Welcome to the Virginia Department of Aviation
The Virginia Department of Aviation is a state transportation agency whose mission is to cultivate an advanced aviation system that is safe, secure, and provides for economic development; promotes aviation awareness and education; and provides executive flight services for the Commonwealth leadership.
2008 Virginia Aviation Awards
Each year individuals who have made significant accomplishments to aviation in the Commonwealth of Virginia are recognized for their efforts. Nominations for Airport Manager of the Year, Person of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement Award are now being accepted from Virginia's aviation community. Please complete and return nomination forms by June 30, 2008. For more information contact Betty Wilson at the Virginia Department of Aviation at (804) 25-3783 or betty.wilson@doav.virginia.gov.
Virginia Department of Aviation Announces Scholarship Recipients
The Virginia Department of Aviation (DOAV) recently announced the 2008 recipients of the John R. Lillard Virginia Airport Operators Council (VAOC) Scholarship and the Willard G. Plentl, Sr. Scholarship.Hunter Guilliams, this year’s $3,000 John R. Lillard VAOC Scholarship award winner and a graduate of James River High School in Buchanan, has enrolled in Virginia Tech’s aerospace engineering program. He wrote in his application essay about his longtime fascination with aviation.
“Perhaps it was the freedom offered by flying, the boundless feeling of the sky and the sense that one could go anywhere,” Guilliams wrote.
Steven Newcomb, this year’s $1,000 Willard G. Plentl, Sr. Scholarship award winner and a graduate of Lee-Davis High School in Mechanicsville, has enrolled in Averett University’s flight operations program with aspirations of becoming of commercial pilot.
“Flying city to city inside the United State or across oceans to foreign countries would bring continuous satisfaction to me,” Newcomb wrote in his scholarship application essay.
The John R. Lillard VAOC Scholarship is named in honor of John R. Lillard, an aviation enthusiast and great humanitarian that served in several leadership positions with the Capital Region Airport Commission, Chesterfield County Airport and Eastern Airlines. This scholarship is made possible through the kind and generous support of the members of the VAOC and is awarded to a Virginia high school senior that has maintained at least a 3.75 un-weighted grade point average; plans a career in the field of aviation; and must be enrolled or accepted into an aviation related program at an accredited college.
The Willard G. Plentl, Sr. Scholarship is named in honor of Willard G. Plentl, Sr., a military combat pilot veteran and former Director of Aeronautics for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Mr. Plentl retired from the Virginia Department of Aviation in 1984 and was elected to the Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame that same year. This scholarship is awarded to a Virginia high school senior with at least a 3.5 un-weighted grade point average; plans an aviation career in a nonengineering
area; and has been accepted into a non-engineering, aviation-related post-secondary education program.
May/June Edition of DOAV News Available for Download
The May/June edition of the DOAV News is available for download. The newsletter features articles on the dedication of the new Lawrenceville-Brunswick terminal building, profiles of Hampton Roads Executive Airport and Lynchburg Regional Airport, announcements of new airline service, coverage of a visit by the Tuskegee Airmen to the Virginia Aviation Museum, and a reminder about Virginia aircraft registration requirements.
Virginia Department of Aviation Receives Grant to Continue Ambassadors Awards
The Virginia Department of Aviation is pleased to announce that it has received a $10,000 grant from the Virginia Aeronautical Historical Society, funded by its partners Heart of Virginia Aviation and Tecnam Aircraft, to continue providing rewards for its Virginia Aviation Ambassadors Program. The Ambassadors program recognition rewards had been suspended in February due to low aviation revenue collections.
The highly successful Virginia Aviation Ambassadors Program was established in 2005 to encourage pilots and the general public to visit Virginia's 66 public use airports, attend pilot safety seminars, and visit aviation museums. At each location or event, participants receive a stamp in an Aviation Passport.
Virginia Aviation Art Contest
The 2008 Virginia Aviation Art Contest asked young people to depict "Aviation in Virginia." Over 200 students ages 6-17 submitted artwork to the contest. First, second, and third place awards were presented to students in each of three age categories.
The Department of Aviation wishes to thank all those who participated in the contest as well as our judges from the American Society of Aviation Artists: Luther Gore, Dick Carpenter, and Bill Kluge.
2008 Virginia Aviation Art Contest Winning Art.
Virginia Aviation and Space Education Forum (VASEF) Newsletter May Be Downloaded
The February 2008 edition of the VASEF newsletter is now online and may be downloaded in .pdf format. Included is information on the winners of the 2008 Virginia Aviation Art Contest and on the upcoming National Conference on Aviation and Space Education which will take place this fall in Arlington.
Virginia Aviation Board Meets, Allocates Funds to Two State Airports and Approves Meeting Date Changes
At its recent board meeting, the Virginia Aviation Board (VAB) approved tentative allocations totaling $15,363 for two of the Commonwealth’s 66 public use airports; Luray Caverns Airport (W45) in Luray and Accomack County Airport (MFV) in Melfa.Luray Caverns Airport’s allocation of $10,263 will be used to acquire land for obstruction removal in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) policy, and Accomack County Airport’s allocation of $5,100 will be used for wetlands mitigation for T-Hangar development ($3,900) and T-Hangar site preparation and taxiway design.
The VAB also approved changing its meeting structure from a bimonthly format to quarterly, and its next meeting has been scheduled for May 15th in Richmond.
The VAB has eight members representing seven regions of the Commonwealth. The Board approves funding requests brought to it by the Virginia Department of Aviation (DOAV).
DOAV Participates in Annual Virginia Aviation & Aerospace Legislative Reception
On Tuesday, January 29th, the DOAV participated in the annual Aviation & Aerospace Legislative Reception at the Library of Virginia. Twenty-one legislators and hundreds of aviation/aerospace professionals attended this year’s event, which was once again co-hosted by Senator Charles J. Colgan and Delegate Frank D. Hargrove. 
Special guest Cord A. Sterling, Vice President of Legislative Affairs for the Aerospace Industries Association, spoke to the attendees about the importance of getting today’s youth interested in aviation/aerospace careers.
NASA Astronaut Dr. Andrew Thomas was also in attendance and signed autographs for interested reception attendees. Dr. Thomas, a 15-year NASA veteran, began his professional career as a research scientist with Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company in Marietta, GA in 1977. Dr. Thomas has participated in four NASA shuttle missions
This year’s event was sponsored by the Virginia Aviation Business Association, the Virginia Aviation Board, NASA-Langley Research Center, Angel Flight, Lockhead Martin, Landmark Aviation and the National Institute of Aerospace.
Virginia Aviation Teachers Grants Awarded
Seven Virginia educators have been selected to receive Virginia Department of Aviation Teachers Grants for the 2007/08 school year. These educators are from all regions of the Commonwealth of Virginia and represent elementary, middle and high schools. For more information on the grants visit Virginia Aviation Teachers Grant.
Virginia Regional Festival of Flight
The Virginia Regional Festival of Flight (previously the Virginia Regional EAA Fly-In) has been scheduled for June 14-15, 2008 at the Suffolk Executive Airport. The event will include a full range of fly-in activities, including forums, workshops, aviation vendor displays, aircraft demonstration flights, activities for young people and acres of parking for attendees either flying or driving in. For more information visit VirginiaFlyIn.org.
2007-08 Virginia Aeronautical Chart Available
The 2007-08 Virginia Aeronautical Chart is now available from the Virginia Department of Aviation (e-mail receptionist@doav.virginia.gov). The chart, to be used for planning only - not legal for navigation, is also being distributed at no charge at Virginia's public use airports and at fly-in's in Virginia.
2007 Virginia Aviation Photography Contest
The 2007 Virginia Aviation Photography Contest was a great success. Many wonderful photographs of aviation in the Commonwealth were entered. The winning photographs have now been selected and are now available to view on this website.
New Tappahannock Airport Opens
The new Tappahannock-Essex County Airport, a 4,300 foot general aviation facility located a few miles south of Tappahannock off U.S. 360, is now open. It will replace the existing 2800 foot airport located in Tappahannock.
