Welcome to the first edition of WINGTIPS. We are going to use this newsletter as a means to communicate our plans to promote aviation and further aviation development throughout Texas. Having recently joined the TxDOT Division of Aviation team, I am excited about the challenges ahead and am confident that together we can make great strides in improving the Texas Air Transportation System. In that regard, I encourage you to take an active role in helping us achieve our goals and would appreciate any thoughts or comments you may have at any time.
“Certainly the State of Texas, with its proud heritage, deserves an aviation system the equal of any other state in the nation. Building that type of system is, and will remain, our first and foremost priority.”
Over the years ahead, we must improve our statewide aviation facilities by building better runways, taxiways, and aprons at our airports, installing new and better lighting systems, adding new and better navigational aids, providing better fueling capabilities, adequate public facilities, and the list goes on and on. Obviously, reaching our goal will require a substantial financial investment. As time goes by, I will be sharing with you some of my thoughts as to how we might obtain the necessary funding.
I also need your assistance in helping educate the general public as to the role that our general aviation airports play in contributing to the economic welfare of our state. Together, we must better inform the public as to the benefits of general aviation if we are to obtain the financial support that is so vitally needed.
In future editions of this newsletter, I also plan to discuss national aviation issues which may be of interest to you. If there are particular subjects about which you would like to hear, please contact our office and I will be glad to include them in my future comments.
Finally, I would like to offer my thanks for the outstanding hospitality I have received since my recent move to the great state of Texas. I am delighted to be here and look forward to working with each of you in making Texas the national leader in the field of aviation.