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.

FMI: www.wiama.org