(Department of Aviation)
WILLIAMSBURG — The Virginia Aviation Ambassador Program coordinated by the Virginia Department of Aviation (DOAV) welcomed 33 new members during a ceremony at Williamsburg Jamestown Airport (JGG) on Saturday, Sept. 14.
Almost 700 people from across the U.S. have visited all of Virginia’s 65 public-use airports, and In so doing, have completed the main goal of the program, according to DOAV.
According to the department, identifying ambassadors who have reached gold-level status is easy — they’re wearing a customized leather flight jacket. The 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, DOAV said. In addition, this member class included residents from Maryland, the District of Columbia, and even Chicago. The group also represented a broad range of ages, including twin children Ajay and Aditi from Vienna, who completed the program with their father, Anand. Equally as impressive was 8-year-old Audrey, from Williamsburg.
An additional benefit of the program is as an economic driver, according to Greg Campbell, Director of the Virginia Department of Aviation.
“When you’re visiting these airports, you are also visiting the local sites, eating at restaurants, staying at hotels, and filling up on fuel,” explained Campbell.
Public-use airports are open to everyone, and most Virginians are likely no more than a half hour away from an airport, according to the DOAV. To get started in the ambassador program, a visitor to a public-use airport in the Commonwealth can pick up a specialized blue passport and to get their first stamp.
Campbell said he doesn’t want people to think of Virginia airports as merely places where airplanes take off and land.
“Airports are local gateways to the rest of the world,” said Campbell.
Find more information on the Virginia Aviation Ambassador Program at doav.virginia.gov.
