February 9, 2015
Washington State State Representative Seeks to Redirect Funds to Benefit Airports Self-professed life-long aviator Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, aims to get money back to community airports. Dent proposed House Bill 1526, which would redirect funds generated by the aircraft excise tax back into the Aeronautics Account. Read more: Columbia Basin Herald
Kansas
Aviation Day Celebrated Under the Dome
The Kansas Statehouse went to the skies last week as the Kansas Department of Transportation – Aviation Division hosted an aviation day to celebrate aviation and show the impact of aviation on the state. The event also allowed networking opportunities for stakeholders and legislators to meet with aviation businesses. Several aviation industries were on hand including Bombardier Learjet, Spirit Aero Systems, and Kansas State University.
Nevada
State Aviation Manager Stepping Down
 Matthew D. Furedy, state aviation manager for the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) has announced that he has accepted a teaching position at the University of Central Missouri (UCM). Furedy will begin his new position as Assistant Professor of Aviation in August. “It has been a wonderful experience working with everyone here in Nevada,” wrote Furedy in an email to colleagues and friends. Furedy explained that he has been granted the opportunity to assist NDOT in the process of naming and training his replacement. “We have also been given the rare opportunity to have a few months of overlap in the position so that I can get the new person up-to-speed before I leave.” Furedy is looking forward to spending his final few months in Nevada helping the Nevada Aviation Association and the aviation community secure funding for the Aviation Trust Fund and ensuring that it is a seamless transition.
FAA Names Wei as Deputy Director Airport Planning and Programming  Victoria Wei has been named the FAA’s new Deputy Director of the Office of Airport Planning and Programming in Washington DC. Wei, who currently serves as the Director, NextGen Performance and Outreach, has over 18 years of experience in the transportation and aviation sectors, including serving as an attorney with DOT and FAA. Read more: State Aviation Journal
Montana RAF Reports Aviation Included in USFS Final Planning Directive The Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF), through participation in US Forest Service (USFS) public comment sessions and attending meetings of the Federal Advisory Committee as observers, has secured the documenting of aviation within the Final Planning Directive (FSH 1909.12). The document acknowledges recreational aviation in multiple places. These aviation references clarify and solidify aviation as a legitimate mode of access, and one of the three legs of the National Forest Transportation System. Read more: State Aviation Journal
Colorado
Leaders hope to land firefighting research center at Loveland airport
Loveland, Fort Collins and Larimer County hope an aerial firefighting research center will land at the Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport.
Read more: Loveland Reporter-Herald
Massachusetts
New Bedford Regional Airport a bright spot among wetland quagmires
As an assistant airport manager and a pilot himself, Matt Elia’s eyes light up when he talks about the revamped runway that opened last fall at New Bedford Regional Airport.
Read more: South Coast Today
 Tennessee Airport leader’s job being changed; Williamson can apply The city is accepting applications for director of Shelbyville’s municipal airport. In December, the city council approved a motion from the airport management committee to alter the position of the airport manager from a contract position to a city employee position no later than July 1. Read more: Shelbyville Times-Gazette
Pennsylvania
Spokeswoman for Allegheny County’s airports loses job
JoAnn Jenny, the longtime spokeswoman for Pittsburgh International Airport and the Allegheny County Airport Authority, no longer is holding the job.
Read more: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Ohio
Ohio State, Ohio Regional Group Partner on Aviation Education Initiative
The Ohio Regional Business Aviation Association (ORBAA) is partnering with Ohio State University’s (OSU) Center for Aviation Studies to launch a program that will enable aviation seniors at OSU to work with ORBAA member companies on “real world” business issues.
Read more: NBAA
Maine
Relentless snow hampers airports
The unusually large amount of snow that has fallen during the past two weeks has caused problems at Maine airports. “The recent snowstorms affected all instrument landing systems in Maine.
Read more: Bangor Daily News
Ohio
Butler County airports seek niches and cooperation
Preliminary talks have begun between officials with the Butler County Regional Airport, Middletown’s Hook Field and Miami University’s airport to find collaborative ways to meet the county’s aviation needs.
Read more: Dayton Daily News
Falcon 8X Completes Successful First Flight
 Dassault Aviation announced last week that the company’s new flagship, the ultra- long range Falcon 8X, successfully completed its first flight a little more than one month after rollout.
Read more: State Aviation Journal
Arizona
Helicopter Pilot School Named Prescott’s Most Philanthropic
Guidance Aviation of Prescott, Arizona was named the City’s Most Philanthropic Business for organizations with more than 50 employees during the Healthy Prescott Business Awards, hosted by the Prescott Chamber of Commerce.
Read more: Arizona Aviation Journal
Hartzell Receives STC for Lightweight Scimitar Prop for Cessna 172RG Cutlass
(L-R) Josh Eyering, Kent State University Aircraft Maintenance Manager, and Mike Trudeau, Hartzell Top Prop Program and Modifier Account Manager.
Hartzell Propeller Inc. received a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from the Federal Aviation Administration for the company’s new state-of-the-art lightweight Scimitar prop for all Cessna 172RG Cutlass aircraft.
Read more: State Aviation Journal
AVED
Illinois
Aviation Technologies adds Navy Gulfstream jet to SIU fleet
The newest addition to Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s aviation technologies program will be an invaluable resource for students in aircraft and avionics maintenance training. The program on Tuesday received a U.S. Navy Gulfstream III C20A once used to transport military leaders in Europe and Africa.
Read more: SIU
New Hampshire
Aviation Exhibit Unveiled at the State Library
“A Focus on New Hampshire Aviation: A Photography Project” will be on exhibit at the N.H. State Library in Concord from Feb. 2, to Feb. 25, 2015. A partnership of the N.H. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Aeronautics, the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire and the New Hampshire Institute of Art, the exhibit focuses on general aviation and includes images of aircraft, airports and people involved in the state’s aviation industry. Photography for the exhibit was created by current and past students of the New Hampshire Institute for Art, led by Professor Gary Samson.
For more information about “A Focus on New Hampshire Aviation: A Photography Project,” visit the N.H. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Aeronautics, website
Georgia
Winter Wonderfest draws thousands to Museum of Aviation
About 8,000 people came out for the two-day second annual Winter Wonderfest at the Museum of Aviation, with two 65-foot tubing slides packed with the snow among the most popular of the attractions. The Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame and the Museum of Aviation host the event as fundraiser for the museum.
Read more: Macon Telegraph |
The American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) announced recently that Rick Crider, A.A.E., executive vice president and port general manager of Port San Antonio, Texas, will serve as chair of AAAE’s 2015 National Airports Conference (NAC).
