Spring Aviation Safety Week

The topic this go round is "Wanted: Alive! Reining in the Fatal Accident Rate". The general aviation accident rate is not dropping, and pilots continue to find themselves in the same accident-causing scenarios that have been plaguing them for years. Be part of the safety conversation as the Air Safety Institute digs a little deeper into what's causing pilot-related accidents.

Here is the schedule for 2012 Virginia Aviation Safety Week:

Monday, April 30, 2012 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Virginia Air & Space Center 600 Settlers Landing Road Hampton, VA 23669

Tuesday, May 01, 2012 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Virginia Aviation Museum Richmond Int'l. Airport 5701 Huntsman Road Richmond, VA 23250

Wednesday, May 02, 2012 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Danville Regional Airport General Aviation 424 Airport Drive Danville, VA 24540

Thursday, May 03, 2012 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Virginia Tech Airport 1601 Tech Center Drive Blacksburg, VA 24060

Keep in mind... these seminars count as your Virginia Aviation Ambassador "safety stamp" if you are unable to make it to the Virginia Regional Festival of Flight this weekend. For more information on seminar locations and dates, visit www.airsafetyinstitute.org/seminars.

Smithsonian Welcomes Space Shuttle Discovery

I feel fortuate in that I was able to witness history last week. The oldest surviving U.S. shuttle, Discovery was welcomed to its permanent home as a museum artifact at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center on Thursday, April 19, 2012.

Backgroud music by the U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps escorted Discovery's tow to be placed nose to nose with shuttle prototype Enterprise, which has been on display since 1985. Discovery's last mission to space was in March 2011, following its 39 missions beginning in 1984.

On its journey "home", Discovery toured Washington D.C. for nearly an hour, piggybacking atop a Boeing 747 that NASA keeps specifically for transporting shuttles. We all tried to sneak a peek of the flyby on television here at the office. Hope you enjoy pictures from the event: http://bit.ly/JmyhBO

Sun n' Fun 2012 continued...

Here are some photos taken at Lake Agnes at Fantasy of Flight during the Splash-In Seaplane Competition: 

 And the USAF Thunderbird Performance:

We tracked down the rest of the Virginia exhibitors as well:

Helicopter Association International

UMA

Avionics Systems

Airfleet Capital, Inc.

Select Airparts (who were not at AirVenture)

 for more information click here

Liberty University (who came to visit us!) 

For more photos from the week check out our Flickr!

Sun n' Fun 2012

No sign of any tornadoes this year... but we did see this on all of the exhibitor hangers:

Here are some before and after photos of our trailer following the long haul to Lakeland, Florida:

We clean up nice don't we? Here are a few other photos from the week so far:

We found a few familiar faces:

And have seen many Virginia pilots:

Ever seen fireworks in daylight?

More to come throughout the week.

Stop by and see us at North Exhibit 38!

February 2012 Virginia Aviation Board Meeting Highlights

Here are the results of the most recent Virginia Aviation Board Meeting held on February 16, 2012.

VAB funded:


Air Carrier/Reliever Discretionary - $1,119,123:

1) Richmond International Airport
- Air Rescue & Fire Fighting Truck and Two Front End Loaders for Snow Removal

2) Hanover County
- Runway 34 Obstruction Removal (Design)


General Aviation Discretionary - $543,888

1) Lonesome Pine Airport
- Taxiway 'A' Sinkhole repair (Design)

2) Middle Peninsula Regional Airport
- East Corporate Apron (Design) and Jet Pod & T-hangar Site Preparation (Design)

3) Tazewell County
- Corporate Hangar Apron/Taxilane (Design)


VAB also increased all outstanding 3 percent AIP matching tentative allocations to 8 percent matches:


Air Carrier/Reliever Discretionary - $789,826.40 in increases

General Aviation Discretionary - $990,550.00 in increases

2012 International Aviation Art Contest Virginia Winners

A total of 169 Virginia artists ages 6 to 18 participated in the 2012 International Aviation Art Contest. The theme this year was “Silent Flight”. Virginia state level winners are listed below.

Junior Category

First Place

Renae George, Age 7

Baker-Butler Elementary,
Charlottes
-ville

Second Place

Nicholas Liles, Age 9

Thomas Jefferson Elementary,

Louisa

Third Place

Mitchell McCotter, Age 9

Thomas Jefferson Elementary,
Louisa

Intermediate Category

First Place

Roshan George, Age 11

Baker-Butler Elementary
Charlottesville

Second Place

Mecayla Hampton, Age 12

Westhaven Elementary,
Portsmouth

Third Place

Chris
Maksi-
mowicz,
Age 11

Christ Chapel Academy,
Woodbridge

Senior Category

First Place

Casey Plonski, Age 18

James River High,
Midlothian

Second Place

Milan Williams, Age 17

Advanced Technology Center,
Virginia Beach

Third Place

Alvin Parker, Age 17

Advanced Technology Center,

Virginia Beach

Virginia winners are also featured in the 2012-2013 Virginia Department of Aviation Calendar. Request your copy here!

2012 International Aviation Art Contest entries must be postmarked by this Friday, January 13

This year's theme is "Silent Flight". All children within the age groups are encouraged to participate in the contest: Group 1 - Junior Category (Born between Jan. 1, 2002 and Dec. 31, 2005), Group 2 - Intermediate Category (Born between Jan. 1, 1998 and Dec. 31, 2001), and Group 3 - Senior Category
(Born between Jan. 1, 1994 and Dec. 31, 1997).

Entries in each age group are judged and state winners and runners-up are selected. Winners receive a certificate and recognition from their state. The top three entries in each age group are forwarded to Washington, D.C. to be judged in the national competition.

1st, 2nd and 3rd place national winners are selected from each age group. All national winners receive certificates, ribbons and a framed reproduction of their artwork.

The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place national winners in each age group are forwarded to FAI Headquarters for international judging. Winners of the international competition receive certificates and gold, silver or bronze medals.


Visit the NASAO website for application and official contest rules.
Visit our website to find out more about 2012 Aviation Education Programs.