Almost 700 people from across the US have visited all of Virginia’s 65 public-use airports. In so doing, they have completed the main goal of the Virginia Aviation Ambassador Program coordinated by the Virginia Department of Aviation (DOAV). On Saturday, September 14th, the DOAV welcomed 33 new members to this exclusive club during a ceremony at Williamsburg Jamestown Airport (JGG).
Identifying ambassadors who have reached gold-level is easy – they’re wearing a customized leather flight jacket. These unique jackets cannot be purchased, only earned, when the DOAV verifies that a participant has visited all public-use airports, 4 air museums, a fly-in, and a safety seminar. Past recipients donned their jackets to welcome this year’s new class.
New members came from 22 cities and towns across the Commonwealth. In addition, this member class included residents from Maryland, Washington, DC, and even Chicago. A broad range of ages was represented in this group as well. Twin children, Ajay and Aditi from Vienna, VA, completed the program with their father, Anand. Equally as impressive is Audrey from Williamsburg, VA, who reached gold-level status at only 8 years old.
The DOAV is so proud of its system of airports that it initiated the program for pilots and non-pilots to see them. An additional benefit of the program is as an economic driver, according to the director of the DOAV, Greg Campbell.
“When you’re visiting these airports, you are also visiting the local sites, eating at restaurants, staying at hotels, and filling up on fuel,” said Campbell.
Public-use airports are exactly as described – they are open to everyone. Most Virginians don’t realize that they are likely no more than a half hour away from an airport, which is all anyone needs to know to get started in the ambassador program. Once you visit your first public-use airport in the Commonwealth, you can pick up a specialized blue passport and get your first stamp… and then the adventure really begins.
Director Campbell doesn’t want people to think of Virginia airports as merely places where airplanes take off and land:
“Airports are local gateways to the rest of the world,” said Campbell.
Find more information on the Virginia Aviation Ambassador Program at doav.virginia.gov.
The DOAV is proud to announce our 2023-2024 gold-level members:
Sam Yakulis – Stafford, VA
Michael Penzo – Stafford, VA
Jacob Kepley – Forest, VA
Bruce E. Munger Jr. – Hampton, VA
Joseph Bechtold – Washington, DC
Bradford Docos – Ashburn, VA
Carmel Haas – Arlington, VA
Kevin Schutz – Winchester, VA
Fay Schutz – Winchester, VA
Seuk Kim – Springfield, VA
Frank Wright – Charlottesville, VA
Douglas Davis – Staunton, VA
Kasey Boyer – Forest, VA
James C. Andrews – Warrenton, VA
James Carlton – Mount Vernon, VA
Alex Henry – Chicago, IL
Eddie Jones – Alexandria, VA
Francis Wilson Brown – Bedford, VA
Kenneth Kueny – Glen Allen, VA
John Somiak – Reston, VA
Alexander Berger – Richmond, VA
Cody Lucas – Chantilly, VA
Daniel Schwartz – Rockville, MD
James Hart – Arlington, VA
Susan Gasperini – Stuart, VA
Tracy Gasperini – Stuart, VA
Ajay Anand – Vienna, VA
Aditi Anand – Vienna, VA
Anand Mohan – Vienna, VA
Connor J. McLernon – Purcellville, VA
Darius Jack – Alexandria, VA
Audrey Plum – Williamsburg, VA