Sorry for the delay in posting this week! We've been busy bees since returning from the Virgnia Aviation Conference! Below are a few photos and a wrap-up of the event. Thanks for everyone who attended! We hope to see you next year!
More than 220 airport managers and sponsors, consultants, Virginia Aviation Board members, industry professionals and other members of Virginia’s aviation community gathered in Virginia Beach for the 36th annual Virginia Aviation Conference Aug. 17-20. The conference’s theme was “Virginia Airports: Leveraging Resources for Success.”
The 4-day conference, sponsored by the Virginia Aviation Board, Virginia Department of Aviation (DOAV), Virginia Airport Operators Council and the Virginia Business Aviation Association, kicked off with welcoming remarks from DOAV Director Randall Burdette and Diane Crean, FAA Eastern Region Deputy, who discussed the wide array of educational aviation programs for kids ranging from 5th grade through high school the FAA offers.
Keynote speaker Mark Grady, aviation writer and commercial pilot, used wit and humor to encourage conference attendees to build better relationships with their local media so more positive aviation stories will be covered. After his presentation, Sen. Yvonne Miller, Del. Joe May; John-Garrett Kemper of Kemper Consulting, Keith McCrea of DOAV; and Mark McGuire of Campbell & Paris Engineers participated in a panel discussion about ways to share information with Virginia’s government officials.
After lunch, airport managers, sponsors and consultants had the opportunity to participate in roundtable discussions with the respective region’s Virginia Aviation Board member. The results of those discussions were reported later that afternoon.
The Virginia Aviation Awards Banquet was held Wednesday night. Jacqueline L. Shuck was named “Virginia Airport Manager of the Year” for her achievements at the Roanoke Regional Airport. Ray Conlon received the “Virginia Aviation Person of the Year” award in recognition of his significant role in ensuring the safety of Virginia’s airports as Chief Inspector of Austin Electrical Construction. James E. Bennett was honored with the “Virginia Aviation Lifetime Achievement Award” for his lifetime contributions to aviation in Virginia as President and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. Richard Largent was also recognized as one of Virginia’s Top Eagle pilots, and John Billings was named the Virginia Pilot of the Year by AngelFlight Mid-Atlantic.
Conference attendees had the option of attending two out of four workshops Thursday morning. The first workshop was called “ACRP: What Does That Stand for Again?” presented by Michael R. Salamone, manager of the Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP), Transportation Research Board. The ACRP carries out applied research on problems that are shared by airport operating agencies. Salamone explained to attendees how to communicate their airports’ issues and receive help from the program.
The second workshop featured Chesapeake Regional Airport Manager Joe Love and Pat O’Donnell of Kaufman & Canoles and their experience fighting inverse condemnation, when government takes private property but fails to pay the just compensation required by the Constitution, on the airport. In order to be compensated, the owner must sue the government.
The third workshop focused on airport economics and featured speakers Ed Wallis, manager of Stafford Regional Airport, and Terry Page of the FAA—Washington Airports District Office. The fourth workshop was called “Meeting FAA Compliance Standards” by Mahendra Raghubeer of the FAA- Eastern Region-Airports Division.
Thursday’s lunch featured Ken Scott, who discussed his experiences as former executive director of the Norfolk Airport Authority.
Friday morning featured a session called “Creativity in Leveraging Resources” presented by Brian McKeehan of Delta Airport Consultants with contributions from Michael St. Jean, manager of Virginia Tech/Montgomery Executive Airport, Joe Love, manager of Chesapeake Regional Airport, and Hank Rempe, manager of Hanover County Airport and Lake Anna Airport. The session was moderated by Bill Kelly, manager of New Kent County Airport.
The August Virginia Aviation Board meeting followed Friday morning’s session.
More than 220 airport managers and sponsors, consultants, Virginia Aviation Board members, industry professionals and other members of Virginia’s aviation community gathered in Virginia Beach for the 36th annual Virginia Aviation Conference Aug. 17-20. The conference’s theme was “Virginia Airports: Leveraging Resources for Success.”
The 4-day conference, sponsored by the Virginia Aviation Board, Virginia Department of Aviation (DOAV), Virginia Airport Operators Council and the Virginia Business Aviation Association, kicked off with welcoming remarks from DOAV Director Randall Burdette and Diane Crean, FAA Eastern Region Deputy, who discussed the wide array of educational aviation programs for kids ranging from 5th grade through high school the FAA offers.
Keynote speaker Mark Grady, aviation writer and commercial pilot, used wit and humor to encourage conference attendees to build better relationships with their local media so more positive aviation stories will be covered. After his presentation, Sen. Yvonne Miller, Del. Joe May; John-Garrett Kemper of Kemper Consulting, Keith McCrea of DOAV; and Mark McGuire of Campbell & Paris Engineers participated in a panel discussion about ways to share information with Virginia’s government officials.
After lunch, airport managers, sponsors and consultants had the opportunity to participate in roundtable discussions with the respective region’s Virginia Aviation Board member. The results of those discussions were reported later that afternoon.
The Virginia Aviation Awards Banquet was held Wednesday night. Jacqueline L. Shuck was named “Virginia Airport Manager of the Year” for her achievements at the Roanoke Regional Airport. Ray Conlon received the “Virginia Aviation Person of the Year” award in recognition of his significant role in ensuring the safety of Virginia’s airports as Chief Inspector of Austin Electrical Construction. James E. Bennett was honored with the “Virginia Aviation Lifetime Achievement Award” for his lifetime contributions to aviation in Virginia as President and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. Richard Largent was also recognized as one of Virginia’s Top Eagle pilots, and John Billings was named the Virginia Pilot of the Year by AngelFlight Mid-Atlantic.
Conference attendees had the option of attending two out of four workshops Thursday morning. The first workshop was called “ACRP: What Does That Stand for Again?” presented by Michael R. Salamone, manager of the Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP), Transportation Research Board. The ACRP carries out applied research on problems that are shared by airport operating agencies. Salamone explained to attendees how to communicate their airports’ issues and receive help from the program.
The second workshop featured Chesapeake Regional Airport Manager Joe Love and Pat O’Donnell of Kaufman & Canoles and their experience fighting inverse condemnation, when government takes private property but fails to pay the just compensation required by the Constitution, on the airport. In order to be compensated, the owner must sue the government.
The third workshop focused on airport economics and featured speakers Ed Wallis, manager of Stafford Regional Airport, and Terry Page of the FAA—Washington Airports District Office. The fourth workshop was called “Meeting FAA Compliance Standards” by Mahendra Raghubeer of the FAA- Eastern Region-Airports Division.
Thursday’s lunch featured Ken Scott, who discussed his experiences as former executive director of the Norfolk Airport Authority.
Friday morning featured a session called “Creativity in Leveraging Resources” presented by Brian McKeehan of Delta Airport Consultants with contributions from Michael St. Jean, manager of Virginia Tech/Montgomery Executive Airport, Joe Love, manager of Chesapeake Regional Airport, and Hank Rempe, manager of Hanover County Airport and Lake Anna Airport. The session was moderated by Bill Kelly, manager of New Kent County Airport.
The August Virginia Aviation Board meeting followed Friday morning’s session.
