Please take a minute to review important reminders and updates from the NCAA!
NEW UPDATES as of 11/22/24
Please share any news/events going on at your airport/company to share on bi-weekly newsletters.
Celebrating Aviation History Month: North Carolina’s Pivotal Role in Flight Innovation
November is Aviation History Month, a time to reflect on the remarkable advancements in aviation and the pioneers who shaped the industry. While many places contributed to the evolution of flight, North Carolina stands out as a significant hub of aviation history and innovation.
The Wright Brothers: The First in Flight
One of the most notable events in aviation history took place in North Carolina’s Outer Banks. On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright made their historic first powered flight at Kitty Hawk. This monumental achievement marked the dawn of the aviation age, forever changing transportation, war, and global connectivity. The Wright brothers chose Kitty Hawk for its consistent winds and vast, open space, factors critical to their experimentation with flight.
Today, visitors can explore the Wright Brothers National Memorial, where they can learn about the brothers’ journey, machinery, and the legacy they left behind. The site serves as a reminder of their relentless spirit of innovation and experimentation, inspiring generations of aviators and engineers.
A Legacy of Innovation
North Carolina’s contribution to aviation didn’t stop with the Wright Brothers. The state has continued to play a vital role in the aviation industry throughout the 20th century and beyond. During World War II, North Carolina became a critical training ground for pilots, with several military bases established to support the war effort.
Cities such as Winston-Salem and Charlotte became key centers for aerospace manufacturing and research. Today, the North Carolina Aerospace and Defense Industry Alliance promotes growth in the sector, supporting job creation and technological advancement.
Inspiring the Next Generation
North Carolina’s commitment to aviation is evident in its educational initiatives. Institutions like North Carolina State University and Elizabeth City State University offer aviation and aerospace programs, cultivating a new generation of pilots, engineers, and innovators. Additionally, the state’s numerous aviation museums and events, such as the biennial event, Wings Over Wayne air show, inspire young minds to pursue careers in aviation and aerospace.
Take-Aways
As we celebrate Aviation History Month, we honor the legacy of the Wright brothers and recognize North Carolina’s lasting impact on the aviation industry. From the sands of Kitty Hawk to bustling aerospace hubs, the state’s rich aviation history is a testament to human ingenuity and resilience. As we look to the future of flight, it’s essential to remember our past and the pioneering spirit that continues to drive innovation in the skies.
This year, at the NCAA 45th Annual Conference, there will be a session focusing on the History of Airports and Aviation. We encourage you to attend this session and take a deeper dive in this industry’s history.
Happy early Thanksgiving! We are so grateful to our membership and supporters in this industry. Sending warm wishes to everyone and their loved ones this holiday
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION OPENED!
The 2025 NCAA Annual Conference will be held on the beautiful coast of Wilmington, North Carolina at the Wilmington Convention Center on April 8th-10th, 2025. Golf will be on Tuesday with the opening reception Tuesday evening! Mark your calendars now and register as an attendee, exhibitor, and/or sponsor!
EXHIBITOR SPOTS ARE FILLING UP FAST! If you plan on exhibiting, do so as soon as possible to ensure a space!
REGISTER BELOW
Conference Attendees: https://ncairports.org/attendee-registration-2/
Conference Sponsors: https://ncairports.org/ncaa-conference-for-sponsors/
Conference Exhibitors: https://ncairports.org/exhibitor-registration/
BOOK YOUR HOTEL ROOM NOW! LIMITED AVAILABILITY AT BLOCK RATE.
All hotels are walking distance to the convention center.
Hotel Ballast Wilmington, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Our hotel sits on the Cape Fear River with a decor celebrating local maritime culture and Southern charm. The local shops and eateries of historic downtown Wilmington are footsteps away. The outdoor pool, patio, and fire pit feature views…
A $20 daily self-parking fee applies, or a $25 daily valet fee.
Service animals only.
Reservations are also available by telephone through the reservations office at +1 910-763-5900.
Embassy Suites by Hilton, Wilmington Riverfront- Wilmington, NC SOLD OUT as of now
Call Reservations to check on availability. They are available by telephone through the Central Reservations Office at +1 910-765-1131.
ALoft Wilmington at Coastline Center – Wilmington, NC LIMITED AVAILABILITY SOLD OUT as of now
Call Reservations to check on availability. They are available by telephone through the Reservations office at +1 910-377-7600
2025 Conference Working Agenda (updated 11/20/24)
“Back to our Roots”
“Learning how to promote, protect, and continue developing your airport/business into the future.”
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🎅✈️ Santa is coming to Moore County Airport! Join us for the Second Annual “Give Santa the Lists” Event on Friday, November 29th at 10 AM (school’s out!).
Santa will make a special arrival by plane, courtesy of @totalflightsolutions, to visit with the kids and collect their Christmas lists before heading back to the North Pole.
The fun includes: 🎄 Themed story time with @shseawell and @santaofthesandhills
🎨 Holiday crafts with @maddox_avenue
🎶 Christmas carols
☕ A potluck tea party
📸 Photo opportunities with Santa
This event is hosted by @sandhills.friends with support from @cooperautochoice and Moore County Airport. Non-members, please RSVP to info@sandhillsfriends.com or visit the link below and scroll down until you see the Moore County Airport Event. We can’t wait to see you there!
Santa’s sleigh will be stopping by the PTI airport! 🎅🛬
📆 When: December 17th & 19th
🕓 Time: 4 PM – 6 PM
Don’t miss this special holiday treat!✨ Get into the festive spirit and snap a picture with Santa! 📸
Did you know the CLT Airport Overlook had food trucks?!?
Check out this weekend’s schedule above! Follow CLT Airport on instagram for weekly schedule updates.
HMSHost elevates sense of place with OMB Biergarten at Charlotte Douglas International Airport- Shared by AAAE Centerlines Today
Global restaurateur HMSHost (part of Avolta) unveiled a full-service restaurant and bar concept, OMB Biergarten, at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina yesterday (19 November). Located in Concourse D, it has been created in partnership with The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, a local brewery that crafts German-style beers using traditional methods.
Want your Airport/Company Events & News Posted in the Newsletters?
Send any event flyers, press releases, RFQs, job opportunities, etc. to Emily Winberg to get featured in the bi-weekly NCAA Newsletters.
Email: emily@ncairports.org
NC Airports Program Handbook
Dear N.C. Airport Community Colleagues,
Attached please find a copy of the updated North Carolina Airports Program Guidance Handbook, which is now available on our NCDOT Connect site.
This handbook is designed to serve as a complete guide to the programs, funding processes and requirements of the many financial and technical programs and services we offer at the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation (NCDOT Aviation).
You’ll find:
Roles and responsibilities of North Carolina’s public use airports and the government agencies that support them
Information on state and federal funding sources and programs
Steps for managing publicly funded airport infrastructure development projects
References for statutory and regulatory requirements
Guidelines for selecting airport consultants
We hope this handbook update will become a much-used tool for the entire airport community, answering your questions, guiding your engagement with our office and managing development across our airport system. Feel free to share this with other pertinent or new stakeholders.
As always, please reach out to your regional airport project manager with any questions. And thank you for all you do to build a strong and resilient public airport system for North Carolina.
AIG Funds for GA Airports- Letter from NCDOT Division of Aviation
N.C. General Aviation Airport Colleagues,
Your NCAA Board at our quarterly meeting had a robust discussion with NCDOT Division of Aviation about a variety of issues, including our state’s drawdown of federal Airport Infrastructure Grants funds (AIG).
That discussion prompts me to write and ask that general aviation airports request your AIG funds from NCDOT Aviation as soon as possible, if you have not already. (NCDOT applies for AIG funds on behalf of GA airports. Commercial service airports apply for and receive and receive AIG funds directly from FAA).
As of today, N.C. general airports have requested only $6.5 million of the $37.9 million in AIG funds available to them. Only $1.5 million has been awarded and only $142,000 expended. North Carolina has one of the lowest AIG application rates of any state. And because of this, in the last month, NCDOT has received inquiries about it from the N.C. General Assembly, FAA and Board of Transportation.
Our airports have enjoyed tremendous funding support in recent years. It is imperative that we show our stakeholders we are effectively using the funds we receive, from all sources, to deliver a stronger system of public airports for our communities.
If you need guidance on requesting funds, refer to the AIG collection guidance posted on the NCDOT Connect site, the slides from the March training or the email each airport received in April showing the balance of funds you are eligible to request. And, as always, feel free to contact your airport project manager for assistance determining what projects are suitable for these funds and how to request them.
Thank you for your attention to this request and for all of your efforts to demonstrate the value of public investment in North Carolina’s airport system.
NCAA Membership Drive
Here is a friendly reminder that if you have not renewed your membership or joined for the 2024-2025 year, this is the time!
The renewal date has passed, meaning your most likely account has been paused if you have not renewed already. You will need to reach out to the business manager to get your account manually reactivated in order to renew online.
We very much appreciate your continued support of The North Carolina Airports Association with the renewal of your membership for this fiscal year July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025. By renewing your membership you are benefiting from the efforts of NCAA with Legislative Advocacy, attendance to the annual conference at a discounted rate, complimentary region meeting participation, member networking and information sharing, access to member contact information, RFQ, RFP & job posting as well as the other benefits associated with the membership.
Renewal can be done by:
Go to the site at https://ncairports.org
Go to MEMBERS menu and select MEMBERS ONLY SECTION
Log in (username is your email unless you previously changed it)
In the member’s dashboard, click on RENEWAL.
Click on CLICK HERE TO RENEW
The system will display your type of membership with a button for renewal.
When you click RENEW NOW, you will be directed to the payments page.
Once the payment is made, the process is complete. (You may want to print or save a copy of your receipt)
If you are paying for multiple people from your airport or organization, renewal through the website must be done under each member log in. If you wish to pay for multiple people in one credit card transaction, please contact me at 828-808-5502 and I will process these for you.
If you want to JOIN the association, CLICK HERE: https://lnkd.in/gkRvxHAF
Make sure to review each membership type so you ensure you select the correct category.
Payment made by check must be mailed to Emily Winberg, NCAA, 592 Isle of Pines Rd., Morresville, NC 28117 and accompanied by the member name and invoice number.
We look forward to your continued support of the North Carolina Airports Association!
Need holiday gifts and/or NCAA silent auction items to donate and want to support WNC? Buy from local businesses to support WNC and make a difference to their recovering community.
Check out WNC Strong’s website for updates, support, ways to help, etc.
Get connected with Asheville Regional Airport’s media platforms to stay in the know about WNC.
In just a few weeks, our Business Manager will be attending the AAAE Airport Social Media Summit in Ontario, California.
This isn’t just another conference, AAAE days. There will be innovation, collaboration, and inspiration among airport professionals. They will navigate through the latest industry trends, and discover cutting-edge practices that breathe life into our social media landscapes. This event is a golden ticket to mastering how social media can significantly amplify an airport (or associations) digital footprint, captivate travelers, and forge impactful connections that resonate well beyond the digital sphere.
Reach out to Emily if you also plan on attending.
Follow NCAA on Social Media!
As the NC Airports Association continues to grow, we want to continue catering to our members in new ways! Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook for updates, events, and engagement opportunities!
For more info., press the social media icons below!
We’d love your feedback!
Please take a minute to provide your feedback to this NCAA Member Survey. By answering questions, you’ll help us improve and better serve you.
