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WAMA WAYPOINTSHighlights from recent WAYPOINTS. Meet the New Board of Directors for 2024! Welcome to our newly elected officers! They are excited and ready to step into their new positions. It's a great team and we look forward to their leadership. The new board will take their positions in January. Thank you to everyone who voted in this year's election.
Bowers Field Tour (Ellensburg) The WAMA Board of Directors went beyond the usual virtual meeting to hold a hybrid in-person/virtual meeting on location in Ellensburg. The morning started with an overview by several staff members of the Central Washington University Aviation Program, then moved on to a tour of the facilities where planes are stored and repaired. From there, they stepped outside just as a fleet of Piper Archers with student pilots at the controls landed one by one on the Bowers Field runway. The sparkling red and white planes with the common "N" number ending in "CW" were impressive with the latest modern glass avionics and navigation equipment.
Airport Kiosk Available The Bremerton Airport no longer needs its kiosk and would like to give it to another airport. Construction is solid, it just needs paint. It cost about $2,500 in materials to build. If someone is willing to go to Bremerton and pick it up, the airport will assist in loading it.
8th Round CARB Loan Announced Do you have a capital project that needs funding? The Community Aviation Revitalization Board (CARB) is meeting this December to award over $2.5 million in remaining funds and is accepting applications.
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Sustainable Aviation FestivalYou are encouraged to attend the SA Festival in Alburquerque in September of 2024. The agenda offers attendees the opportunity to increase knowledge and better understand renewable energy technologies, products, and services with unique and fun opportunities to interact with aviation experts. Click here for enlargement of poster.
 Letter from the PresidentDear colleagues, I want to begin by thanking you all for allowing me to represent the Washington Airport Management Association (WAMA) in 2023 as President. It is a great honor and privilege to represent the fine group of professionals that are stewards of Washington State Airports.WAMA has been instrumental in my career and management of the Chehalis-Centralia Airport. To be able to repay this by taking on this responsibility is incredible. I know if you are not yet a member and are considering joining, you will not regret it. If you are an existing member who has assisted or encouraged me in the past, I am indebted. Since the early days of aviation, Washington State has been home to an innovative hub for aviation. I believe we have the opportunity and responsibility to help keep it that way. The WAMA Mission Statement says, “Our mission is to strengthen airports and airport management in Washington State by fostering professionalism among airport operators.” I can say without a doubt this group effectively does that every day. We do this as individuals and collectively. With that being said, we have some challenges as stewards of airports coming up. We have rising costs, labor shortages, and increased legislation that can all negatively impact our airports. This is where WAMA can excel. We can provide tools and support to our colleagues and help Washington airports thrive in the next chapter of aviation we are writing today.Thank you all again for this honor, and let’s work together to make the Washington Airport Management Association an example for other states to follow. If you are not already a member, please join us. Receive the benefits of the knowledge and experience of your peers, but also become a resource for others to learn from. I look forward to seeing you all in the coming year. Sincerely, Brandon Rakes | Sponsors
WAMA Member Airports - Click to Enlarge
Washington State Airport RestaurantsWarren Hendrickson has compiled an informal list of Washington State/PNW Airport Restaurant List (updated spring 2023) which includes additional pages for nearby Oregon (both east and west of the Cascades) and Idaho airports. This list is not complete and we ask that if you have suggestions or recommendations for restaurants at or serving your airport, please feel free to send your suggestions or recommendations to Warren Hendrickson, at: wbhendrickson@comcast.net. He will continue to update the list as time allows. The list is primarily intended for use by pilots as they fly around the area. Perhaps providing everyone with an additional reason to visit your airport! |
