Nearly 700 people from across the US have visited all of Virginia’s 65 public-use airports and completed the main goal of the Virginia Aviation Ambassador Program coordinated by the Virginia Department of Aviation (DOAV).
On Saturday, September 14, Susan Gasperini and Tracy Gasperini, both of Stuart, were among the 33 new members welcomed by the DOAV to this exclusive club during a ceremony at Williamsburg Jamestown Airport (JGG).
Identifying ambassadors who have reached gold-level is easy – they’re wearing a customized leather flight jacket. These unique jackets cannot be purchased, only earned, when the DOAV verifies that a participant has visited all public-use airports, four air museums, a fly-in, and a safety seminar. Past recipients donned their jackets to welcome this year’s new class.
New members came from 22 cities and towns across the Commonwealth. In addition, this member class included residents from Maryland, Washington, DC, and even Chicago. A broad range of ages was represented in this group as well.
Public-use airports are open to everyone. Most Virginians don’t realize that they are likely no more than a half hour away from an airport, which is all anyone needs to know to get started in the ambassador program. Once you visit your first public-use airport in the Commonwealth, you can pick up a specialized blue passport and get your first stamp. Then the adventure really begins.
For more information about the Virginia Aviation Ambassador Program, visit doav.virginia.gov.
