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                                          Fly Iowa Challenge - 2010 and Beyond - Update

Ankeny, Iowa – May 2010 – The Iowa Aviation Promotion Group is proud to announce the 2010 Fly Iowa Challenge.  The goal of the Fly Iowa Challenge is to:

·        Encourage pilots to visit Iowa’s fine airports

·        Increase awareness of and promote Iowa’s airports

·        Increase activity levels at Iowa’s airports.

·        Increase support for the goals of the Iowa Aviation Promotion Group

·        Increase the activity and proficiency level of Iowa pilots

Pilots from all across the U.S. will attempt to visit as many of Iowa’s 109 public access airports as possible. New for 2010 is that there is no time limitation for the airport visits.  Visitors sign into a logbook at each airport and keep a personal record of their visits. 

Participants will be eligible for pilot accessories such as hats, shirts, pilot bags, and leather jackets.  Rules and Registration information is available at each Iowa airport or on the web at www.FlyIowa.org under the Fly Iowa Challenge tab.

On October 1st, we learned that the husband and wife team of  Steve and Ginger Kleinschnittger of Alton, Illinois have qualified for the Silver Fly Iowa Challenge award but documenting visits to 70 Iowa Airports during 2009!  Steve is a CFI and his wife Virginia is his student.  Congratulations to the Kleinschnittgers!

Marc Broer of Des Moines was awarded a leather A-2 jacket emblematic of his 2009 achievement of having visited ALL Iowa public airports and then some.  The award was made at the IAPG meeting on January 22, 2010.

Fly Iowa 2009 at Independence a Great Success

Blessed with perfect weather, Fly Iowa at Independence Municipal Airport on July 10 and 11, 2009 featured crowds of 6 to 7000, a two hour air show, and an Iowa Aviation Youth Camp attended by 42 youngsters.  It was a great show case for Iowa aviation!

2010 Youth Aviation Camps to Break Records

About 25 Iowa airports have expressed interest in hosting an Iowa Youth Aviation Camp and plans are underway for many of them.  The IAPG Iowa Youth Aviation Camp initiative is really gathering momentum since its start in 2006.  Over 700 Iowa youth have attended with 300 in 2009 alone. 

              Click on Fly Iowa 2004 thumbnail pictures above to enlarge to full size

                                       IAPG SEEKS FLY IOWA BENEFACTOR MEMBERS

The IAPG Board is seeking membership approval of By-laws amendments to create a new top-tier membership in IAPG to be known as Fly Iowa Benefactor Membership.  These memberships will provide membership recognition as an Official Sponsor of Fly Iowa and a seat on the IAPG Board of Directors.  The Office of  Aviation of the Iowa Department of Transportation has verbally committed to become the very first Fly Iowa Benefactor Member of IAPG by virtue of agreeing to the $1000 membership dues.

The purpose of the new memberships is to financially underwrite Fly Iowa in future years to provide for it's continuation as an Iowa tradition.  More will be forthcoming once the program is approved by IAPG members.