State Aviation Journal

Inaugural Memphis International Airport Runway 5K Draws 900 Participants
More than 900 people participated in the inaugural Memphis International Airport (MEM) MEM Runway 5K on Saturday, September 20. The event allowed runners to experience a race on one of MEM’s runways, providing rare inside views of an airport that serves nearly 5 million passengers annually and ranks among one of the busiest cargo airports […]
Bombardier Defense Delivers Ninth Global Aircraft to the U.S. Air Force for Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) Program
Photo – BACN 9 Delivery Ceremony at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass. on September 10th, 2025. Photo by Mark Herlihy, U.S. Air Force. Bombardier Defense is proud to announce the delivery of a ninth Bombardier Global aircraft to the United States Air Force. The delivery, which was celebrated at Hanscom Air Force Base earlier this […]
Bristell B23 Receives FAA Type Certification
BRM AERO, manufacturer of Bristell Aircraft, has announced that the two-seat Bristell B23 has received Type Certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under Part 23 regulations, marking the first certified variant in the company’s B23 series and opening new opportunities in the rapidly expanding U.S. pilot training market. The certification addresses critical industry needs […]
FAA Grants Self-Examining Authority to Epic Flight Academy
Photo – Logan Dochtermann (left) became Epic’s first in-house pass when he earned his instrument rating in August 2025. He is pictured with his instructor, Breyton Jackson. The FAA has granted Epic Flight Academy self-examining authority to conduct in-house checkrides, a privilege that provides benefits to both the school and the students. Shane Williams, Director […]

State News

Airport of the Year awards announced by IDOT Highlighting Commitment to Safety, Customer Satisfaction

Reflecting the importance and strength of the Illinois aviation system, six airports have received Airport of the Year awards from the Illinois Department of Transportation. The awards were presented last week during the Illinois Public Airports Association fall conference in Galena. “Our airports connect us to the world, one of the many reasons why Illinois is the transportation hub of North America,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi. “These awards highlight their efforts as well as those of the entire Illinois aviation community.” The winners were selected based on their accomplishments, including an outstanding partnership with IDOT and a strong commitment to customer safety and satisfaction. Among the award considerations are cooperation and coordination with the state, safety record, facility maintenance and promotion of aviation. The 2025 recipients are: Rockford International Primary Airport of the Year Lansing Municipal Reliever Airport of the Year Mt. Sterling Municipal Large General Aviation Airport of the Year Greenville Airport Small General Aviation Airport of the Year Quad City Med Force Heliport of the Year Rinkenberger Airport of the Year Illinois is home to almost 100 public airports and heliports, with nearly 3,000 aircraft registered with the Federal Aviation Administration. The system of airports supports more than 492,000 jobs, with a combined payroll of $21.9 billion and a total economic impact of $95.4 billion. Across the state, there are more than 700 aviation facilities, including heliports, balloon, glider and ultra-light landing facilities as well as grass landing strips. Through Gov. Pritzker’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program, IDOT is investing a total of $150 million in aviation. In 2021, the governor announced a $94 million commitment to airports throughout the state, unlocking $11.5 million in local contributions for a combined investment of $105 million. The funding was the largest statewide capital investment for airports in state history. To learn more about aviation in Illinois and the Illinois Aviation System Plan, visit www.ilaviation.com.
Jackson County Airport Completes Critical Runway 4/22 Reconstruction Project

Jackson County Airport (33V) in Walden, Colorado, announced the completion of the full reconstruction of the airport’s runway 4/22. The project ensures long-term safety and efficiency for aviation users across Colorado’s North Park region and enhances critical emergency access to the area. Located one mile north of Walden, Jackson County Airport serves as a vital gateway to rural northwestern Colorado, supporting recreational flying, business travel, aerial firefighting, air ambulance services, and tourism. The runway reconstruction project rebuilt the 5,900-foot runway from the ground up, providing a stronger pavement base, improved surface, and upgraded safety markings. Walden-Jackson County Airport (33C) Flyover “The Walden-Jackson County Airport is an essential lifeline for our community, not only for business and tourism but also for emergency services like aerial firefighting and medical flights,” said Kent Holsinger, Chair of the Colorado Aeronautical Board. “We’re extremely grateful and proud of the new runway and the dividends are sure to last for decades.” “DOLA is proud to come together with our partners at the Colorado Department of Transportation for a total of $5.3M in grant funding so the Jackson County airport has the infrastructure necessary to effectively serve the broader community,” said DOLA Executive Director, Maria De Cambra. “Investments like this demonstrate the state’s commitment to rural Colorado, and making strides so that the same safe, modern infrastructure is available everywhere.” CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew said, “CDOT and our Aeronautics Division are proud to have joined our partners at DOLA and Jackson County to collaborate on funding this impactful project at the Walden/Jackson County Airiport,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “As the primary airport for rural north-central Colorado, this new runway will allow the airport to continue to provide safe and efficient access for aerial firefighting operations, emergency air ambulance and other critical aviation services.” The $5.7 million runway reconstruction project was made possible through a unique combination of funds provided by the Colorado Division of Aeronautics, the Colorado Department of Local Affairs and Jackson County. Unlike most major runway projects that receive partial funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Jackson County Airport is not eligible for FAA support. Thanks to this collaborative effort, the community was able to secure a vital infrastructure improvement that otherwise would not have been possible. According the 2025 Colorado Aviation Economic Impact Study, the Walden-Jackson County Airport contributed $184,000 in total business revenues, supported four jobs, and generated $113,000 in value added to Colorado’s economy.

National News

Tracy MacDonald Joins SAJ Team as Business Consultant

Tracy MacDonald, CMP, an accomplished association and event professional, has joined the State Aviation Journal team as a Business Consultant. Tracy MacDonald Most recently, she served as Event Manager at JDC Events, where she led two portfolio event communities and contributed to strategic event planning, engagement initiatives, and program development. Previously, Tracy spent nine years with the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO), where she led membership recruitment and retention efforts, as well as managing the planning, sales, logistics, and execution of both the Annual Convention and the Washington Conference. She also collaborated on the launch of the aviation training program, which provided state aviation employees with an introduction to the airport environment. In addition, she managed the state airport inspection contracting process and the member benefit committee, supporting the development of educational content, including webinars and sessions targeted at state aviation staff members. “We’re pleased to have Tracy as part of our team,” said Kim Stevens, SAJ Publisher. “I had the pleasure of working with Tracy for a number of years at NASAO and I’m looking forward to her contributions to our business operations and publications.” Earlier in her career, Tracy spent over five years with COMPTEL (now INCOMPAS), an association representing competitive communications service providers and their supplier partners. As Manager of Education and Member Programs, she oversaw educational content and programming, including webinars and the COMPTEL PLUS conference agendas, which drew more than 2,000 attendees. Additionally, Tracy served as Membership Coordinator at the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), providing support to a community of over 1,000 member companies.
NBAA Pushes FAA for Safety-First Approach to Proposed Drone Regulations

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has provided the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) with feedback on proposed drone regulations, stating any rule must ensure that safety is the highest priority. The FAA’s portion of the proposed rule would allow certain low altitude, beyond visual line of site (BVLOS) missions by unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) without waivers or exemptions and would also create operating rules for UAS package delivery, agriculture, surveying, public safety and flight testing for compensation or hire. The provisions were outlined in a recently published notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). “NBAA has a unique interest in this NPRM, as many of our members who have operated manned aircraft for decades are now adding UAS to their mission planning,” said Heidi Williams, NBAA vice president of air traffic services and infrastructure. “In addition, some NBAA member companies use UAS exclusively in furtherance of their businesses.” Williams added that the association considers the proposed rule as foundational to advancing the integration of UAS and other emerging technologies into the National Airspace System (NAS) and its importance for safety, national security and operational efficiency. “However, NBAA members shared several concerns, including the need for electronic conspicuity, or sharing of position, for all aircraft in the NAS,” she said. “Electronic conspicuity solutions must be interoperable within the NAS and among relevant user groups, and must consider current and future technologies,” Williams noted. “ADS-B is one, but not the only means, of achieving effective electronic conspicuity. Industry standards could be used to identify appropriate means of achieving electronic conspicuity. Universal position sharing through electronic conspicuity across all aircraft in the NAS would also negate the need for complex changes to the existing right-of-way regulations, since UAS would simply detect and avoid all other aircraft.” Part 108 also outlines airworthiness requirements for aircraft to be flown under these rules. In its comments, NBAA advocated for retaining the existing criteria for making decisions (CMD) process as an industry standard for UAS airworthiness, stating, “The current CMD process, a working method for airworthiness, has contributed to a very high level of safety and should not be discarded without justification.” Meanwhile, the TSA proposed changes would impose security measures on these operations, particularly package delivery operations. These proposed measures include security threat assessments for certain persons engaged in BVLOS operations and implementation of a formal, TSA-approved security program by certain types of operations. NBAA urged the TSA to withdraw its proposed regulations from this larger rulemaking and undertake a separate risk-based rulemaking process. Read NBAA’s full comments.

International News

Adacel Supports Airservices Australia in Remote Pseudo-Pilot Trial for Air Traffic Control Training

Photo – Air Traffic Control students use the Adacel MaxSim™ simulator to train in Perth. Adacel Technologies Limited has announced the successful implementation of a remote pseudo-pilot trial with Airservices Australia, enabling Air Traffic Control (ATC) training to be delivered across sites in Melbourne and Perth without the need to relocate staff. Pseudo-pilot team operating Adacel’s MaxSim™ simulator remotely from Melbourne. As part of the Airservices Australia Tower Ab-Initio course, four students commenced training in May 2025 utilizing the Adacel MaxSim™ Tower Simulator installed in Perth. Traditionally, pseudo-pilot staff, who provide critical simulation support during controller training, have been co-located with ab-initio trainees. However, Airservices Australia sought a solution to leverage its simulator facility in Perth while drawing on the expertise of its pseudo-pilot team in Melbourne. Secure remote link facilitates training between positions 2700km apart. In response, Adacel has integrated its MaxSim™ simulation system with a secure remote link, connecting pseudo-pilot positions in Melbourne directly to the tower simulator in Perth. The innovation trial has allowed Airservices to assess the feasibility of using this technology to deliver future tower training courses with a remote pseudo-pilot capability. Marcus Knauer, head of Airservices Workforce Resilience, says, “The introduction of such technologies would allow Airservices to manage the logistical and financial challenges of relocating staff to attend training, while maintaining the highest standards of training delivery.” The course will run until March 2026 and represents a significant milestone in the use of distributed training environments for ATC in Australia. “We are delighted to partner with Airservices Australia on this important initiative.” Said Michael Saunders, Vice President of Adacel. “By enabling remote simulator operations, we are helping to create greater flexibility and resilience in the training pipeline while ensuring that students receive the same high-quality learning outcomes.” This trial builds on a growing body of work within the global Air Traffic Management industry to explore remote training technologies, ensuring the next generation of controllers can be trained efficiently and effectively, regardless of location.
Farnborough International Airshow 2026 Sells Out & Announces New Exhibition Hall

Farnborough International Airshow has expanded its 2026 exhibition footprint with the addition of a new hall, following selling out of space 12 months in advance of the event, breaking the previous sell-out record. With a brand-new, sixth hall and a boosted chalet offering, Farnborough International Airshow 2026 will be the largest event in the show’s 78-year history. It remains the most important international platform for the global aerospace, defense, and space industries, as well as adjacent sectors. Building upon its sold-out success from 2024, the 2026 airshow will continue to forge international collaboration and drive new cross-sector innovation advancements on a global level. The new hall will house additional exhibitor stands for the five-day event, taking place 20-24 July 2026. To date, more than 63% of the 2026 event’s exhibitors are international, making it the most international airshow globally, with 22% of the booked organizations exhibiting at the Farnborough International Airshow for the first time. Commenting on the airshow’s expansion, Gareth Rogers, CEO of Farnborough International, said: “The Farnborough International Airshow has always been a global stage for innovation, collaboration and progress in aerospace and defense. The expansion of our site and the opening of the new exhibition hall mark an exciting new chapter, enabling us to welcome more exhibitors and new sectors, showcase further cutting-edge technologies, and create even greater opportunities for international trade and partnership. This investment reflects our commitment to keeping Farnborough International at the forefront of the industry and supporting the growth of our primary industries.” Strengthening the deepening relationship between the US and UK industries, the 2026 show will be the host of the largest US presence in the airshow’s history, with the likes of The US Pavilion by Kallman Worldwide, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Bell Textron, and GE Aerospace occupying tens of thousands of square meters on the site. American electric air taxi manufacturer Archer is one of the first exhibitors of the new hall. With 26 already confirmed, the number of international pavilions exhibiting at the show has also increased, with the likes of India, Australia, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, and Switzerland hosting representatives from the global industry. The show will see the return of the UK Government Hub, Space Zone, Business Connections Exchange, and award-winning Aerospace Global Forum. On 24 July 2026, the gates will once again open to thousands of members of the public and the next generation of STEM leaders as part of Farnborough International Airshow’s Pioneers of Tomorrow, a day dedicated to inspiring, engaging, and recruiting the industry’s future workforce. For more information on Farnborough International Airshow 2026, visit: https://www.farnboroughairshow.com/

Unmanned Systems

NBAA Pushes FAA for Safety-First Approach to Proposed Drone Regulations

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has provided the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) with feedback on proposed drone regulations, stating any rule must ensure that safety is the highest priority. The FAA’s portion of the proposed rule would allow certain low altitude, beyond visual line of site (BVLOS) missions by READ MORE
ZenaTech Signs Offer to Acquire Colorado Land Surveying Firm Expanding DaaS Business

ZenaTech, Inc. announced that it has signed an offer to acquire a long-established Colorado-based land surveying firm with a portfolio developers, municipalities, and utilities customers. When closed, this will mark ZenaTech’s first DaaS location in its Central West US region, expanding the company’s rapidly growing national presence. The firm to be acquired has a well-respected READ MORE

Aviation Education

AOPA Foundation Opens Scholarship Applications, Speeds Up Award Process

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and the AOPA Foundation opened its scholarship application window today with a new, streamlined process that shortens wait times and helps current and future pilots take advantage of the scholarships sooner. Previously, the application window was open for five months, which was followed by several months of processing READ MORE
Colorado Division of Aeronautics Now Accepting Applications for 2026 Aviation Education Grant Program

The Colorado Department of Transportation Division of Aeronautics has announced the launch of the 2026 Colorado Aviation Education Grant Program. The application window is now open to eligible candidates with a deadline of December 15th, 2025 for submission. The purpose and intent of this aviation education program is to support education programs, projects, and initiatives READ MORE

Adacel Supports Airservices Australia in Remote Pseudo-Pilot Trial for Air Traffic Control Training

October 6, 2025October 6, 2025 Kim Stevens

Photo – Air Traffic Control students use the Adacel MaxSim™ simulator to train in Perth. Adacel Technologies Limited has announced the successful implementation of a remote pseudo-pilot trial with Airservices Australia, enabling Air Traffic Control (ATC) training to be delivered across sites in Melbourne and Perth without the need to relocate staff. As part of […]

Farnborough International Airshow 2026 Sells Out & Announces New Exhibition Hall

October 6, 2025October 6, 2025 Kim Stevens

Farnborough International Airshow has expanded its 2026 exhibition footprint with the addition of a new hall, following selling out of space 12 months in advance of the event, breaking the previous sell-out record. With a brand-new, sixth hall and a boosted chalet offering, Farnborough International Airshow 2026 will be the largest event in the show’s […]

Airport of the Year awards announced by IDOT Highlighting Commitment to Safety, Customer Satisfaction

October 6, 2025October 6, 2025 Kim Stevens

Reflecting the importance and strength of the Illinois aviation system, six airports have received Airport of the Year awards from the Illinois Department of Transportation. The awards were presented last week during the Illinois Public Airports Association fall conference in Galena. “Our airports connect us to the world, one of the many reasons why Illinois […]

SAS Deepens Commercial Partnership with Virgin Atlantic

October 6, 2025October 6, 2025 Kim Stevens

Scandinavian Airlines has announced an expanded agreement with Virgin Atlantic, giving SAS customers greater access to several long-haul destinations. As part of the agreement, SAS will place its ‘SK’ code on selected Virgin Atlantic flights from London Heathrow, providing SAS customers with seamless access to destinations such as Cape Town, Johannesburg, Dubai, and Malé in […]

Tracy MacDonald Joins SAJ Team as Business Consultant

October 6, 2025October 6, 2025 Kim Stevens

Tracy MacDonald, CMP, an accomplished association and event professional, has joined the State Aviation Journal team as a Business Consultant. Most recently, she served as Event Manager at JDC Events, where she led two portfolio event communities and contributed to strategic event planning, engagement initiatives, and program development. Previously, Tracy spent nine years with the […]

AOPA Foundation Opens Scholarship Applications, Speeds Up Award Process

October 6, 2025October 6, 2025 Kim Stevens

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and the AOPA Foundation opened its scholarship application window today with a new, streamlined process that shortens wait times and helps current and future pilots take advantage of the scholarships sooner. Previously, the application window was open for five months, which was followed by several months of processing […]

NBAA Pushes FAA for Safety-First Approach to Proposed Drone Regulations

October 6, 2025October 6, 2025 Kim Stevens

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has provided the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) with feedback on proposed drone regulations, stating any rule must ensure that safety is the highest priority. The FAA’s portion of the proposed rule would allow certain low altitude, beyond visual line of site (BVLOS) missions by […]

ACI Achieves Major Advancements for Airports at ICAO 42nd Assembly

October 6, 2025October 6, 2025 Kim Stevens

Airports Council International (ACI) achieved a series of landmark outcomes at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) 42nd Assembly that will help transform the future of global aviation. By elevating coordinated, risk-based aviation security, safeguarding recognition of airports’ role in decarbonization and their contribution to socio-economic benefits, and promoting connectivity, ACI put airports at the […]

Jackson County Airport Completes Critical Runway 4/22 Reconstruction Project

October 6, 2025October 6, 2025 Kim Stevens

Jackson County Airport (33V) in Walden, Colorado, announced the completion of the full reconstruction of the airport’s runway 4/22. The project ensures long-term safety and efficiency for aviation users across Colorado’s North Park region and enhances critical emergency access to the area. Located one mile north of Walden, Jackson County Airport serves as a vital […]

Colorado Division of Aeronautics Now Accepting Applications for 2026 Aviation Education Grant Program

October 6, 2025October 6, 2025 Kim Stevens

The Colorado Department of Transportation Division of Aeronautics has announced the launch of the 2026 Colorado Aviation Education Grant Program. The application window is now open to eligible candidates with a deadline of December 15th, 2025 for submission. The purpose and intent of this aviation education program is to support education programs, projects, and initiatives […]

Inaugural Memphis International Airport Runway 5K Draws 900 Participants

Bombardier Defense Delivers Ninth Global Aircraft to the U.S. Air Force for Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) Program

Bristell B23 Receives FAA Type Certification

FAA Grants Self-Examining Authority to Epic Flight Academy