Virginia Aviation Ambassadors Program
NEW! Virginia Department of Aviation Receives Grant to Continue Ambassadors Awards
The Program 
The Virginia Aviation Ambassadors Program is designed to encourage pilots to fly to all of the airports in Virginia as well as visit aviation museums and attend safety seminars.
Pilots and aviation enthusiasts will get to see the valuable assets that are Virginia's system of airports. As they set and meet goals in their flying and sightseeing, participants will also have fun and learn more about the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The Virginia Aviation Ambassadors Program provides Bronze, Silver and Gold level recognition for pilots and passengers who visit (fly or drive) our airports and aviation museums, participate in one of our DOAV/FAA Safety programs and attend the Virginia Regional Festival of Flight.
Virginia's Honorary Aviation Ambassador
How To Participate
Visit your local public-use airport and request a Virginia Aviation Ambassador's Program passport.
Each time you visit a Virginia public-use airport, aviation museum, or safety seminar, have your passport stamped in the appropriate block. The airport fixed-base operator will have the appropriate stamp. It is always wise to call before visiting, to ensure that someone will be there to stamp your passport.
As you plan your trips, keep in mind that you need to visit at least one airport from each of Virginia's seven airport regions. Fill in the page at the front of your passport with the name of the airports and when you're done sign at the bottom.
When you have received the proper number of stamps entitling you to a bronze, silver, or gold level award, submit your completed passport to the Virginia Department of Aviation (see Rules).
Rules
- There is no deadline for completing the passport program as long as the program remains in operation.
- The program is open to pilots and passengers. Participants are not required to be Virginia residents. Participants must obtain an official Virginia Aviation Ambassadors Passport to participate.
- When visiting a qualifying airport, museum, or safety seminar, participants must obtain a stamp in their passport. All stamps must be made in the appropriate location in the booklet. No stamps may be made on any other document and later placed in the booklet.
- To receive a stamp from a participating airport or facility, participants must present a photo ID matching the name in the Virginia Aviation Ambassador Passport. Each participant may only receive one airport stamp per visit. Safety seminar stamps will be available at qualifying events.
- It is possible to receive three stamps at the Virginia Regional Festival of Flight: airport stamp, qualifying safety seminar stamp, and fly-in stamp.
- Upon completion, the passport must be submitted to the Department of Aviation for review. Passports may be mailed to the Department or may be presented at the Department of Aviation offices on Richmond International Airport. If you wish to have your passport reviewed while you wait (or if you plan to fly in and park on the Department of Aviation's ramp), it is strongly recommended that you call ahead to schedule an appointment (804-236-3624). Please note which level: Gold, Silver, or Bronze is being sought.
- Once a passport has been submitted and gift awarded, the passport will be returned to the participant so that he or she can continue to the next level.
- Awards and recognition will be made at the annual Virginia Aviation Conference or the Virginia Regional EAA Fly-In.
Participation Levels
Gold Level
- Visit all 66 of Virginia's Public-Use Airports
- Visit four (4) aviation museums in Virginia
- Attend one (1) safety seminar in Virginia
- Attend the Virginia Regional Festival of Flight
Premium Gift: Leather Flight Jacket 
Silver Level
- Visit 50 of Virginia's Public-Use Airports (at least one from each of the 7 regions)
- Visit four (4) aviation museums in Virginia
- Attend one (1) safety seminar in Virginia
- Attend the Virginia Regional Festival of Flight
Premium Gift: Flight Bag 
Bronze Level
- Visit 25 of Virginia's Public-Use Airports (at least one from each of the 7 regions)
- Visit four (4) aviation museums in Virginia
- Attend one (1) safety seminar in Virginia
- Attend the Virginia Regional Festival of Flight
Premium Gift: Virginia Aviation Ambassadors Cap and Lapel Pin 
Frequently Asked Questions
- 1. Where do I find a list of airport regions?
- A list of airport regions is contained in the Virginia Airport Directory. A list is also available on the Department of Aviation's website when you click on the Virginia Aviation Board Logo.
- 2. Once I complete the Bronze level, can I continue using my same passport to the Silver or Gold levels?
- Yes, once a passport has been submitted and reviewed it is returned to its owner and can be used to advance to the next level of the program.
- 3. What do I do if no one is at the airport to sign my passport?
- A few of the airports participating in the program are not attended regularly. While alternate methods for getting a stamp are being investigated for the future (see airport notices), right now at these locations it is very important that you call first to make arrangements for someone to meet you. Contact information is available in the Virginia Airport Directory or on the Department of Aviation's web site (click on Virginia's Airports).
- 4. Where on an airport do I need to go to get a stamp?
- At most of Virginia's airports the stamp resides at the fixed base operator's office. In certain cases, the stamp might be at the airport managers/sponsors office or, in the case of Washington National Airport, at the Information Desk.
- 5. I visited a Virginia Airport that wasn't able to stamp my passport (no stamp, no passports, etc.) what do I do?
- If you are unable to get a stamp at an attended Virginia airport because of the above reasons, please contact the Virginia Department of Aviation.
- Virginia's Honorary Aviation Ambassador
Sara Parmenter 
Sara Parmenter, Virginia's Honorary Aviation Ambassador, has been a pilot for 56 years. Be sure to say "hi" when you see her flying her vintage Cessna 140 around the Commonwealth.
Suggestions for Pilots
It is suggested that, before departure, pilots call facilities that do not publish FBO hours of operation to verify that someone will be there to stamp the passport. Stamps may be obtained by participants who drive into airports as well as those who fly-in. If in doubt about the safety of a flight due to weather, field conditions, runway length, etc., participants are urged to use sound judgment in deciding whether or not to make the flight.
For More Information
Contact Betty Wilson (Public Communications & Education Division) of the Virginia Department of Aviation with questions about the program. Share your experiences as you visit Virginia's airports and (with your permission) we'll post your comments online.
Airport Notices
Brookneal-Campbell County Airport: the passport stamp is located in a gray mailbox located at the edge of the ramp next to the gate.
Blackstone: the passport stamp is in the mailbox on the fence (surrounding the mini orange and white checked, raised control tower).
Bridgewater: the passport is in the office which is open on weekdays. If you plan to visit on the weekend call the operator during the week to make arrangements.
Chase City: the passport stamp is located in a gallon-size coffee can ( red with black lid - Folgers can) that is nailed to the outside of the old restaurant building next to the beacon tower (office of a trucking dispatch business). Ambassador sign posted on window.
Crewe: the passport stamp is located in the terminal building on a table.
Gordonsville Municipal Airport: the passport stamp is located next to the fueling system.
Grundy Municipal Airport: the passport stamp is located in the office at the end of the hangar.
Hartwood Airport: this facility is no longer considered a public use airport in Virginia and Virginia Aviation Ambassador participants do not need to obtain a passport stamp from this field to complete the program.
Hummel Field: the stamp is located in the white trailer located at midfield near the self-serve fuel area.
Lake Anna Airport: the passport stamp is located near the "Caution Active Runway Sign" - in the mailbox.
Lawrenceville-Brunswick Airport: the stamp is located on a table inside one of the hangars (the one with the RV inside) -- the hangar is open from 8-5, 7 days a week.
Lee County Airport (Jonesville): the passport stamp is mounted on the corner of the T-hangar in a green box (there are signs leading to it). Note: the old Lee County Airport (Pennington Gap) is now closed to the public.
Lunenburg County Airport: the passport stamp is located in the terminal.
Marks Municipal Airport: the passport stamp is located at the end of the hangar (next to the road).
New Market: the passport stamp is in the white metal box to the right of the FBO door. Note: the New Market passport stamp was missing. A new replacement stamp has been provided and should now be in place, however, if you are unable to locate it, please obtain a signature from the airport manager or take a photograph and place a copy in your passport.
Middle Peninsula Regional Airport: The stamp is in the flight planning room between the WSI and the AWOS.
Orange County Airport: The stamp is in a mailbox by the first pedestrian gate after the fuel farm and before the entrance to the ramp side of the terminal. The mailbox is covered with Ambassadors stickers.
Ronald Reagan Washington National: a passport stamp is located at the Travelers Aid booth in Terminal A and at Signature Flight Support during operating hours.
Tangier Island Airport: the passport stamp is carried, during operating hours, by the person who collects landing fees (on their golf cart) and at other times is in the town hall building (white block building about 1000 ft. south of the east parking ramp).
Twin County Airport: the passport stamp is mounted next to the telephone in the round terminal building.
Wakefield Municipal Airport: the passport stamp is mounted in the terminal next to the sign-in book.
Special Notices
Tappahannock-Essex Airport is now open and has its own stamp. The Tappahannock Municipal Airport is closed. For the purposes of the Virginia Aviation Ambassadors Program, either stamp will qualify for the program.
Air Power Park in Hampton is no longer on the list of museum's qualifying for the Ambassadors Program. If you already have the Air Power Park stamp it will count but, because the facility is no longer attended, obtaining a stamp has become nearly impossible and their management has requested that we remove the facility from the VAAP program.
The new National Museum of the Marine Corps located at Quantico (and visible from I-95) now qualifies as a participating aviation museum. Beginning January 10, 2007, an ambassadors stamp will be available at the reception desk to be placed in an open slot at the end of the passport book.
It has been brought to our attention that there is a misprint in the second printing of the Virginia Aviation Ambassadors Passport booklet. A printed slot for the Virginia Regional Fly-In has been omitted. The Fly-In is still a requirement and the appropriate stamp can be placed in an open space.
Hartwood Airport: this facility is no longer considered a public use airport in Virginia and Virginia Aviation Ambassador participants do not need to obtain a passport stamp from this field to complete the program.
2008 Virginia Regional Festival of Flight: The Virginia Regional Festival of Flight will be held at the Suffolk Executive Airport on June 14-15, 2008. The required fly-in stamp for 2008 will be available at this event.
