Photo Contest Deadline is October 14th

  

Have you taken aviation pictures in Virginia over the last 3 years? If so, we want you to share them with us by participating the DOAV annual photo contest.

             Submit your Virginia aviation photos to be featured in the 2017/18 calendar as well as in our newsletter and on our social media sites. The winners in each category will also receive a certificate and a promotional prize package.
              You can submit up to 12 pictures in 5 different categories; aircraft, airports, aerials, people and digitally altered. The link to the submission form can be found on our website's home page at www.doav.virginia.gov.
                                                                                                                
              We look forward to seeing all of the great entries this year!

Allegiant Offers Nonstop Flights from Virginia to Florida

               Allegiant Airlines launched new nonstop flights to popular destinations in Florida from the Richmond International Airport (RIC) and it also expanded its services from the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA).

 

This year the airline celebrates its 10th anniversary at ROA with air service to St. Petersburg and now they have increased their service from seasonal to year round. This will include two flights per week on the McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft throughout August and September. Allegiant Airlines serves the region with popular nonstop service to Orlando and St. Petersburg. The Roanoke‐Blacksburg Regional Airport is the primary air carrier airport for Virginia’s Blue Ridge and moves nearly 600,000 passengers per year via four airlines with nonstop service to eight hub cities.

 

The new nonstop service from RIC to Orlando / Sanford began on April 14 and new nonstop service to Jacksonville, Florida began on April 15. Both new routes will operate twice weekly. The new service will provide Richmond travelers with their only nonstop, ultra-low-cost flight option to Orlando / Sanford and Jacksonville. The new nonstop flights will add to Allegiant's current service from Richmond to St. Pete / Clearwater, Florida.

 

Allegiant will offer a unique option to Richmond travelers with low base fares averaging less than half the cost of domestic round-trip tickets purchased in 2015. The innovative business model has allowed it to grow from one aircraft and one route over 15 years ago, to offering convenient, affordable vacation travel in over 110 markets across the country, more than any other low-cost airline. Flight days, times and the lowest fares can be found only at Allegiant.com.

Sun N Fun 2016 displayed a great air show

U.S. Army Golden Knight Parachuter

                If you were in Lakeland Florida recently then you probably noticed the amazing airshow that took place during the 5^th through the 10^th of April. This year the skies were full of jet demonstrations, aerobatic performances, hot air balloons and the U.S. Army’s Parachuting Team, The Golden Knights. 



Red Bull Air Race Demonstration

Kirby Chambliss and Mike Goulian

There were also Red Bull race demonstrations that allowed Kirby Chambliss and Mike Goulian to demonstrate their aerobatics, speed and precision skills as they raced around the 80ft pylons in a friendly competition. The Breitling Jet Team closed the air show each night with a very entertaining display of team formations, high speed passes and beautifully choreographed maneuvers.



The Breitling Jet Team

                The Virginia Department of Aviation participated by bringing their trailer exhibit to help promote aviation and tourism in Virginia. The staff was able to educate people from all over the United States who were interested in Virginia aviation.



 

 

 



     Dinwiddie Airport gets special recognition from US Marine Corps

    

     Most Virginia airports like to consider themselves military friendly.  The Dinwiddie County Airport recently received recognition of this from the United States Marine Corps in February of 2016.

     The Marine Corps "Black Knights", (VMM-264) were participating in military exercises at Fort Pickett when one of their V-22 Ospreys diverted to Dinwiddie County Airport for repairs.

     The Marines provide the mechanics and tools to effect the repairs.  The airport provided assistance in the form of vehicular support, access to hot coffee and food and a scissor lift.  The Marines appreciated the service and presented the airport with this plaque.

     "Service is what we do at Dinwiddie", said airport manager David Hahn.

Governor McAuliffe Announces Multi-Year Contract for Commercial Space Flight in Virginia

Governor Terry McAuliffe along with U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced earlier in January that NASA awarded a new multiyear contract to Orbital ATK, a Virginia based company, to deliver cargo and supplies to the International Space Station from spaceports, including the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) located at Wallops Island. 

The collaboration of Virginia and space exploration will allow NASA to continue an important contract that brings our state to the national forefront in the commercial space business. This will create jobs and strengthen Virginia’s new economy. 

The next launch from MARS is scheduled in late May or June.  Orbital ATK will return to flight using an upgraded Antares launch vehicle featuring new engines to send a payload to the International Space Station.  Payloads may include supplies, materials for scientific experiments, equipment and other items that are used by the astronauts in the space station.  The items support the space station, research and exploration.

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) is collocated at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility on the eastern shore of Virginia.  Virginia Space, which owns and operates MARS for the commonwealth, partners with NASA to provide access to launch facilities and services.  Virginia Space owns and operates the launch pads while NASA provides payload processing, integration facilities, range support, and telemetry services.