28 Honored As Aviation Ambassadors

The Virginia Department of Aviation (DOAV) recognized 28 pilots for completing its Virginia Aviation Ambassadors Program (VAAP) at the Virginia Regional Festival of Flight in Suffolk on May 30.

The VAAP encourages people to experience all of Virginia’s public-use airports, visit the aviation museums, participate in at least one safety seminar and attend the Virginia Regional Festival of Flight. To participate in the program, pilots must get their Virginia Aviation Ambassador passport stamped at each location, earning recognition along the way.

Bronze recognition for 25 airports, four aviation museums, a safety event and attendance at the Virginia Regional Festival of Flight is an Ambassador Cap and lapel pin. Silver recognition as the Ambassador reaches 50 airports is a pilot flight bag. The Gold recognition for visiting all 66 airports is a leather flight jacket with the Virginia Aviation Ambassador logo embroidered on the front.

“This program is an extraordinary opportunity for pilots, aviation enthusiasts and the general public to see the valuable economic assets in our system of airports,” said Randall Burdette, director of DOAV.

“It gives pilots and riders alike an opportunity to set and meet goals in their flying and sightseeing, and experience all that Virginia aviation has to offer while having fun with friends and family.”

Since the program’s start in 2005, 191 people have become Gold-level Virginia aviation ambassadors. A special thanks goes to Heart of Virginia Aviation, Hanover Airport and Virginia Aeronautical Historical Society for their assistance in sponsoring the Virginia Aviation Ambassador Program.

FMI: www.doav.virginia.gov