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  • Go Around. Ready or Not?

    Joe Anderson, Minnesota Department of Transportation Aeronautics|Dec 1, 2020

    Do you recall the last time you performed a go-around? Are go-arounds something you practice on a regular basis? Are you prepared to go-around with every lap in the traffic pattern and every instrument approach, or is your mind set on landing no matter what happens? As pilots we know that landing can be the most fun, challenging, and rewarding part of the flight. Have you noticed how passengers tend to judge the whole flight by the landing? Maybe you have had the experience, as I have, of flying on a gorgeous, smooth-air day when everything en...

  • New law begins to make Meteorological Evaluation Towers more visible in Minnesota

    Julie Carr, Minnesota Department of Transportation Aeronautics|Dec 1, 2020

    Meteorological towers (met towers) are being built in Minnesota. The towers are used to collect wind data and other weather information such as temperature, humidity and rain. Met towers are getting built in large part because they are crucial in the development of modern wind farms. The data collected by met towers help developers determine if a site is economically viable for a wind farm. With increased interest in the development of wind energy, comes increased prominence of met towers. Met...

  • COVID-19 Cleaning and Disinfecting Protocols for Aircraft

    Chris Meyer, Minnesota Department of Transportation Aeronautics|Dec 1, 2020

    To say COVID-19 has changed our way of life is an understatement. Wearing face masks has become the new standard, families with children are adjusting to altered methods of schooling, and businesses are having to create new practices to keep customers safe. One specific area COVID-19 has had an effect on is how operators clean and disinfect aircraft before and after flight operations. As a pilot and/or aircraft owner, have you done anything differently? When cleaning and disinfecting aircraft, it’s important to follow any and all guidance...

  • Pilot Culture Modifies a Procedure, Leading to a Mishap

    Tony Fernando, MnDOT Aeronautics|Sep 1, 2020

    At 10:45 a.m. on April 13, 2018, a U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor started its takeoff roll at NAS Fallon in Nevada. NAS Fallon is the home of the famed TOPGUN fighter pilot training course, and the air force fighter was scheduled to fly in a one-on-one graduation exercise against a TOPGUN student who would be flying an F/A-18. The F-22 accelerated to 120 knots and the pilot rotated. At 135 knots, recognizing visual cues that the fighter was airborne, he retracted the landing gear. Unfortunately, the fighter was not airborne, although enough weight...

  • Your Fly Minnesota Airports Passport Adventure Awaits You!

    Darlene Dahlseide, MnDOT Aeronautics|Sep 1, 2020

    Flying is fun for aviators. The freedom experienced when you fly is little short of absolutely marvelous. And now and then something comes along that makes flying even more fun, or even makes it like a new adventure! One of those things is the "Fly Minnesota Airports Passport" program. The program started in 2008, and to date, 46 pilots have qualified to receive a Fly Minnesota Airports leather flight jacket by visiting at least 130 of Minnesota's 133 public airports, six aviation museums and...

  • Know the Rules for Safe Ground Vehicle Operations at Airports

    Joe Anderson, MnDOT Aeronautics|Sep 1, 2020

    According to FAA Advisory Circular 150/5210-20A, "Each year accidents, incidents, and runway incursions occur involving aircraft, pedestrians, ground vehicle drivers, and personnel taxiing or towing aircraft at airports. These accidents and incidents can lead to property damage, injuries, and even death." Most of us are accustomed to driving our vehicles on public roadways, with a thorough knowledge of the rules of the road and the operating expectations of ourselves and other drivers. However,...

  • MnDOT Tech Bulletin

    Kelly Akhund, MnDot Aeronautics|Jun 1, 2020

    Have you ever flown into an airport and found workers on the airfield? Do you ever wonder if they are listening to your radio calls? Do you expect they’ll give you the right of way? These are just some of the questions you should be asking yourself and the answers might not be what you assume. Workers at airports are essential and are there to help make improvements. However, sometimes the work they conduct can only be done during daylight hours, and on nice warm days. Sounds like a great day to go flying, right? On those good weather days, w... Full story

  • From the Director's Desk

    Cassandra Isackson, Director, MnDOT Aeronautics|Jun 1, 2020

    Do you ever think about the people that work in aviation? I don’t mean the people that use aviation, I mean the people that are in aviation, making the system work. At MnDOT Aeronautics, I’ve often heard our pilots marvel at what they didn’t know, they didn’t know. Until they began working with us, they had not spent much time thinking about all that must be done, who must do it, to make flying, landing and taking off, possible. Someone is plowing the runway. Someone is mowing the... Full story

  • Minnesota Airport Construction Projects 2020

    Matthew Lebens, MnDOT Aeronautics|Jun 1, 2020

    For public airports in Minnesota, the 2020 construction season is going to be busy, with numerous projects continuing in process and planned, in spite of the current health difficulties. Upcoming projects include several significant runway reconstruction projects. Some of the projects that will affect airport flight operations are described in this article, as well as a link with information about the CARES act. Please check with your airport destination and monitor NOTAMs for specific information. Let’s all Stay Safe in the air and on the... Full story

  • What are PFAS? And is your community prepared?

    Ryan Gaug, MnDOT Aeronautics|Jun 1, 2020

    This past January, just before COVID-19 became widely known and the world would change in ways we could never imagine, I was on a flight to Washington DC preparing for the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting. I’m honored to serve on TRB’s Standing Committee on Intergovernmental Relations in Aviation, or AV010 for short. AV010 focuses on important aviation research and this meeting is one of my favorite work events to attend. Not long before my DC trip, but well before I was paying attention to COVID-19, a very different kind of... Full story

  • Minnesota Airport Directory in Foreflight

    Jim McCanney, MnDOT|Mar 1, 2020

    MnDOT creates a “Minnesota Airport Directory and Travel Guide” every year. Our goal is to provide the public with general aviation information on public airports and public seaplane bases in Minnesota that isn’t available in the chart supplement. We publish a map of the airport layout with runway numbers and length/width. We also provide travel information, such as local attractions, lodging, restaurants, camping, and airport events. Until last year, we had only made this Airport Directory in print form. In recent years the iPad has... Full story

  • Where are you based?

    Rick Braunig, MnDOT|Mar 1, 2020

    A few years back the Federal Aviation Administration started a new program to track where aircraft are based. The FAA made a significant investment to gather this information. The FAA now has a database of based aircraft for all airports eligible for federal funds except those with commercial service. It is detailed enough to pick out when the same aircraft is listed as located at two different airports. Occasionally, we will see a snowbird aircraft listed as based at an airport in Minnesota and another airport in Florida. The based aircraft... Full story

  • MnDOT Aeronautics Statewide Economic Impact Study

    Julie Carr, MnDOT|Mar 1, 2020

    In 2019, the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Office of Aeronautics conducted a study of the annual economic impacts generated by 126 of Minnesota’s 133 public airports. In addition to the 126 study airports, there are seven public airports owned by the Metropolitan Airports Commission. The MAC recently completed two economic impact studies and both MAC studies were integrated into the 2019 Minnesota Statewide Airport Economic Impact Study to provide statewide totals. There are five economic impact categories where data was... Full story

  • Flying through a MOA

    Dan McDowell, MnDOT Aeronautics|Dec 1, 2019
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    One of the greatest perks of flying is being able to see and enjoy the beauty of the earth below. But while casually enjoying these sights, especially at lower altitudes, pilots must maintain awareness, not only of other airborne traffic, but also their proximity to military operations areas (MOAs) and low level training routes along or intersecting with their route of flight. What is a MOA, one might ask? According to the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) MOAs, "consist of airspace of... Full story

  • Directors Column

    Cassandra Isackson, Director MnDOT Aeronautics|Dec 1, 2019

    As I reflect on my visits to International Falls, one constant comes to mind; a warm welcome, a smile, a hug, from Mayor and Airport Commission Chair Bob Anderson. Sadly, a visit to I-Falls will no longer begin with that smile from Bob, as he passed unexpectedly on Friday, Sept. 20, 2019. Bob was a true statesman with over 50 years of public service to his community, the state and the nation, in a variety of roles representing his many interests and his deep love of the place he called home.... Full story

  • What can we do?

    Dan McDowell, Mn DOT Aeronautics|Dec 1, 2019

    To be a good pilot... The leading causes of general aviation (GA) accidents may come as a surprise to most GA pilots. In a June, 2019 article by Janice Wood, published in the General Aviation News, Wood said: “from 2008 to 2017, fatal accidents from controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) — another leading cause of GA accidents were reduced by about half.” She then included a list of the top 10 causes of GA accidents. The first three items in order on her list are: 1. Loss of control (LOC) in flight, 2. CFIT 3. Engine failure. What seemed... Full story

  • Before it Becomes an Emergency

    Dan McDowell, MnDOT Aeronautics|Sep 1, 2019

    Those who truly love flying find that aviation is one of the things that actually defines them. It is their love and in fact their passion for aviation, that sets them apart from most others. People like this are easy to spot. If they hear the sound of an airplane, any airplane going by, they immediately look up, even when in mid-sentence! There are a few other things that can immediately draw a pilot’s attention. Besides the sound of an airplane going over head, the sound of an engine sputtering and going rough, or worse yet, going silent.... Full story

  • From The Directors Desk

    Cassandra Isaacson, Director MnDOT Aeronautics|Sep 1, 2019

    Every day I learn more about Aviation and the impact our MnDOT Aeronautics office has on air transportation for Minnesotans. Although I still feel “new” at the office, it has already been more than five years since I became the Aeronautics Director – and in that time more than half the rest of the people in the office are new. While we miss those who have retired, or gone on to new challenges, we still have great people doing amazing things. We continue to work hard for aviation safety,... Full story

  • Opening the door to the future

    Dan McDowell, MnDOT Aeronautics|Sep 1, 2019

    Nearly every child has a dream or dreams of what they want to do for a career in the future. Many have a dream to fly fighters, airliners or airshow aerobatic aircraft for instance. Once they have tasted the excitement and freedom of aviation, it becomes a burning ember in their hearts. For some, the ember becomes a flame that drives them to do amazing things in aviation. Many, if not most people in the aviation industry, no matter what their job or affiliation to aviation may be, are excited to see a young person take advantage of a chance to... Full story

  • GA and Gun Safety

    Dan McDowell, MnDOT Aeronautics|Sep 1, 2019

    Flying in the cool, crisp air of fall can be absolutely spectacular as mile after mile of brilliant color passes beneath your wings. The variety of changing hues and distinct colors is quite simply awe-inspiring. It is in fact one of the great joys of being able to fly when and where you choose. Another great joy of the fall season for many is the opportunity to fly to locations where hunting is an active sport. Landing at a wilderness camp site can be relaxing, knowing of the solitude and peacefulness that is there the moment you shut down you... Full story

  • Trust and Verify

    Dan McDowell, MnDOT Aeronautics|Jun 1, 2019

    We all have likely heard the old axiom, "trust, but verify!" It holds true today in many facets of our lives, especially in aviation. With all the "gee-whiz" technology that is available in today's cockpits to make flying easier and safer, it is still critically important that you trust your displayed, and controller provided information. But it is equally important that you verify that information. When going into a towered airport for instance, it is common place to simply trust the air... Full story

  • Making the right call

    Dan McDowell, MnDOT Aeronautics|Jun 1, 2019

    Imagine you are a new pilot and live in an area where you don't have an air traffic control tower (ATC) at your community airport. Perhaps you can fly from point A to a number of point B's and C's without speaking to ATC. You may be wary of the day you actually have to push the microphone button and broadcast your information across the air waves to ATC. That day will come and you need to be able to make the right call. Well, today is the day. So, you have your communications radio on and you... Full story

  • From the Directors Desk

    Cassandra Isaacson, Director, MnDOT Aeronautics|Jun 1, 2019

    We are just weeks away from the opening of the EAA AirVenture at OshKosh, Wisconsin, July 22 through July 28, 2019. AirVenture is well known as the worlds' largest aviation gathering and fly-in. For us at MnDOT Aeronautics, the event offers an opportunity to meet individual Minnesota pilots, welcome attendees to stop and visit Minnesota airports on the way to and from OSH, and meet with our peers from across the nation. It is a fun and productive time for all things aviation! We have heard that... Full story

  • One of summers challenges

    Dan McDowell|Jun 1, 2019

    Minnesota is strikingly beautiful no matter which season, but summer is quite simply amazing. With brilliant blue skies, diamond sparkles on the lakes, and a patchwork quilt of rolling prairie as far as the eyes can see, the beauty is seemingly endless. Even though it can get quite warm and humid, Minnesota’s summers range from tolerable to terrific and it validates why we choose to live here! While summer flying is generally awesome, it brings about some unique meteorological challenges that pilots must be aware of and know the proper... Full story

  • No Plane, No Gain

    noplanenogain|Jun 1, 2019

    "The mostly small, public-use airports across the country that are used by business aircraft are key economic engines, boosting jobs, local investment and economic activity in communities across the nation."... Full story

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