The MCOA January Board . . . met at MNDOT in St. Paul, MN and the December meeting minutes and Treasurer’s report were approved with the agenda completed as presented. The next Board meeting will be Friday, February 10, 2012, 09:30 AM, at MNDOT. A conference planning committee meeting will precede the Board meeting.

Aviation Day at the Capitol . . . is almost upon us and if you haven’t yet registered please do so by contacting Gordon Hoff at Gordon.hoff@comcast.net It is very important that our aviation interest in the future of Minnesota aviation be demonstrated at the capitol at this specially scheduled meeting with our legislators.

The MCOA Scholarship Program. . . application forms have been mailed and now include accredited colleges and universities offering either a certificated two year program or four year universities offering a degree program in Aviation Management. Be sure to submit your application form by the date indicated and the selected winner will be presented their award at the April MN Airports Conference.

The MCOA Membership Drive . . . is off to an acceptable start with half of our membership responding quickly! If you didn’t receive an invoice, contact genavcon@charter.net

2012 Conference planning. . . is almost complete with the inevitable last minutes changes remaining a challenge. Conference registration forms will be mailed early in February. If you didn’t receive your registration form, contact Judy Meyer’s at judy.meyers@state.mn.us The Rochester Mayo Civic Center venue provides for expanded equipment displays and more exhibitor displays. A tour of the MAYO Clinic Gonda facility has been planned for Wednesday morning prior to the start of the conference. Notable guest speakers have committed for both luncheons and the Governor is expected to attend the banquet and present the FAA Governor’s Award. Mark your calendar for April 11 – 13th in 2012 and plan to attend the annual conference. Debra Knox has replaced Sara Clausen as our Hilton conference coordinator in RST. Her e mail is Deb.Knox@hilton.com Phone: 507-280-2888

MNDOT Update. . . Significant progress has been made in the development of the MN State Aviation System Plan (SASP). In mid January, the SASP Advisory Committee convened to discuss, among other issues, the desired overarching goals and principles to define the state’s system of airports over the next 20 years. The group provided input on the proposed goals and participated in a voting exercise which provided real-time data on their thoughts and opinions. On January 21st, MNDOT and HNTB co-hosted a Funding Innovations Workshop designed to generate “out of the box” thinking on how to pay for and improve the financial sustainability of the state’s system into the future. These ideas and concepts will be utilized as the SASP planning process turns its focus toward the Investment Plan phase of the planning process. For more info, visit SASP at: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/aero/avoffice/planning/sasp2011.html To request a meeting or presentation at you airport, contact Ryan Gaug at 651-234-7190 or ryan.guag@state.mn.us

With regard to Airport Development, the SASP is expected to be released in March or April. A presentation on funding will be held in February with the objective of gathering information on how to fund all the needs identified. Aeronautics will be getting a “Smart Board.” It contains a computer and allows users to bring up files, manipulate those files and send them to others from the Board. It will be a useful tool in many ways in airport development processes. The 2013 State Funding offers were very recently mailed out. Also, we are working on coupling 2012 priority funds with some bonding money to facilitate funding some projects at several larger GA airports.

Finally, MNDOT Aero is now on Facebook and Twitter as a new medium to communicate with airport managers, aviation system users, and other interested persons. For more info, contact Rachel Obermoller at Rachel.Obermoller@state.mn.us

FAA . . . has established a new web site that can be brought up on your computer or “smart phone” to provide excellent info for airport managers. It allows you to look up N numbers, get advisory circulars, and check airport (airline) status delays, FSDO locators and report a wildlife strike report without going back to the office. Go to www.faa.gov/mobile/ to access the site.

Congress Extends Aviation Programs and Excise Taxes . . . Congress has approved a bipartisan measure that extends aviation programs and taxes through February 17th. While there are several issues that remain to be resolved, the labor compromise is expected to pave the way for Congress to pass a multi-year bill sometime early this month before they recess for the annual President’s holiday.

GA Accidents Drop in 2010 . . . AOPA has announced that GA accidents dropped for the fourth year in a row in 2010. “Complacency remains the enemy of safety . . . Most accidents result from causes that have plagued aviation for years,“says Bruce Landsberg, President of the AOPA Foundation.

Pentagon to Boost Drones, Cut Personnel . . . The Pentagon plans to increase the use of unmanned aerial vehicles under a new strategy. It will boost drones by 30% as it cuts back on military personnel. “You are looking at the military to try to find new ways to stay globally engaged. When you are smaller, you have to be smarter,” a U.S. official said. (WSJ). Pilot wannabee’s beware!

GA Offers a Variety of Career Options . . . While being a pilot is the most recognized career in general aviation, there are several other career paths for flying enthusiasts. GA airports employ managers, technicians, mechanics and air-traffic controllers. Larger airports also need information technology professionals and cargo operators.

“Be who you are and say what you feel…because those that matter don’t mind…
and those that mind, don’t matter”

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