From the Director's Desk

This has been a very busy year for us and 2017 looks even busier. We had a great experience at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016 where we shared an exhibit with volunteers from Minnesota airport communities.

Together we spoke to hundreds of folks to encourage flying in Minnesota, either as a destination, or on the way home. It was exciting! We'll continue to ask for your advice and involvement on ways to add energy to our outreach on behalf of Minnesota's excellent airport system.

We're also evaluating other aviation education, promotion, communication, and marketing activities we've been involved with over the past many years. We rely on several partner organizations (that we collectively call the Alphabet Soup Group) for inspiration and assistance. As we continue these activities, modify our approach, or develop new opportunities for interaction, we hope to ensure our efforts:

• Encourage and embrace an intermodal system

• Partner to bring focus to aviation in economic development

• Facilitate workforce connections

• Focus on education we are uniquely positioned to provide

Thank you if you participated in our aviation education study. Please feel welcome to join us as our work in these areas continues to evolve.

It's also wonderful to see progress on airport construction projects around the state. We've had another record year of FAA and State dollars put under grant to accomplish needed aviation infrastructure improvements at locations throughout Minnesota.

Please invite us to your project or community celebration – we'll make every effort to be there. We have a few new faces in our office staff, and they are looking forward to meeting and working with you.

Keep flying and please do so with special attention to safety. We'll be working "Toward Zero Deaths in Aviation" (TZD) to sharpen our focus on safety. Enjoy the changing seasons, while remembering to share ideas that help Fly Minnesota Safely!