Mon, Mar 09, 2009
Commonwealth Has 266 Private-Use Airfields, In Addition To 66
Public Airports
When it comes to efforts to protect
general aviation, few states can rival the pilot and enthusiast
community in the Commonwealth of Virginia. On the heels of
state-level efforts to promote use of Virginia's 66 public
airports, comes a group of private airport owners and aviation
enthusiasts who recently formed the Virginia Airport Owners
Association (VAOA) to address issues concerning privately-owned
airports within the state.
The organization, thought to be the first of its kind in the US,
aims to provide a united voice for this segment of the aviation
industry. There are 226 private-owned airports currently registered
in Virginia.
"The purpose of the VAOA is to become the recognized voice for
all issues concerning privately-owned airports within the state,"
said John Mazza Jr., president of the VAOA.
VAOA was commended by the Airport Owners and Pilots Association
(AOPA), the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), and the
Virginia Department of Aviation (DOAV) for its efforts to foster
the continued growth and development of private airports in
Virginia. VAOA is providing networking, communication, security
awareness and economic opportunities for airport owners and
aviation enthusiasts throughout the state.
Future plans for the VAOA include ensuring that local and state
governments understand the value of privately owned airports. The
VAOA will also work to streamline the zoning process of new,
privately owned airports as well as work to ensure that neighbors
of privately owned airports understand the operations and value of
these airports.
"The creation of the VAOA is a great opportunity for the
aviation community. It will improve communications between this
segment of aviation and DOAV," said Randy Burdette, director of
DOAV. "It will allow us to work together to promote a safer and
more secure aviation system for the citizens of the
Commonwealth."
As ANN reported last year, DOAV implemented
the "Virginia Aviation Ambassadors Program," which rewards general
aviation pilots for trying new destinations around the
commonwealth.
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