December is General Aviation Appreciation Month

1. These communities recognize their airports play a critical role in the lives of its citizens, as well as in the operation of businesses and farms.
2. These communities have a significant interest in the continued vitality of general aviation, aerospace, aircraft manufacturing, educational institutions, aviation organizations, community airports, and airport operators.
3. These communities recognize that general aviation airports in Ohio have a major economic impact on the state's economy as it supports thousands of jobs, hundreds-of-millions in annual payroll and contributes more than $1.8 billion to the state’s economy.
4. These communities recognize that many in Ohio depend heavily on general aviation and community airports for the continued flow of commerce, tourists and visitors to our state.

November 8, 2018

Membership Satisfaction Survey Results Are In!

1. Top answers to “What would you tell a peer is the best benefit of belonging to OAA?”: Advocacy, Networking, and the Annual Conference.
   
   
2. Top answers to “How do you prefer to meet/get to know other members?”: Conference, Networking Outside of the Conference, and Board Meetings/Committee Work.
   
   
3. Top answers to “How can we help facilitate networking for members?”: At the Conference and After-Hours Events (not associated with the conference).
   
   
4. Top answers to “What types of events would you like to see OAA offer in the future?”: Airport Management training Classes, Airport Tours for Members, and After-Hours Gatherings.
   
   
5. Top Social Media Platform Used: Linked In, Facebook.
   
   
6. How satisfied are you with your OAA membership? 92% are satisfied or very satisfied.

There were a few results that we will attempt to dive into over the next few weeks. One result, in particular, has our BOD attention: 23% of survey respondents indicated they least-liked the OAA Annual Awards. Unfortunately, no additional comments were provided to add clarification to this answer. But OAA will dig-in and find out exactly what our members are trying to tell us and seek to improve!

The OAA Board of Directors take these results to heart! We will work hard to integrate the suggestions and needs of our members!  Thanks again to all the members that took the time to complete our survey!

OAA Joined AOPA, EAA, and ODOT for Aviation Day on September 18, 2018

The Ohio Aviation Association was pleased to partner with AOPA, EAA, and ODOT Aviation to educate, communicate and advocate at the Statehouse.  With exhibit tables set up in the Rotunda and a lunch in the Atrium, AOPA, ODOT, and OAA helped to get the word out about aviation in the State of Ohio!  AOPA was able to get Cirrus to bring in an SR-22 for display outside the Statehouse for some excitement!  For a copy of the OAA presentation, click here.

Make sure to watch for the date of OAA's spring Legislative Day so you can plan to help!

Newly Enacted Bill Allows Airport and Port Authorities to Seek Legal Assistance from County Prosecutors

Earlier this month, Governor Kasich signed a priority bill for Ohio Aviation Association that would allow County Prosecutors to provide legal assistance to port and airport authorities. OAA has worked to enact this important legislation at the request of members who have previously received assistance from their county prosecutor or have an interest in obtaining assistance from their county prosecutor. A 2015 opinion issued by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine found that this practice was not allowed under the Ohio Revised Code and that a statutory change was required. House Bill 34, sponsored by State Representatives Steve Hambley (R-Medina) and Scott Ryan (R-Newark) was introduced last year; OAA worked to have this language added to the bill during Senate consideration last month.

An accounting background, a love for aviation, and a love for public service give us one of OAA’s Officers. Meet Mr. Gary R. Folden!  Gary has served on the OAA Board of Directors for the last three years. He serves as both the OAA’s Treasurer and OAA’s Political Action Committee Treasurer as well. From Jefferson County Airport, he travels to all parts of the state supporting OAA and its mission. Read more about what the OAA means to Jefferson County Airport and what the OAA means to Gary personally.

What does the Ohio Aviation Association mean to your airport?

The Jefferson County Airport, located in eastern Ohio, is a small general aviation facility with limited financial resources and a mostly part-time staff. The OAA is a crucial tool in assisting with the development and management of the airport. Our Airport Authority Board relies heavily on the information that is disseminated by the OAA. The organization keeps us informed of current trends in aviation as well as providing vital updates from the FAA and ODOT Aviation Office. We have attended the annual conferences for many years to gather recent news and learn about developments in the industry. The resources available on the OAA website has been extremely useful and reduced the time and effort it takes to build a policy or create a document.

Last month, the Ohio Aviation Association sent major party candidates for Ohio Governor a brief survey to gauge their positions on aviation funding and policy issues.  Our goal was to provide our members with information regarding the aviation policy platforms for Gubernatorial candidates.  On May 8th, Ohio voters went to the polls to select candidates for office in the Primary. Former Ohio Attorney General and Consumer Finance Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray won the Democratic nomination while current Ohio Attorney General and former United States Senator Mike DeWine won the Republican nomination. Both candidates responded to OAA’s survey. Click below to read each item:

Cover Memo
Cordray Response
DeWine Response

 A Message from Past President Tory Richardson

Dear OAA Members:

If your passion is to help the Ohio airport and aviation community shine, you may have already had a pang in your gut to help serve in some way.  Serving on the non-profit OAA Board is a fun and rewarding way to advocate for aviation in Ohio! As Board Members, we take our responsibilities seriously and are always looking for ways to engage and improve. If you are interested in serving on the Board with some of your colleagues from across the state, we encourage you to step up.

The Ohio Aviation Association has been around for several decades (originally known as the Ohio Airport Managers Association). Some of our Board Members have been around OAA for quite some time as well, adding value through “corporate memory” and consistency. One such Board Member, Mr. Greg Heaton, has been a driving force for several of the changes some might have witnessed over the last few years. Around Ohio since 2003, Greg Heaton serves as a Vice President for Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, Inc. (CMT) in their Columbus Office. Greg immediately got involved with OAA upon moving to Ohio and has been a very active member ever since. Greg has served as President of OAA in 2015-2016 and again in 2016-2017. Greg also serves as the President of the Ohio Aviation Association Political Action Committee.

Here is what Greg said when I ask him about OAA:

As the Executive Director of the Ohio Aviation Association, sometimes I get to spend a lot of time with my Directors. These last few months I have worked closely with OAA's Conference Committee to put together a great program for OAA members and non-members alike. This year’s Conference Committee Chair is Mr. Tom Mochty. He is a Senior VP at Woolpert, Inc. and he sits in Dayton, but you will find him all over Ohio and beyond.

Ohio Aviation Association Applauds Passage of House Bill 370

Bill Would Recognize Wright Brothers Flyer on State Seal of Ohio

COLUMBUS—The Ohio Aviation Association (OAA), the leading voice for Ohio’s airports, applauded the passage of House Bill 370 by the Ohio House of Representatives today. HB 370, sponsored by State Representative Rick Perales (R-Beavercreek) would add a depiction of the Wright Flyer to the Ohio Coat of Arms and Great Seal

“As the birthplace of aviation, Ohio has a unique history that is part of our state identity,” said
Stacey Heaton, Executive Director of the Ohio Aviation Association Board of Directors. “As beneficiaries of the achievements of the Wright Brothers, our membership strongly supports House Bill 370.”

We are excited to announce that we have received our first donations to the Norman J. Crabtree Memorial Scholarship silent auction, which will take place during the 2018 Annual Conference.  For more information on the scholarship, click here.  

• Our Annual Conference is coming up quickly - April 10th and 11th at the Hilton Columbus/Polaris. Registration will open soon so block your calendar and plan for a great time to be had by all. Remember, you can use this conference for Continuing Education Credits for various professional organizations.  Amount of credits may vary.
  
  
• We will announce the recipients of the Norman J. Crabtree Scholarship at the Annual Conference on April 10th. Spread the word that applications are due February 7. Click here for more information.
  
  
• We will announce the recipients of the various OAA Awards at the Annual Conference on April 10th. OAA has 5 categories of awards available, including Airport Manager of the Year, Airport of the Year, Aviator of the Year Award, Airport Business of the Year, and Aviation Student of the Year. NOMINATE TODAY! Click here for more information. Deadline is February 15th!

In a world where "fake" news seems to reign, caution seems prudent to an organization that posts recent news.  This was exactly the case when I received the email stating that Mr. Rick McQueen has announced his retirement from the Akron-Canton Airport after more than a third of a century. I immediately replied to the public relations person at CAK to indicate my disdain for such news. Sadly, it was true.

January 8, 2018

The Ohio Aviation Association wants to help promote our member's aviation events. As a perk for members, we will post your airport/aviation community event on our website at no charge!  To take advantage of this benefit, just complete the online form, found here.  Not a member yet?  Read about our other benefits here and join today!

Are you interested in guiding Ohio's Rules regarding aviation? Here is one way to do it! Below is an outreach from ODOT seeking input BEFORE March 2, 2018. Click here for ODOT's copy of the current rules.

All across the great State of Ohio, December is being recognized as General Aviation Appreciation Month. Just what does that mean?  It means:

1. These communities recognize their airports play a critical role in the lives of its citizens, as well as in the operation of businesses and farms.
2. These communities have a significant interest in the continued vitality of general aviation, aerospace, aircraft manufacturing, educational institutions, aviation organizations, community airports and airport operators.
3. These communities recognize that general aviation airports in Ohio have a major economic impact on the state's economy as it supports thousands of jobs, hundreds-of-millions in annual payroll and contributes more than $1.8 billion to the state’s economy.
4. These communities recognize that many in Ohio depend heavily on general aviation and community airports for the continued flow of commerce, tourists and visitors to our state.

The State of Ohio
City of Akron
City of Canton
City of Cincinnati
City of Cleveland
City of Columbus
City of Dayton
City of Defiance
City of Dublin
City of Mansfield
City of Toledo
City of Youngstown
City of Zanesville

Periodically, we highlight a Board Member so you can get to know them better and hear, first hand, what OAA means to them.  Today, learn about Matt McVicker, Secretary of OAA. He also serves as the Chair of the Education Committee.

It is hard to gain real-world experience while in college; it is even harder to do so specifically in aviation...and in Ohio! We wanted to do our part to help the students (our future) find an internship opportunity.  Ohio Aviation Association now offers a webpage dedicated to posting of aviation internships around Ohio. Do you have an aviation internship you want to post?  Open to all businesses related to aviation.  And - there is no cost to post with us!  Click here to complete the form to post your aviation internship.

Students - check here frequently for new postings! 

We are in the midst of the holiday season and I hope everyone is enjoying a little R&R! While you are handing out gifts that bring joy to others, please consider another kind of gift...consider sponsoring a college student so they may attend the upcoming Annual Conference. For every $50 you sponsor, one college student can attend the upcoming Annual Conference at no cost. As this does not cover all the cost OAA will pick-up the rest. Help the future of Ohio aviation by investing in their education now!  Click here to complete an easy online form today!

Another positive community impact by one of our members, the Ashtabula County Airport Authority.  Continue reading....