The Colors of The Season

by Cassandra Isackson
Director, Minnesota Office of Aeronautics

We have had a fabulous summer overall, the kind we brag about to people in other locales. Warm, sunny days, brilliantly colored sunsets, and comfortable, calm evenings, have made this late starting summer one to remember.

Now we can see the colors of fall almost everywhere. We feel the change in the cool, crisp mornings and see bright blue skies dotted with fast moving popcorn clouds heralding the new season. What a beautiful time it is to take advantage of all that aviation has to offer and to receive some exciting news about aviation in Minnesota.

Minnesota’s airport inspection season is coming to a close in early October. We are happy that those airports inspected this year have continued to do a good job at keeping up with maintenance and safety issues. Thanks must go to airport management for their great efforts at keeping our airports in good condition. Just remember to keep the vegetation down early next spring, especially in the primary and approach surface areas.

Your (MnDOT) Office of Aeronautics, and Federal Aviation Administration Airports District Office (FAA-ADO) personnel, are available for Capital Improvement Program (CIP) outreach meetings from mid-August through September. This is an opportunity to put faces to names, regarding grant requirements, time lines, and to review the projected needs of airports for state fiscal year 2015 and beyond.

Please understand that this is not a required meeting. Meeting opportunities are provided to answer your questions about the airport planning process, airport funding and development.

There has been a recent improvement for the CIP program. Airport managers/owners are now able to update their CIP in a fast, efficient manner online! It is easier for airports to enter and adjust their information, and allows airport management to see the most current information they have entered. Now airport management can see exactly what the Minnesota Office of Aeronautics and FAA sees. The new electronic system makes the process more efficient, while also saving time and money for everyone.

There is a tutorial on the CIP at: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/aero/avoffice/airdev.html. Click on “Capital Improvement Program” at the top of the page.

This is also a great time to remind pilots to use caution when they prepare for flying as the season changes. Remember that soon we will see frost in the morning and the potential of black ice on roadways, taxiways and runways. Please stay alert and stay safe, while you enjoy the colors of the season.

This entry was posted in Columns, Columns, MN Aeronautics Bulletin, October/November 2013 and tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink.

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