Flying the Skies of Virginia Could Pay Dividends

Earlier today, we bumped into Anthony Sotelo, Public Relations and Education Specialist with the Virginia Department of Aviation (DOAV) who spent the week at Sun n Fun 2023 with his team in their mobile trailer, seeking to increase awareness of the aviation assets of Virginia!

Besides the swag they had on tap…branded pencils, 2023-2024 calendars, rubber airplanes, luggage tags and stickers sporting the slogan “Virginia Is For Flying Lovers”, and they also had the stamp! What stamp you ask?

The Virginia DOAV has an “Ambassador Passport Program” has been where anyone (you don’t have to be a pilot or fly into the airport) who visits all the Virginia public-use airports, attends the required safety seminars, and a fly-in, can earn three levels of Virginia DOAV-branded awards! First level is a baseball cap and lapel pen, at the second milestone, you can snag a very nice flight/overnight bag, and the final level is a fitted leather jacket which you can have embroidered with some flair of your choice…call sign, name, aircraft registration number.

Ok, back to the passport stamp.  The DOAV staff have “the stamp” on hand and can immediately validate your passport booklet which can be picked up from the mobile unit on site! Just today, an aviator from Manassas, Virginia, currently attending Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Florida was previously unaware of the program, and excitedly collected their passport booklet and first stamp for the “fly In”!  If you’re reading this after SnF, be sure to take a detour through Virginia and visit any of the public use airports to pick up your ‘Ambassador’ passport!  Avid aviators can earn the “multi-state” patch after completing the Maryland and North Carolina programs.  Does your state have such a program? Drop us a line and let us know!

Fun facts: Virginia has 438 airports of which 65 are open to the public. The shortest “improved” runway is 2004ft x 50ft at Eagles Nest Airport (W13), and the most interesting runway to takeoff from is Falwell Airport, W24!

FMI: www.doav.virginia.gov