by Don Winkler
The opportunities for airports and pilots to get good public relations with communities are more abundant than you might think. I am not talking about fly-in breakfasts, Young Eagles flights, or other similar promotions, although all of those activities are well worth the effort that goes into them. I am talking here about an effort to reach a far greater audience, the general public!
Case in point was when Wisconsin Aviation, Inc, located at Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, Wisconsin, was approached by the organizers of the renowned Fourth of July celebration, Rhythm & Booms in Madison, to fill in for the Wisconsin Air National Guard F16s that traditionally flew a flyover at the start of the fireworks display. Federal sequestration cancelled the F16 flyover.
After receiving the request on very short notice, Wisconsin Aviation President Jeff Baum decided to put a plan together. This encompassed assigning pilots and aircraft to fly the event. This was not an easy task as the air charter department had a very busy schedule, already.
Eventually, three aircraft were assigned: a Citation Ultra, Citation CJ2 and a Citation CJ1. These aircraft were flown in formation by Grant Goetsch, Director of Flight Operations; Dave Webb, Chief Pilot; and Jeff Baum, himself.
The timing of the flyover needed to be very concise and required precision formation flying. With some last-minute administration details from the event planners, the take-off proceeded nearly on time and the flyover was achieved.
Some skeptical spectators didn’t feel that the Citations were as spectacular as the F16s, but the majority of the 100,000 people that gathered along the shores of Lake Mendota, on the lawn of the State Capitol, and on the isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, appreciated it nonetheless.
Wisconsin Aviation absorbed the cost of the flight, but it was well worth it in the goodwill and public relations that resulted, and the media still recognized our military and veterans. All combined, the flyover was a win-win opportunity for all concerned.
