Tue, Apr 04, 2023
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!
More News
Light Gun A handheld directional light signaling device which emits a brilliant narrow beam of white, green, or red light as selected by the tower controller. The color and type of>[...]
“We have performed extensive ground testing by comparing warm up times, full power tethered pulls, and overall temperatures in 100 degree environments against other aircraft >[...]
While Taxiing To Parking The Right Landing Gear Leg Collapsed, Resulting In Substantial Damage Analysis: The pilot made a normal approach with full flaps and landed on the runway. >[...]
From 2014 (YouTube Edition): Exotic Rebuild Reveals Aerial Work Of Art During EAA AirVenture 2014, ANN's Michael Maya Charles took the time to get a history lesson about a great ai>[...]
Also: Project Talon, McFarlane Acquisition, Sky-Tec Service, JPL Earth Helo Tests Bombardier has earned a round of applause from the business aviation community, celebrating the fo>[...]
ANN's Daily Aero-Term (12.13.25): Light Gun
See All