Tue, Jan 03, 2012
State Has Only Two Airports With 'Significant Airline
Service'
Noting that aviation in Iowa supports more than 47,000 jobs and
accounts for $18 billion of the state's economy, Iowa Governor
Terry Branstad on December 19 issued a proclamation declaring
December General Aviation (GA) Appreciation Month.

"GA activity in Iowa involves business aviation, air medical
transport, air cargo, aerial application, law enforcement, search
and rescue, specialty aerial services, air charter, personal
aviation and recreational opportunities," said the governor in his
declaration. "[And] GA plays a vital role in the state's
response to emergencies and natural disasters."
"Iowa is a perfect example of how businesses that use GA can reach
smaller communities in remote locales," said NBAA President and CEO
Ed Bolen. "Governor Branstad's declaration calls Iowa's 108
public-use airports ‘the on-ramp to the national air
transportation system and the front door to communities they
serve.' I couldn't have said it better myself."
Of Iowa's 108 public-use airports, only Des Moines and Cedar
Rapids have significant airline service. Six other Iowa airports
have limited scheduled commuter airline service. The Hawkeye State
actively promotes business flying, listing it first on the state's
Department of Transportation Aviation web site under GA, and
including a full-color graphic showing U.S. destinations within a
three-hour flight time of Des Moines. On the same site, it notes
that early aviation pioneers who lived in Iowa include Wilbur and
Orville Wright, Amelia Earhart and Clyde Cessna.
Also in Governor Branstad's declaration, is the aviation
industry's support for the STEM (Science, Technology Engineering
and Math) program for schoolchildren. Educators in Iowa have been
using STEM for several years to make those subjects relevant for
students.
Iowa's rich aviation history includes one of the first uses of a
business aircraft, by the Des Moines Register and Tribune. The
newspaper bought a five-seat Fairchild cabin monoplane in 1928 to
provide readers the first regular news photos from the air.
Governor Branstad's proclamation makes Iowa the 35th state to
officially recognize the value of business flying and GA
airports.
More News
Option Approach An approach requested and conducted by a pilot which will result in either a touch-and-go, missed approach, low approach, stop-and-go, or full stop landing. Pilots >[...]
"Emirates is already the world's largest Boeing 777 operator, and we are expanding our commitment to the program today with additional orders for 65 Boeing 777-9s. This is a long-t>[...]
(Pilot) Reported That There Was A Sudden And Violent Vibration Throughout The Airplane That Lasted Several Seconds Analysis: The pilot was returning to his home airport at an altit>[...]
“This recognition was evident during the TBMOPA Annual Convention, where owners and operators clearly expressed their satisfaction with our focus on customer service, and enc>[...]
Overhead Maneuver A series of predetermined maneuvers prescribed for aircraft (often in formation) for entry into the visual flight rules (VFR) traffic pattern and to proceed to a >[...]