Opening Remarks by New FAA Great Lakes Administrator Chris
Blum
By Rose Dorcey
New Great Lakes region Federal Aviation Administrator Chris Blum
launched the 50th Annual Wisconsin Aviation Conference Reminding
conference attendees, "when corporate America comes to town, it
doesn't come in a greyhound bus, it comes in a Learjet."
In one of his first public speaking engagements as the FAA Great
Lakes Administrator, Blum congratulated Wisconsin airport managers
for their accomplishments in improving runway safety. Nearly
halfway through 2005, runway incursions are down for the state of
Wisconsin and the trend is expected to continue. "You are making
progress in improving safety," said Blum. "Give yourselves a
hand."
Blum concurrently serves as the Central and Great Lakes region
administrator. He took on the Great Lakes position on May 1, after
the April 30th retirement of former Great Lakes Administrator
Cecelia Hunziker.
Over 300 Wisconsin airport managers, fixed-base operators,
engineers, airport commission members and those with aviation
interests participated in the conference, hosted by the Wisconsin
Airport Management Association (WAMA) at the Grand Geneva Resort in
Lake Geneva (WI) May 9-11.
Attendees heard a message from Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle,
delivered by the state's Department of Transportation Secretary
Frank Busalacchi. "…There's a growing understanding that our
investments in transportation pay tremendous dividends in the form
of economic growth," said Busalacchi. "Certainly that is true when
it comes to aviation."
Busalacchi said that the state knows that businesses are more
likely to locate or expand in a community that offers quality
aviation services, and he pointed to several Wisconsin airport
improvement projects, such as Chippewa Valley Regional Airport and
Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh where new air traffic control
towers are under construction.
Conference participants did business with dozens of vendors in
the exhibit area and took in educational seminars with diverse
subject matter, from case studies of successful airport projects to
wildlife issues. EAA's Earl Lawrence lead a popular general session
entitled, "Sport Piloting Takes Off!" Rosemary Emhoff of Phillips
Petroleum was on hand to discuss new EPA spill prevention
requirements, and Geri McKeown of Angel Flight Central talked about
pilot and ground participation in this non-profit organization. The
mission of Angel Flight Central is to provide transportation for
the purpose of access to medical care or for reasons of compassion
or community service.