In looking back over the past 47 years I have been attending the Wisconsin Aviation Conference, held this year October 26 – 28 at the Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells, the faces have changed, but the underlying goals of the conference remain the same.
People like longtime Wisconsin DOT Bureau of Aeronautics Directors Fritz Wolf, Carl Guell and Bob Kunkel and their staffs did much to support all airports, large and small.
If an airport was on the verge of being closed by a local municipality for lack of interest, funding or politics, Wolf, Guell and Kunkel would come to its rescue, if that meant climbing into an airplane and personally flying to a hearing. They would present the facts and clearly communicate the social and economic benefits of the airport to the community, and the role it plays in the overall air transportation system.
Two airports in particular that were not supported by the bureau in recent years was the Hillsboro and Grantsburg, Wisconsin airports. Hillsboro is now gone, and Grantsburg is on the verge of closing. Neither airport received the support they needed from the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics under most recent administrations. While we can all agree all airports should be represented at the Wisconsin Aviation Conference, is it any wonder why these airports, and many other GA airports, are not?
And when it came to supporting this publication, aeronautics directors Wolf, Guell and Kunkel had our backs from the get-go because they realized the importance of good communication for their office, the conference, and the aviation community as a whole. In fact, Carl Guell took pride in the fact he was our first paid subscriber in 1978.
Let’s hope things will be different under the leadership of the new Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics Director, and WAMA can attract more GA airports to participate in the 71st Annual Wisconsin Aviation Conference to be held October 13-15, 2027, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Representing the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics at this year’s conference was Angela Adams, Deputy Administrator at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, and newly appointed Bureau of Aeronautics Director, Karla Knorr. Adams made opening remarks, and Knorr completed the presentation with an update on current bureau goals and objectives.
Knorr has been with WisDOT since 2006 and has over 26 years of experience in transportation. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and is a registered professional engineer. Prior to joining WisDOT, Knorr worked as a transportation engineer with different consulting firms, but does not have an aviation background. In fact, she commented that she did not realize how diverse the bureau was when taking the position, but that she is all-hands-on-deck to see that her office meets all expectations and more, and encouraged airport officials in attendance to contact her directly for assistance at (608) 246-7965, (608) 516-6507 or via email at Karla.Knorr@dot.wi.gov.
Knorr listed her priorities as director as 1) focusing on the bureau team, 2) building relationships and trust, 3) strengthening her team’s performance by enhancing and strengthening collaboration and communication with airports, 4) streamlining processes and improving program delivery, and 5) visiting airports.
I was favorably impressed by both Adams and Knorr, have heard good things about them, and look forward to working with them in the future.
Their presentation was followed by an update from the Acting Manager of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Chicago Airports District Office, Gary Wilson, who encouraged airport officials to work with his office in conjunction with the bureau of aeronautics.
Airport project funding was on everyone’s mind. Some projects that were slated to begin years ago were sidelined because of a combination of factors, but mostly bureaucratic.
John Chmiel, manager of Wausau Downtown Airport, said it best that the process of getting projects approved and completed is much too complicated, and managers like him need a simplified manual to walk them through the process, step by step. Oftentimes by the time a project gets approved locally, the use of those funds can expire before it is approved by the State and Feds.
Awards presented during the conference included “Person of the Year” and “Lifetime Service.”
This year’s “Person of the Year Award” was presented to J.D. Roberts, Deputy Director at La Crosse Regional Airport, for expanding service to new destinations. This year’s “Lifetime Service Award” went to Aaron Stewart, Director of Aviation at Westwood PS, a leading aviation engineering services company with headquarters in Appleton, Wisconsin (www.westwoodps.com).
The Wisconsin Aviation Conference is sponsored by the Wisconsin Airport Management Association (WAMA) and hosted by the local or a nearby airport. This year’s conference was hosted by Richard Morey and Middleton Municipal Airport – Morey Field.
WAC is the only statewide aviation conference in Wisconsin and serves as a vital platform for airport managers, fixed base operators, pilots, consultants, government officials, and aviation enthusiasts to connect, collaborate, explore aviation topics, and discuss industry issues.
Mark Cihlar, Director at Central Wisconsin Airport (KCWA) in Mosinee, Wisconsin, was elected WAMA President for 2027, replacing outgoing president Harold Mester, Director of Public Affairs & Marketing with Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (KMKE), and Milwaukee Timmerman Airport (KMWC).
Anyone who manages an airport, serves on an airport board, or manages an aviation business should mark their calendars for the 71st Annual Wisconsin Aviation Conference, October 13-15, 2027, to be held at the Oshkosh Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. For additional information contact Debby Jackson and Luke Pearson of the Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin at director@wiama.org.
