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Aviation Director Brandt Wins Awards
BRAD BRANDT, Louisiana DOTD Aviation Director, wins the State’s Civil Service League’s Dunbar Award and the National Association of State Aviation Officials’ Chairman’s Award.
 Brad Brandt's career is flying high at the pinnacle of success in the government aviation career field. He was recently announced as a State’s Civil Service League Charles Dunbar Award winner. He was also selected by his peers among the nation's state aviation leaders to be the Chairman of the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO). As such, he was instrumental in securing the safety and proficiencies of our nation’s airways, airlines, and airports. In this rarefied air of responsibilities and having also served as the Treasurer and Vice Chairman, Brad has drawn high praise from not only the NASAO membership, but from airport managers across the country. He has represented Louisiana well through turbulent times and flown smoothly through difficult issues. Brad is a life-long aviator, having graduated from the premiere Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a degree in Aviation Management. He is on final approach for achieving a Masters of Aeronautical Science and just completed an extensive course in Aviation Law. His career took-off at the Denver International Airport working in airport operations. In 1998 he vectored his career to Louisiana, working at the Baton Rouge Airport on noise mitigation and the sound reduction program. From a positive working relationship, he taxied into the Department of Transportation and Development’s Aviation Section as an Aviation Safety and Compliance Officer in 2001. As if jet-propelled, his career accelerated due to superior performances as a Program Manager, Deputy Aviation Director, and now Aviation Director over the 70 publicly owned Louisiana airports and over 800 privately owned landing sites. Brad's Classified Service has spanned a lifetime of service, not only to the State and the Nation, but to the aviation community as a whole. The NASAO Chairman’s Award, DOTD Secretary's Award of Excellence, the La Airport Managers and Associates Presidents Award, and DOTD Team of the Quarter Awards speak to his professional and volunteer service. He is active in church fundraisers and teaching programs; restoring a community park and playground; and coaching numerous kids’ teams. Having built two houses with his own hands, he and his wife took a weekend to remodel the office conference room and common areas. The Dunbar Award recognizes the dedication and enthusiasm Brad Brandt has for his professional career, the artful science of aviation and public service. But, a lifetime of lofty achievements in church and civic activities also lifts Brad to a cruising altitude for life with his wife Julie of 17 years and twin boys Riley and Taylor.
Fly-in and Fly Market at KAPS
The Port of South Louisiana Executive Regional Airport announces our 1st Annual Gary F. Pecquet Fly-In and Santa’s Fly Market. It will be held on Saturday, Dec 1st from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hangar #1. Gumbo will be served. We hope you can make it.
We are hopeful that the Fly Market will be a success but we will need you to bring items you have lying around your hangar that you would like to sell. Tables will be available for you to display those items, but please let us know how much space you will require.
This first annual event arose out of the Port’s working with Gary to have a “Fly Market” each year, so this event is something that we thought could honor him. The Port decided to name this event after him. We anticipate its growth each year.
Thunderbirds Coming Back to Biloxi
 By Yolanda Cruz
BILOXI, MS (WLOX) - Keesler Air Force Base and the city of Biloxi, working with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, have confirmed the official date for “Thunder Over the Sound: The Keesler and Biloxi Air and Space Show” will be May 4 and 5 of 2019.
The event will take place over both the Keesler base and the Biloxi sound. While exact times and acts are still being coordinated, in the morning event goers will be able to enter the base, see aircraft static displays up close, and watch a number of smaller air acts.
In the afternoon, attendees can go off base, into Biloxi, along the beach just off White Avenue and watch the Thunderbirds, along with other acts, perform over the Gulf of Mexico.
“We’re really excited to bring the Thunderbirds back to the Gulf Coast, and are happy to partner with the city of Biloxi to bring what will hopefully be an outstanding show to one and all,” said Col. Lance Burnett, 81st Training Wing vice commander.
This is the first air show of its kind to involve a joint effort between a city and a military base, taking place in two different locations.
“Earlier this year, we had 150,000 people along the waterfront and another thousand boaters experience a great two-day show over the water with Blues Over Biloxi,” said Biloxi Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich. “They saw how great it can be, and I’m looking forward to our partnership with Keesler to make the Thunderbirds show even more successful.”
Information related to air acts, parking plans and other general information will be housed at www.keesler.af.mil/airshow which will be updated throughout the months leading up to the air show.
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ADS-B Deadline Coming Quickly
 I usually leave issues like this to the national aviation news guys but we’re just one year, one month and 14 days from the deadline. I’m sure a lot of Louisiana folks still have this to do. If you haven’t heard one positive is that there is a new rebate plan the FAA just started up. You can get the info by clicking HERE
One big issue is that the avionics shops in Louisiana and elsewhere are going to have a tough time to get all of the installations done. Listed below are all of avionics shops in Louisiana that are on the LaAviator.com website Links page:
Auric Avionics - New Orleans Lakefront
Avionics Solutions - Lafayette
Houma Avionics - Houma
JPS Avionics - Monroe
Patterson Avionics - Patterson
The Radio Shop - Lafayette
Sparrow Inspections - Mansfield
Am I missing anyone?
If any of the shops would like to provide some info to the aircraft owners about scheduling, typical installations, equipment they recommend, special deals, etc., then please send the info to me and I will share it with our readers.
Louisiana Regional Seeking Feedback
We are seeking your feedback of your experience at Louisiana Regional Airport - whether you're a based customer, visitor and/or just enjoy hanging out at the airport!
Please complete this short survey and feel free to share! Let us know if you have any issues accessing the survey and we'll email it to you!
We sincerely appreciate your time and more so, look forward to seeing you at REG!
Click To Take Survey
Help Grow Our Readership
Asking Aviation Clubs/Organizations for Help in This Edition
 The distribution list for the Louisiana Aviation News continues to grow very slowly. We gain 1-3 or so subscribers a week which is disappointing. This email went out to 1,184 subscribers which is nice…..but with the size of the Louisiana aviation community it should be many times that.
Why am I even concerned about the size of the distribution list? It’s true that LaAviator.com is not a business and I don’t charge for anything. I won’t get any direct benefit from increasing the size of the list. The main reason is that doing all of this takes a lot of work…. and therefore, the more people that read it then the more people that will benefit from my work.
While the goal of LaAviatorcom has always been to benefit the entire Louisiana Aviation Community, over the next few weeks I’m going to challenge various segments of readers to help increase the distribution. Last week it was EAA Chapters. Today, I’m going continue with other Aviation Clubs/Organizations in Louisiana like the CAF Wings, 99’s, flying clubs, CAP Squadrons, etc.
Here are a few things I would like the Aviation Organizations to do to help increase the distribution:
- Forward this Louisiana Aviation News email to your club distribution lists so they can subscribe.
- Routinely put something in your monthly newsletters about how to subscribe to the Louisiana Aviation News.
- Print a poster and put it on your bulletin boards. You can get the poster by clicking HERE
To Subscribe to the Louisiana Aviation News click HERE and follow the instructions. Or you can also scan this with your cell phone…
Stay tuned as I will pick another segment of the Louisiana aviation community in the next edition. Thanks for your help.
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