JoAnn Hill, president of Master Instructors LLC (MI LLC), has agreed to remain as national chairman for another term.  John Teipen, the 2005 National CFI of the Year as well as the 2008 National FAASTeam Representative of the Year will serve as vice-chairman.  2007 National CFI of the Year Mike Gaffney will serve as secretary while 2007 National AMT of the Year Paul New has assumed the treasurer's duties.  Sandy Hill of MI LLC will serve on the board and chair the Communications/Marketing Committee.   Advocates for Aviation Safety Foundation (AFASF) executive director Paul Burger has agreed to continue chairing the Fund Raising Committee.  Kate Fraser, manager of operations for General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), will join the Fund Raising Committee.  A seventh board seat is yet to be filled.  Kevin Clover, AFS 850, will serve as the FAA liaison to the Board.

Numerous updates and additions are being made to the Awards program's official website, http://www.GeneralAviationAwards.org/  The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) has once again agreed to host the national awards during AirVenture 2012.  Judging for the 2012 national winners is being done by past national award winners and is currently under way.  The four national winners will be announced by March 1st.  The finalists for the national award have been vetted through local Flight Standards District Offices (FSDOs) and the FAA's regional offices.  Industry sponsors provide funding to send the national winners to AirVenture each year and industry donors provide checks and gifts to the four national winners.

Additional information about the General Aviation Awards program as well as nomination / application forms and sponsoring opportunities is available on the program's website.

Support and sponsorship for the General Aviation Awards program is provided by Women in Aviation International (WAI), the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE), the Professional Aviation Maintenance Ass'n (PAMA), the National Business Aviation Ass'n (NBAA), the National Ass'n of State Aviation Officials (NASAO), the National Air Transportation Ass'n (NATA), the Ninety-Nines International (The 99s), the General Aviation Manufacturers Ass'n (GAMA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Experimental Aircraft Ass'n (EAA), the Aircraft Maintenance Technology Society (AMT Society), the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Ass'n (AOPA), and the Aeronautical Repair Station Ass'n (ARSA).

Additional support is being provided by Advocates for Aviation Safety Foundation (AFASF), Aeronautical Proficiency Training LLC (AVTrain), Master Instructors LLC (MI LLC), National Aviation Safety Foundation (NASF), Rich Stowell Consulting (RichStowell.com), Flight School Association of North America (FSANA), Aviation Training Consultants (ATC), and Glenna Blackwell's photography.

Industry donors include Garmin, Jeppesen, King Schools, Rod Machado, Belvoir Media Group, Bose, ASA, Duncan Aviation, Gleim Publications, Gulfstream Aerospace, Cessna, and Universal Avionics.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton said they are encouraged by the continued growth in passenger numbers in 2011.  Sky Harbor is a vital gateway to the Southwest and the increase in activity indicates that the economy is improving.

Events such as college bowl games, the Waste Management Open, Rock n’ Roll Marathon and the Major League Baseball All-Star Game are some of the big events bringing thousands through the airport.  But business and leisure travel is coming back as well. Spring and summer were the busiest seasons in 2011 and the airport has seen continual growth for 16 months in a row.  Sky Harbor holds its status as one of the top ten busiest airports in the country.

Aviation Director, Danny Murphy said the numbers are an excellent reminder that they must continue to provide the facilities and services worthy of the world-class airport that we have right here in Phoenix.  To keep up with this demand, Murphy said they must be planning now to serve over 50 million passengers in 2030.

One of the critical services the airport will offer the growing number of passengers is the PHX Sky Train™.  Beginning early 2013, it will transport passengers between the regional METRO light rail system at 44^th Street and Washington, East Economy parking and Terminal 4.  Soon after, it will connect the rest of the terminals and by late 2020, the Sky Train will travel to the Rental Car Center.

Guidance Aviation's facility at Prescott Airport. Site of the special presentation.

In 2011 Stonecipher and Guidance Aviation established the Guidance Aviation Scholarship fund which donates $1,000 for every flight student enrolled in the Associate of Applied Science, Professional Pilot, Helicopters, program.

John Morgan, left, Dean of Yavapai College's Chino Valley and CTEC campuses, accepts a check from John Stonecipher, CEO Guidance Aviation.

Attendees at the BBQ and special event included Yavapai County Sheriff, Scott Mascher, Sheriff Steven Waugh (retired), board members and deputies of YCSO. Guidance Aviation faculty, flight students and families were present as well. Helicopter and airplane rides were provided by Guidance in addition to food and beverages served.

Guidance Aviation is the first FAA Part 141 High Altitude Helicopter flight training facility in the U.S., specializing in helicopter and airplane flight training. For more information on Guidance visit their website at www.guidance.aero.

Ribbon-cutting participants at the grand opening of the Zulu Caffe on January 16th. (Photo courtesy of Scott Schauer Photography.)

A grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on November 16th. Scottsdale Mayor W.J. “Jim” Lane said he is very pleased that Zulu Caffe will be providing a first-rate restaurant and catering service at the airport.

Dee Dee Maza, co‐owner of Zulu Caffe said the dream of bringing their restaurant to the Scottsdale Airport was made possible through the cooperation of the City of Scottsdale and its civic leaders.

The new restaurant is located inside the airport terminal at 15000 N. Airport Drive. With great views of the airfield, guests can watch airplanes take off and land while they enjoy their food.  Zulu Caffe is open six days per week, featuring breakfast, lunch and happy hour Tuesday – Friday, and weekend brunch on Saturday and Sunday.  Visit www.zulucaffe.com or call 480-636-1634 to make your reservation.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

The FAA, Airport and airline staff prepared for more than six months on this project which included a number of enhancements such as: state-of-the-art lighting, pavement repairs and marking, and taxi-way improvements.  More than 250 men and women worked around the clock to ensure that the $10.6 million North Runway Project was completed on time and in accordance with the FAA’s regulations and safety guidelines.

While there were some passenger delays during construction, the advance work with the airlines and the FAA to schedule flights accordingly, reduced that impact significantly.

Danny Murphy, Aviation Director for the City of Phoenix, said that there is never a convenient time to close a runway, but the coordination by all of their partners to maintain smooth airport operations demonstrated a strong commitment to teamwork and customer service.

The North Runway is the longest of Sky Harbor’s three runways at almost 11,500 feet. More than 1,200 aircraft arrive and depart daily from PHX, which serves 100,000 passengers each day.

USPA Executive Director, Ed Scott.

The association announced that skydiving, an FAA-recognized aeronautical activity, continues to increase business at general aviation airports across the country and boost local economies by bringing thousands of people to nearby businesses. In 2011, USPA’s 200-plus affiliated skydiving centers in the U.S. reported more than 3.1 million skydives and nearly 400,000 takeoffs and landings with no fatal aircraft accidents.

Last year, according to a USPA release, more than a half million people in the U.S. took the leap for the first time. Whether to cross an item off their bucket lists or to discover a new hobby and passion, these first-timers took the life-changing leap and experienced the thrill of a lifetime.

In addition to first-time jumpers, USPA also reports an upsurge in experienced skydivers of all ages. At year’s end, USPA boasted a membership of 33,515—its highest number since January 2002, shortly after the 9-11 terrorist attacks wreaked havoc on the aviation industry.

As the sport of skydiving is clearly on the rise, accident numbers continue to remain minimal, USPA says. In 2011, 25 people died in the U.S. while skydiving, or one out of every 125,000 jumps. Additionally, the five-year average of skydiving fatalities shows a steady decline, with an average of 22 per year over the last five years compared to 25 per year from 2002-2006 and 35 per year from 1997-2001.

Skydiving continues to improve its safety record due in large part to safer equipment and better training. Student accidents are extremely low; most injuries and fatalities involve experienced skydivers attempting advanced maneuvers. USPA continues to work toward making the sport safer by developing additional training programs and conducting its annual Safety Day—scheduled for March 10 this year—where drop zones across the country hold safety seminars and refresher training.

“We’re constantly striving to make skydiving as safe as possible, especially for students,” says USPA Executive Director Ed Scott. “The sport’s continued growth attests to this improved safety and the indescribable life-altering experience of jumping out of a plane. With Leap Year upon us, what better time to take that leap?”

For more information on skydiving and to find a USPA Group Member skydiving center near you, visit www.uspa.org.

The AOPA Aviation Summit features dozens of aircraft on display at the Palm Springs Convention Center, more than 400 booths in the exhibit hall and an enhanced education series offered over the course of three days.

The organization has not been to Palm Springs since 2006.  Since then, almost $200 million has been spent to build new hotels and upgrade existing facilities. The summit is expected to generate $12 million in economic impact.

The return to Palm Springs also means the return of the popular Parade of Planes, traveling the mile from Palm Springs International Airport to the convention center.  Palm Springs is the only city that allows for this option.

In addition to interactive displays, educational opportunities and hundreds of exhibits, there will also be time for more social events.  The goal in Palm Springs is to offer a range of social activities that will allow pilots to connect in a meaningful way while taking advantage of the best the city has to offer.

AOPA will also use the Aviation Summit to reveal the lucky winner of this year’s Tougher than a Tornado sweepstakes aircraft, the 2011 Aviat Husky. It is a rugged, hand-crafted two-seater aircraft that can land on a wide variety of surfaces, including grass, sand beaches and river beds.

The inauguration will be celebrated at a dinner recognizing the first inductees on Saturday evening, February 18, 2012 at the Phoenix Hilton East-Mesa Hotel, 1011 W. Holmes, Mesa, Arizona 85210. Cocktails will be from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Dinner and the induction ceremony will follow. Brigadier General Jerry D. Harris, Commander, 56th Fighter Wing, Luke AFB will be the keynote speaker.

The first six inductees into the Arizona Military Aviation Walk of Honor include: Lieutenant Frank Luke, Major Fred Ferguson, Rear Admiral W. L. Chatham, Mr. Sergei Sikorsky, Major Joseph Foss and Dr. Harry Robertson. Inductees are native, resident or former resident Arizonans, living or deceased, who made noteworthy contributions to the field of military aviation. They are selected based upon achievement in a variety of categories, including flying, engineering, manufacturing, operations, education or other commendable aviation-related achievements.

Tickets for the Induction Dinner will be available starting January 21, 2012 at www.azcaf.org or at the CAF Arizona Wing Aviation Museum, 2015 N. Greenfield Road, Mesa, AZ, 85215. For more information visit the web site or call the Museum at 480-924-1940 or 480-268-2144. The CAF Arizona Military Aviation Walk of Honor has been officially recognized as an Arizona Centennial event.

The CAF Arizona Wing Aviation Museum is operated by the Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. Organized in 1978 as the Arizona chapter of the Commemorative Air Force, the Wing's mission is to restore and preserve historically important aircraft and related memorabilia in order to educate the public about the significant contributions made by men and women in the defense of the Nation.

Students gather in front of the Jacobs/NASA facility at Yuma International Airport.

The University of Arizona began offering Engineering 102 in an effort to introduce high school students to college-level engineering and to give math-and-science savvy students hands-on experience before they commit to a university engineering program.  The high school program is based on the Engineering 102 class that freshman engineering students take at the UofA.

Inside the NASA hangar.

NASA’s Capsule Parachute Assembly System team has been performing parachute drop tests at the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Grounds since 2007 to support the design and development of the capsule descent and landing parachute system to support the Orion flight tests and first human flight.

While they’ve been testing in Yuma since 2007, NASA didn’t have a permanent home until the airport built the Pappy Boyington hangar in 2009.  Since basing themselves in the hangar, the NASA and Jacobs Engineering team are ahead of schedule.

“Since the NASA and Jacobs engineers are here for six months out of the year, Yuma is like a second home for them and we’ve built an amazing relationship.” said Gen Grosse, airport spokesperson.   “We also participate in a variety of educational programs within the community.  When NASA expressed interest in sharing their knowledge and experience with our local students, we knew it would be an experience of a lifetime.  It's exciting for the students to see what a wide variety of options lies in their future.”

Thomas A. Zlaket

A member of TAA since 2003, Zlaket was elected to the board of directors in 2007. He began practicing law in Tucson in 1965 and served in the Arizona Supreme Court from 1992 to 2002, moving from associate justice, to vice chief justice, to chief justice in 1997.

An attorney in private practice for the past 10 years, Zlaket is also an adjunct associate professor at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law and is chief judge of the Tonto Apache Nation Tribal Court of Appeals.

Active in community affairs, Zlaket is a member of several professional organizations, including the DM50, an advocacy group for Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, and the Arizona chapter of The Nature Conservancy, for which he is a trustee.

The Authority’s newly elected members are Michael Duran of Tucson Medical Center, Michael Hammond of PICOR Commercial Real Estate Services, Rosemary Koberlein of The Long Companies, Tim Overton of Wells Fargo, Judith Patrick of SCF Arizona and Richard Underwood of AAA Landscape.

Continuing on the board this year are Lisa Israel, chairman-elect; Steven Fell, secretary; Steven Cole, treasurer; Chanda S. Budhabhatti, assistant secretary; Gregory A. Pivirotto, assistant treasurer; and Rubin Salter, immediate past chairman. Edwin Biggers, Michael Hannley and Tony Finley were newly elected to the board.