Wingtips July 1999

AUSTIN-With clockwork precision, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport began to serve the needs of Central Texas on Sunday, May 23, 1999, at 6:00 a.m., after a planning and construction process lasting over a decade. The first commercial passenger flight from the $690 million airport was by American Airlines on its way to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

The first U.S. conversion of an Air Force Base to a commercial airport since the end of the Cold War, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport will host and support general aviation, commercial aviation, the State Aircraft Pooling Board and the Texas Army National Guard. Most importantly, this multi-use facility is expected to be a critical link in the region’s transportation infrastructure upon which future growth fueled by the dynamics of global competition and the computer industry.

The airport is located in southeast Austin on Texas 71 near the intersection of U.S. 183; eight miles from downtown and the State Capitol; in prime position near the NAFTA Highway (I-35).

The 600,000 square foot passenger terminal is named for the legendary U.S. Congresswoman, Barbara Jordan, who lived in Austin until her death in 1996. A central courtyard area in the terminal, the Market Place, showcases Texas-flavored shops and restaurants, including a stage area that will routinely play host to Austin musicians and book signings. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has 25 boarding gates, two parallel runways, one 12,250 feet long and the other 9,000 feet long. For ground transportation, there are 10,000 parking places, with SuperShuttle shared-ride, door-to-door service.

Most recent airport statistics note that six million passengers visit Austin per year, 260 flights per day of which 31 are direct, nonstop. With a population of 1,057,000 people in the metropolitan Austin area, 567,566 within the Austin city limits, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport will certainly accommodate the needs of Austin – the 18th largest city in the country

Federal Funding Program for Airport Grants Still Pending

Although Congress has focused considerable attention on FAA programs the past few months, no definitive action has yet been taken to reauthorize the FAA Airport Improvement Program, which will expire Sept. 30, 1999. This program is of utmost importance as it provides the single largest source of funding for the majority of Texas airports. Of all the bills being filed for re-enactment of this program, by far the most advantageous for the aviation community is House Bill 1000, called the Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (Air 21 ). This bill would more than double the airport grant program from current funding levels beginning Oct. 1, 2000. Even more importantly, for smaller airports it would: (I) triple the small airport fund; (2) triple the amount of minimum entitlements for non-hub commercial service airports from $500,000 to $1.5 million per year, providing substantial funding increases for 15 Texas Airports: Abilene, Beaumont, Brownsville, College Station, Gregg County, Laredo, Killeen, McAllen, San Angelo, Texarkana, Tyler, Victoria, Waco, Wichita Falls and Ellington Field in Houston; (3) authorize a contract tower costsharing program so that small airports could gain the benefit of air traffic control services; (4) create a loan guarantee to help airlines buy regional jets if they agree to use them to serve smaller airports; and (5) create a new funding program to help small, underserved airports market and promote their airline services. The legislative proposal is by far the most positive and progressive legislative effort on behalf of airports I have seen during my twenty-five years in state aviation. I encourage you to contact your congressional representatives as soon as possible and ask them to strongly support HB 1000.

The Texas Public Relations Association (TPRA) presented the Silver Spur/Best of Texas Award to Bernard Stafford, TxDOT Travel and the Aviation Division at the 1999 Awards Banquet held in Houston on March 6, 1999. Stafford, produced the aviation video entitled, “Destination Texas”. The 20-minute video tape defines what general aviation means to Texas airports, its impact on communities and their economic development. Michelle Hannah, TxDOT Aviation Planning and Programming, assisted Stafford in the research and development of a video program, which provides a uniform message and reaches a broader audience in Texas.

By Marie C. Peinado

AUSTIN-“Deja vu? … Deja vu?” … was our conference an illusion of a previous experience or a new one? Semantics aside, our Texas Aviation Conference was no illusion, but a wonderful gathering of friends and professionals sharing aviation knowledge with each other. TAC was held this year on April 7- 9, 1999 at the North Hilton Hotel, in Austin, Texas.

As has been a tradition, the conference was co-hosted by TxDOT’s Aviation Division and the Texas Association of Airport Executives. This strong and supportive partnership is geared toward presenting the best and most current information about Texas aviation to the public.

The conference attracted 360 participants from Texas and other states. The conference program included a welcoming address by Charles W. Heald, TxDOT executive director, and a Status Report on the State of Aviation in Texas by David S. Fulton, TxDOT Aviation Division director. Panels addressed the importance of general aviation and compliance issues of concern to Texas’ airports. This year’s TAC workshops ranged from “How Your Airport Lighting System Looks When the Sun Goes Down” to “Marketing Your Airport: How It Can Be Done Using New Marketing Technology”; as well as “How Effective is the Routine Airport Maintenance Program”; to “How to Put On Airshows and Fly-Ins at Your Airport.”

Last year’s successful golf outing by staff and conferees encouraged our golfing fans to stage another event at the Bluebonnet Hill Golf Club on Wednesday afternoon. Again, the camaraderie was great-the rekindling of old friendships as well as the formation of new ones was evident.

Wednesday evening featured the exhibitors’ well-known “Get Acquainted” reception in the exhibit area. Almost 50 exhibitors registered and provided hospitality to all, along with information on aviation products and the latest innovations. Faces, new and familiar, met, discussed and socialized.

TAC’s famous social affair on Thursday evening featured a “50’s Hangar Party” which established for certain that “Elvis is Alive” and doing well in Austin! What a nostalgic look to the past, when life was simple, and not so complex- hamburgers, pie-a-la-mode, fries, drinks; music and dancing; crooning by Elvis and the display of a beautiful Maroon Super Deluxe Ford Convertible courtesy of John Mays from Conroe. What memories! Along with aircraft flybys and aircraft displays, Leo Murphee Jr. from ECS, offered extra thrills with free rides on his hovercraft, which flies on a cushion of air and can travel on water or land.

The Luncheon Banquet on Friday provided the opportunity to recognize special people who support general aviation in Texas and to present awards for recognition for outstanding achievements as follows:

1999 Aviation Awards:

1999 Airport Manager of the Year: Darrell Phillips, New Braunfels Municipal Airport Manager, New Braunfels, Texas
1999 Airport of the Year: Fayette Regional Air Center, La Grange, Texas
1999 Most Improved Airport of the Year: Granbury Municipal Airport, Granbury, Texas
1999 Outstanding Reliever Airport of the Year: McKinney Municipal Airport, McKinney, Texas
1999 Career Contribution to Aviation: Norman Scroggins, Bedford, Texas

1999 International Aviation Art Contest:

1st Place, Category I (Ages 6- 9) – Hannah Pruitt, 6 years old, Valley Oaks Elementary, Houston Texas
1st Place, Category II (Ages 10-13) – Brook Lennon, 11 years old, Avery Middle School, Avery, Texas
1st Place, Category III (Ages 14-17) – Aileen (Chih-Fang) Wu, 17 years old, Clements High School, Sugar Land, Texas

One final perk for the Aviation Division, was provided by Robert Spivey from the Academy of Model Aeronautics. This was the generous gift of a scale model of a beautiful Fokker Dr. 1 Triplane. One of the most famous fighters of all times, the Fokker, through the achievement of one extraordinary pilot the Red Baron-was a ferocious adversary during WWI.

TAC proceedings adjourned until next year.

Congratulations to the winners who participated in the Aviation Marketing Contest! Certificates were presented to the winners at the 1999 Texas Aviation Conference on April 7-9, 1999 in Austin, Texas. Our thanks go to all contest entrants for their efforts; to contest judges for their assistance, as well as to our contest coordinator, Michelle Hannah, for a job well done!

Print Category
1st Place – Large Format Brochure (Promotional Brochure)
Cutter Aviation, Inc.

1st Place – Small 4-Color Brochure (A Flight Thru Time)
Frontiers of Flight Museum/

1st Place – I-Color Brochure (Make Your Way To Mid Way)
Midlothian/Waxahachie Municipal Airport, City of Waxahachie

1st Place – Program (Airplane Invitation)
El Paso International Airport, Lars & Robertson Creative, Inc.

1st Place – Poster (Warbirds & Wildflowers)
Confederate Air Force/Burnet Municipal Airport

Advertisement Category
1st Place – Color Advertisement (Signed, Sealed, Delivered)
Laredo International Airport, Laredo Chamber of Commerce

1st Place – Black & White Advertisement (Print AdNewspaper, English)
El Paso International Airport, Lars & Robertson Creative, Inc.

Campaign Category
1st Place – Terminal Renaming Campaign
DFW International Airport, DFW Air Service Development

Video Category
1st Place – Television Advertisement (Lindbergh)
El Paso International Airport, Lars & Robertson Creative, Inc.

1st Place – Marketing Videotape (Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, ’97)
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, City of Austin Aviation Dev.

Audio Category
1st Place – “Dad & Me”
DFW International Airport, DFW Air Service Development Internet Category

1st Place – www.ci.austin.tx.us/newairport
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, City of Austin Aviation Dev.

Name recognition plays an important role in identifying function, parameters and audience, as well as perception, in any established product or entity. These concerns led Airport Manager Byron Broussard to encourage county officials to change Jefferson County Airport to Southeast Texas Regional Airport. He said, “the name change will reflect the nature of the airport and the clientele it serves.” U.S. and state officials concurred with this decision and offered their support.

After a three-year effort, Brady city officials and military personnel reached an agreement to allow the military to use Curtis Field as the area for training exercises.

At a “Meet the Brass” barbecue held recently at Curtis Field, city officials welcomed the 21st Aviation Brigade from Fort Hood.

Training missions began on June I. Some of the training will involve attack missions by helicopter squadrons which search for “enemy troops” or the “opposing force” which are stationed throughout the county. These troops will eventually be stationed in Bosnia, Albania and Kosovo.

Additionally, plans are under way to use $1.5 million in grant money to perform upgrades on Curtis Field’s runways and taxiways, according to Bob Woods, Deputy Director, Texas Department of Transportation, Aviation Division. It is anticipated that this effort will positively impact the local economy.

Outstanding Reliever Airport of the Year was awarded to McKinney Municipal Airport, McKinney, Texas. Plaque was received by David Pierce, Airport Manager.

1999 Career Contribution to Aviation was awarded to Norman Scroggins, Bedford, Texas.

1999 General Aviation Airport of the Year was awarded to Fayette Regional Air Center. David Fulton, TxDOT Aviation Director (second from right) congratulates Fayette County Commissioners.

Most Improved Airport of the Year was awarded to Granbury Municipal Airport, Granbury, Texas. Plaque was received by C. W. Smith, Airport Manager.

1999 Airport Manager of the Year was awarded to Darrell Phillips, Airport Manager, New Braunfels Municipal Airport, New Braunfels, Texas.

By Yolanda Alvarez

In response to the 1999 International Aviation Art Contest call for children’s artwork, the Texas Department of Transportation Aviation Division received 1,500 entries from students throughout Texas. The theme of the contest was “Flying is Fun.”

Entries were judged in one of three age groups: Category I, ages 6-9; Category II, ages 10-13 and Category III, ages 14- 17.

And the winners are:

Hannah Pruitt, age 6, was named First Place winner in her age category. She is the daughter of John Pruitt and Patricia Daniels and attends Valley Oaks Elementary School, in Houston, Texas. In addition to art, Hannah also enjoys reading.

Brook Lennon, age 11, was named First Place winner in his age category. He is the son of Lisa and Ross Lennon and attends Avery Middle School, in Avery, Texas. Brook enjoys art and would like to be an artist or a veterinarian.

Aileen (Chih-Fang) Wu, age 17, was named First Place in her age category. Aileen has been living in the United States for three years and is from Taiwan, where her parents are presently living. Aileen, who is attending Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas, enjoys art and would like to be a graphics designer.

The three winners were recognized, along with their parents, and presented an award at the 17th Annual Texas Aviation Conference held in Austin on April 7- 9, 1999.

We believe that our employees are the most important resource that we have available to support us daily in the fulfillment of the “aviation” mission for the State of Texas. They are, as team members, our winning hand. We will continue to showcase employees in Wingtips, so that you can get to know them, their responsibilities and their interests.

By Marie C. Peinado
… “Show me the money … now!” A common call from the wilds of Texas, Margarita Garcia, the unofficial handler of our purse strings, performs her job as assistant grant manager, in our Grant Management Section, with calm and collectedness. Flying at Mach speed through the execution of voluminous contracts with airport consultants … those lovable entities that faithfully help us to accomplish our mission in Texas, she makes sure that they are paid in earnest and on time. Margarita is a stickler for figures, a figure herself, she handles our accounts payable, petty cash fund and assorted duties in her realm of action.

Considered a veteran, a I 0-year “faithful” state employee, Margarita began her hitch with the State of Texas at the Texas Department of Transportation, formerly known as the “Highway Department.” In a moment of uncertainty, Margarita chose to leave us and surfaced at Texas Department of Public Safety for a short time, but promptly returned to Aviation, where she has safely been for the last four years. Some of you will recognize Margarita as our distinguished door prize coordinator at our annual aviation conference.

Margarita, a Rio Grande Valley native from Pharr, Texas, lives in Round Rock Texas , a suburb of Austin with her husband, Felipe, who works for City of Austin Transportation. The couple has three daughters: Florence, 24, a recent graduate of St. Mary’s University in San Antonio; Jennifer, 11, and Jessica, 12, both girls attend Brushy Creek Elementary School.

A consummate and talented arts and craft aficionado, Margarita has been known to give Martha Stewart a challenge in design. Most importantly, Margarita is a civic-oriented person, who is actively involved in school PTA affairs, a dedicated Girl Scout Leader, and a strong advocate for Children with Disabilities, namely autism.

It is a pleasure to have Margarita in Aviation and to enjoy her cheerful disposition and contribution to our division.

By Bob Woods

We are pleased to introduce Deborah Ann Luna as our new Human Resource Officer in the Aviation Division, she replaces Nona Gold who retired in May.

Deborah has been in the Human Resources (HR) field for over 10 years. She began at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and then joined TxDOT in December 1994. She was previously employed in the Vehicle Titles and Registration Division (VTR) as a Payroll, Insurance and Training Coordinator. She also was Chairperson for the VTR Employees Activities Committee. In addition, she has recently received her certification as a Defensive Driving Instructor for Texas Department of Transportation.

Deborah was born and raised in Austin. She comes from a family of five siblings with strong family ties. A single parent, Deborah has three children, two boys and a girl. Gabriel, age 16, and Timothy, age 14, both attend Crockett High School in Austin; and Megan, 3, attends day care. An expert in the chauffeuring business, Deborah is now getting plenty of miles in with her young and energetic family.

If you have time, ask Deborah how the Spurs are doing now that fabulous San Antonio basketball team! A faithful fan to both the Spurs and UT Longhorns, Deborah enjoys these sporting events, a predilection acquired from attending her sons’ football and basketball games.

Next spring, Deborah will restart her efforts of reaching her educational goal: a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management. She plans to shortly complete her basic coursework at Austin Community College and then, her specialization coursework from the University of Texas.

Good luck Deborah!