"We're Among The Leaders"

by ANN Correspondent Aleta Vinas

Oklahoma-born Kenneth Wofford served in the Air Force, retiring as Colonel. After the USAF, Wofford began to work for the Minnesota Department of Transportation Aeronautics Office around 1977-78, where his official title was Aeronautics Operations Director.

He held this position through 1987. Wofford also started working with youth encouraging them to remain in school and encouraging their aviation pursuits. Wofford has also been an Air Guard Museum docent, Civil Air Patrol educator, Boy Scout mentor and program advisor for Junior College ROTC program. His Oshkosh memory was made in the line of duty, through work.

Wofford (below) has a strong relationship with aviation and helps to spread the aviation gospel wherever he can. While working for the Minnesota DOT Aeronautics Office he had the opportunity to share what Minnesota knew about aviation with one of the largest audiences in aviation.

The Minnesota State Aeronautics Commissioner encouraged the staff to be on the look out for ways "to improve or become more efficient in operations," says Wofford. The Commissioner saw Oshkosh as an opportunity for a booth and the ability to share the "vigorous" world of Minnesota aviation.

"We’re among the leaders," claims Wofford, whose first Oshkosh for the Aeronautics Office was during his first year on the job. He calls Oshkosh "the great aviation gathering. We had people coming from all over the United States, there was the corporate business world, manufacturers of aircraft and aviation type things, there was government; federal and state."

The many seminars about safety on the ground and in the air, procedures, aviation education in schools intrigued Wofford. "That’s why I viewed it as one of those big Get-togethers," Wofford adds. "You also had airplane and air show performances, they came from throughout the nation, Canada and occasionally some of the foreign countries were there showing off their equipment.

"From my perspective Minnesota had a strong aviation posture in General Aviation, in Business Aviation and the state of Minnesota had 140 (plus or minus) active public airports, excluding Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport," he adds.

Oshkosh afforded Wofford the opportunity to "boast" about "being a leader in the aviation system."

The Minnesota DOT Aeronautics Office provided financial aid in the form of loans and other aid to the small public airports.

"Oshkosh gave us on site interaction with other states... We got a chance to talk to some of the people who were out there doing the work."

Wofford and his operations staff concentrated on two areas; one was safety seminars. "What could we pick up to enhance the programs that we were presenting?  Getting the pilots, the airport managers, aircraft owners, stimulating them to come to our safety seminars and workshops."

Wofford took a few ideas home and incorporated them into what they presently were doing. The staff also took the opportunity to invite out of state speakers to the Minnesota seminars -- since "we may have somebody from Boeing or somebody from Republic somebody who manufactured small airplanes," he said.

Second was the area of airport safety inspections. "Since we had an investment in them it gave us an opportunity to go and learn how can we better do our job of inspections for airports, safety and services purposes," Wofford said.

Some concerns were lighting, runways and clearways to be certain no barriers were erected into the airspace and to make sure safety rules and regs were being carried out. "It kept us current and updated."

Attending Oshkosh required a small team. The Aeronautics Office would have a booth and about four others plus Wofford. "If we had something of a special interest we’d take along extra staff members." "It was mainly to help us in having a better aviation posture in Minnesota. We felt we were first and we wanted to continue to be a first class operation."

Wofford knew Oshkosh presented the perfect atmosphere to help maintain Minnesota’s status. At subsequent AirVentures, Wofford found people asking "Well hey, what are you doing in Minnesota now?" Wofford and his team had the answers, but wouldn’t rest on their laurels.

Wofford continued to ask "What can we do to make aviation better for us here in Minnesota?" Some of the answers are at Oshkosh, and Wofford and staff made the continuing 'sacrifice' to attend the great aviation gathering for more ideas.

(Photos courtesy of Minnesota Dept. of Transportation Aeronautics Office)

FMI: www.dot.state.mn.us/aero/, www.airventure.org