WANTED – YOUR PHOTOS, Showcasing The Spirit of Minnesota Aviation
ST.PAUL, MINN. – The MnDOT Office of Aeronautics is excited to invite you to submit your best photos showcasing the spirit of Minnesota aviation. Think breathtaking aerial views, special moments at an airport or the incredible airplanes in our state! The winner is selected internally and may be featured on publications, including the “2026 Minnesota Airport Directory & Travel Guide.”
By submitting your photo(s), you agree to allow the MnDOT Office of Aeronautics to use your photos without additional compensation, and your submission indicates that you are a photographer and that the photo was taken in Minnesota. Photo credit will be provided when possible.
The preferred minimum size is 6 megapixels for portrait and 12 megapixels for landscape. Please submit your photos to danielle.walchuk@state.mn.us by September 30, 2025.
What Do You Want To Know?
The MnDOT Office of Aeronautics covers a lot of ground—airport planning, weather systems, licensing, safety, and more—but we want to hear from you! Which subjects pique your interest? Is there a behind-the-scenes process you’ve always wondered about, or a part of our work you’d like us to unpack in an upcoming article?
Send us your ideas, questions, or even the odd aviation mystery. If it’s within our wheelhouse, we’ll take a stab at it in a future issue. Drop us a line at: mina.carlson@state.mn.us
MnDOT Aero Outreach: Minnesota’s Airport Inspection Season Is In Full Swing
Aviation representatives from the MnDOT Office of Aeronautics are deep into the annual airport inspection season—now in full swing for 2025. With nearly 100 facilities on the inspection schedule, representatives are logging countless miles and stops across the state to ensure airports remain safe, well-maintained, and operationally sound.
From paved runways to water docks, this wide-ranging inspection effort includes a diverse mix of public-use airports, private airstrips, personal landing sites, heliports, and seaplane bases.
The inspection process is not just about compliance—it’s also about connection. MnDOT’s aviation representatives meet with airport managers, city officials, and community members during each stop, fostering local partnerships and addressing any updates or needs on the ground. These visits provide an opportunity to review safety measures, identify upcoming maintenance or development items, and support facility operators in meeting both state and federal standards.
More than anything, the inspection season reflects MnDOT Aeronautics’ continued commitment to supporting Minnesota’s aviation system. Whether it’s a remote turf strip or a busy municipal airport, each facility plays a critical role in connecting communities.
Our shared goal remains the same: to promote safe flight operations while celebrating and strengthening the great aviation community that makes Minnesota’s skies second to none.
We still love our clear and a million runway shots as well….