Day Of Aviation Set For Saturday
Willow Run Airport is offering a fun-filled day of aviation at
its first open house on May 22, 2004 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. With a
wide range of activities scheduled for aviation enthusiasts of all
ages, this free event is intended to promote aviation education,
recreation and safety.
"We are pleased to be partnering with the Michigan Bureau of
Aeronautics and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in an
effort to increase safety and promote aviation in the State of
Michigan," said Lester Robinson, CEO of the Wayne County Airport
Authority.
"We're reaching out to the community to show them who we are and
what we do. There are so many opportunities in aviation, from
careers to hobbies," said Sean Brosnan, Director of Willow Run
Airport. "This open house will allow the community to explore the
various aspects of this industry."
In addition to free admission and free food, A Day of Aviation
at Willow Run is also offering activities such as free discovery
flights, history lessons -- including the legendary Tuskegee Airmen
discussing their heroic contributions to World War II -- career
seminars, facility tours, including the Air Traffic Control Tower
and the Yankee Air Force Museum, and much more.
Pilots from all over the state are encouraged to fly in and take
advantage of fuel discounts, as well as free on-site training and
inspection opportunities with the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA).
Through the FAA's Wings Seminars, existing pilots who are
looking to upgrade their licenses will have one hour of free flight
time with an FAA instructor. Pilots can use their own planes or
rent one on-site from the Eagle Flight Center. Completion of the
Wings Seminar constitutes a bi-annual flight checkup.
Pre-registration for this program is mandatory.
The FAA will also be offering Pilot Aircraft Courtesy
Evaluations (PACE), which is a program that provides aircraft
safety inspections without the risk of penalties. Pilots and
aircraft owners will have the opportunity to ask questions and
discuss their problems with the FAA without their inspections being
recorded.
"We are excited about this opportunity to open our facility as
an outlet of resources in the aviation industry," said Brosnan.
"There are so many agencies and companies that serve Willow Run on
a daily basis and now the public will get to experience some of the
intricate details of airport operations."
Other participants contributing to A Day of Aviation include the
Michigan Institute of Aeronautics, Black Eagle Aviation, the
Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), Willow Run Jet
Center, AV Fuel, the Great Lakes International Aviation Conference,
Eagle Flight Center and Eastern Michigan University, the Black
Pilots Association, and the Aircraft Owners & Pilots
Association (AOPA).