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Astronaut Gene Cernan Highlights 2016 Texas Aviation Conference

By Chris Sasser
Texas A&M Transportation Institute

View Award Winners or Photo Gallery

The rainy weather did little to dampen the spirits of the 532 attendees of the 2016 Texas Aviation Conference, held March 9-11 at La Torretta Lake Resort and Spa in Montgomery. The conference is sponsored by the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) Aviation Division and participants included airport sponsors, aviation professionals, governmental and economic development officials, enthusiasts and exhibitors.

The last man on the moon, Captain Gene Cernan, retired U.S. Naval aviator and retired NASA Astronaut (Gemini 9, Apollo 10 and Apollo 17), delivered the keynote address to a captivated audience. The session was moderated by TxDOT Aviation Advisory Committee Chairman Jim Schwertner, and featured stories of how Cernan fulfilled his dream to become a Naval Aviator, how he joined NASA, his role as an advisor in the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission, and going to space three times as Pilot of Gemini 9A in June 1966, as Lunar Module Pilot of Apollo 10 in May 1969, and as Commander of Apollo 17 in December 1972, the final Apollo lunar landing.

During his remarks, Cernan said that his story was one of “any kid with a dream from any town U.S.A.” When asked by Schwertner about his role in Apollo 13, Cernan explained, “if we had lost that flight, we would not have continued the Apollo program. But at the end of the day, we all came home alive. It was a complete team effort; everyone took personal responsibility. They gave us the best machine in the world to fly, and for that, we can all be very proud.”

Cernan was recently featured in the documentary, “The Last Man on the Moon.” When asked about the Apollo 17 mission, Cernan said “when you’re on the moon and you look back at the earth, it’s like being on God’s front porch. That’s what it’s like being on the moon.”

TxDOT Aviation Division Director David Fulton began the conference with an introduction of the Aviation Advisory Committee members, and then delivered his state of the Aviation Division Address.

“This is my 25th conference to attend,” said Fulton. “And at times I’m asked ‘why do you keep doing this’ and the answer is that it’s just so much fun getting to see and work with everyone year after year. We’ve all worked hard to make the Texas aviation system the best in the nation and I truly believe it is. Everyone has done a lot for the airport system, but there’s plenty more we can do.”

In his remarks, Fulton noted that the key to the future was to make the airports as attractive as possible to travelers, notably business aviation.

“If we support business aviation, everyone in general aviation benefits,” said Fulton.

In addition to presenting a conference overview, Fulton provided updates about the non-primary entitlement funding, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill and 3rd class medical, the FAA’s new registration rules for unmanned aircraft systems, MET (meteorological) towers and the last Texas Legislature session.

Fulton also explained the division’s new eGrants software and introduced new staff members and said goodbye to Becky Vick, who among many other roles served as the conference coordinator for the last decade.

Following Fulton’s morning address was Jerry Hendrix, Executive Director of the Lone Star UAS Center of Excellence and Innovation located in Corpus Christi. Hendrix explained the mission of the center, the projects the center was actively engaged in and the future of UAS.

TxDOT Aviation Education and Information Program Coordinator Bill Gunn concluded the morning session with his always-popular presentation on airport compliance issues.

After lunch, conference goers had the choice of attending breakout sessions throughout the afternoon. Breakout sessions topics included:

  • TxDOT Aviation Wildlife Hazard Assessment and Management Program
  • an introduction to eGrants
  • airport manager’s roundtable
  • pavement maintenance guidelines
  • developing effective stakeholder relationships
  • increasing activity on your airport, and
  • RAMP and airport consultant sessions.

The day concluded with the Awards Banquet. A complete list of award winners is available at the end of this story.

The final morning began with a presentation from President and CEO of the National Association of State Aviation Officials, Greg Principato, who provided an update from Washington.

The conference concluded with comments on the TxDOT/FAA AIP Program and a listening session.

“Texas is a huge state, and many of our attendees travel a good distance to attend this conference,” said Texas A&M Transportation Institute Research Scientist and co-conference organizer Jeff Borowiec. “We want to make sure we give them the most bang for their buck with a wide range of relevant topics presented from experts from around the state and country.”

The conference presentations are available at http://ttigroups.wpengine.com/conferences/tac16/program.php. Next year’s conference will be held April 19-21, 2017, at the Embassy Suites in San Marcos, Texas.

2016 Award Winners

Aviation Art Contest Winners:

Category I (Ages 6–9)

1st Place: Adam Roth, White Rock Montessori, Dallas, TX
2nd Place: Corbin Gray, HJM Elementary, Port Lavaca, TX
3rd Place: Ava Smith, Garden Ridge Elementary, New Braunfels, TX
Honorable Mention: Doreen Luo, HJM Elementary, Port Lavaca, TX

Category II (Ages 10–13)

1st Place: Anika Busra, Kingwood Middle School, Kingwood, TX
2nd Place: Sreeniketan Sai Senapathi, Katy, TX
3rd Place: Alexis Puryear, Wheeler Elementary, Wheeler, TX
Honorable Mention: Avery Pulley, Burnett Junior High, Wylie,TX
Honorable Mention: Emily Eckert, Burnett Junior High, Wylie, TX

Category III (Ages 14–17)

1st Place: Gaby Arambula, JB Alexander HS, Laredo, TX
2nd Place: Mariana Garcia, Veterans Memorial HS, Brownsville, TX
3rd Place: Jason Chu, Burnett Junior High, Wylie, TX
Honorable Mention: Annie Kingston, Burnett Junior High, Wylie, TX
Honorable Mention: Rebecca Gonzalez, JB Alexander HS, Laredo, TX

Airport Awards:

General Aviation Airport Manager of the Year: Bruce McKenzie, Kerrville Municipal/Louis Schreiner Field
Most Improved Airport of the Year: Mid Valley Airport, Weslaco
General Aviation Airport of the Year: Cotulla-La Salle County Airport, Cotulla
Reliever Airport of the Year: Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport, Conroe
RAMP Coordinator of the Year: Tony Loya, El Paso District
Award for 20 Years of Continuous Participation in the Routine Airport Maintenance Program: Big Spring McMahon-Wrinkle Airport, Big Spring

Aviation Legend Len Miller Dies

Len Miller surrounded by his family at the 2013 Texas Aviation Conference where he was awarded the 2013 Texas Aviator of the Year.

Len Miller surrounded by his family at the 2013 Texas Aviation Conference where he was awarded the 2013 Texas Aviator of the Year.

Leonard “Len” Miller, 99 of Quanah, Texas died on Monday, Nov. 9, 2015, in Quanah, Texas.

Len was born Saturday, Jan. 8, 1916 in Walbash County, Indiana; he was the son of the late Otto Miller and the late Elsa Ridgeway Miller. He married Melba Jean Haynes on Nov. 5, 1946 in Lockett, Texas. She preceded him in death on Jan. 30, 2007.

Len first soloed in 1940 and bought his first airplane, a 40-horsepower Taylorcraft, in 1941. He obtained his private and commercial license in 1942. He served in the US Army Air Corp 1943-1946 during WWII. He was a pilot trainer and flight instructor for Victory Field in Vernon, TX.

In 1953 he moved to Odell to farm. He tried his hand at selling cars, driving a truck, hauling hay and farming, but none of that could scratch the flying itch. He decided to be a crop duster and bought his first spray plane. He was owner and operated Odell Flying service from 1960-1998. Miller was also manager of Quanah Airport for 35 years, 1980 until his death. He was also a member of the Odell School Board.

In 1996 he was awarded the TxDOT Airport Manager of the Year and in 2013 received the Texas Aviator of the Year at the Texas Aviation Conference at the age of 97.

Among his many aviation achievements include flying over 200 different types of aircraft and refurbishing many airplanes. Len also shared his passion of aviation by teaching over 3,000 students how to fly, including his wife, two brothers, one daughter, and all five of his grandsons.

“Texas has lost a true legend in the aviation community,” said TxDOT Aviation Division Director David Fulton. “It was an honor for us to award him the 2013 Texas Aviator of the Year Award. His contributions to general aviation in Texas cannot be overstated. It was a sad day to hear of his passing.”

Pilot Couple Shares Message of Hope, Persistence

by Rick Davenport,
Texas A&M Transportation Institute

Scott and Courtney Gallagher with students from LaGrange Middle School.

Both were FA-18 fighter pilots whose careers began with the love of flying, thanks in part to fathers who had military aviation experience. But how Scott and Courtney Gallagher’s dreams became a reality is amazingly different.

Scott and Courtney met and married while naval officers. They are now TxDOT employees after a combined 30 years of military service — including deployments, combat tours and squadron commands — and recently shared that flying experience with a group of Central Texas middle school students. As a result of their assembly presentation for Constitution Day, sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Gallaghers think that some of those students may have caught the same bug they did years earlier.

Coincidently, Courtney was the same age as those La Grange 6th and 7th graders when she made a life-changing decision. She decided to be a fighter pilot.

“Everything I did from that point in my life was geared toward that goal,” she said. “I knew I had to make good grades, especially in math. I couldn’t get into trouble. Everything I did was in that pursuit.”

Courtney became her high school valedictorian and went to college on a ROTC scholarship. Her dream was achieved through sheer determination.

Her husband began his career a little differently.

Scott had completed just two years of college when he had to leave school due to finances.  He was working odd jobs when he spotted a want-ad for a job that would fit his schedule. Turns out, the person answering the number he dialed was a U.S. Navy recruiter.

“After an in-person visit and taking a preliminary entrance test, I did not think much about it,” he recalls of the fateful 1986 event. “But when he called later to say I scored high enough for the Naval Aviation Cadet Program, my 21-year career began — after I got a lot of hair cut off.”

Whether from a twist of fate or years of resolve, Scott and Courtney found themselves driving to La Grange with the hope of sharing a similar message of achieving dreams: Don’t give up. Try your hardest. You can achieve more than you think you can. And perhaps most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask for help.

“We were not on a Navy recruitment visit,” Scott said of their participation. “We really wanted to share the broader message of ‘living up to your potential.’”

The Gallaghers’ presentation included a video, photographs and some stories, but what seemed to ignite a fire of enthusiasm was the aviator gear — flight suits, harnesses, jackets and helmets. When the pilot couple asked for volunteers to try on the stuff, every hand was raised to the ceiling.

“I think most girls don’t realize what’s available to them,” Courtney said. “They might think being a pilot is a boy’s job. But when they see another girl who has been one, they realize they might be able to become one as well.”

Courtney said she drove away from the school realizing that she made an impact on somebody.

A teacher at the school told the Gallaghers that their presentation was a big hit among the students, especially for a shy girl in the audience. The teacher said she could see the eyes of the young girl light up, especially when they were talking about not being afraid to ask for help.

“Asking for help doesn’t mean you are weak. It means you’re strong,” Courtney said. “Sometimes, achieving your goals requires some guidance.”

As good as the presentation might have been for the kids, Scott and Courtney may have gotten the most out of it.

They drove home thinking “I hope we get to do this again.”

Editor’s Note: Scott Gallagher recently left the Aviation Division to begin a new career with Tac Air based in Patuxent River Maryland. In his new position, Scott will be serving as a consultant for the F/A-18 community and a pilot for the air services arm of his new company, Tactical Air Support Inc. We wish him and his family the best of luck!