kyle will transition to chairman of the board/director of maintenance and Todd Kyle will now serve as president/chief pilot.

Christopher Schrodt has been elected vice-president/director of operations, and Nicole Kyle has been elected corporate secretary/director of marketing.

“My father, Lyle, and his partner, Norbert, started this company in 1957, and we are now in the third generation of ownership,” said William Kyle. “We are one of only two FBOs in the state of Iowa with that accomplishment.

“My son Todd has spent his life in the company and has built the flight and charter departments to what they are today. I am immensely proud of him, and excited for what the company will grow to under his leadership,” said William Kyle.

“I am excited to expand on the legacy that my father and grandfather have built here in Iowa,” said Todd Kyle. “Aviation in Iowa is continuing to grow, and we want Charles City Aeronautics to be at the forefront of that growth.

“With our operations in Charles City, Mason City and Ames, we are looking forward to the future and what we can accomplish. We have tremendous teams in each location that work hard every day to provide the level of service our customers have come to expect. Without our teams, we would not be celebrating 66 years in business.”