The Women’s Aviation Career Symposium (WACS) celebrated their seventh year that included over 300 participants and record-breaking scholarships awarded to women pursuing careers in aviation. The annual professional career conference for women – from high school juniors through retirees – took place at Western Michigan University’s College of Aviation in Battle Creek, Michigan on March […]
Michigan
MDOT Announces Award Winners for Outstanding Achievements in Michigan Aviation
Photo above – Air Carrier Airport of the Year Award: Back row (left to right): Autumn MacClaren, director of Air Service Development and Marketing; Wayne Schmidt, board member; Steve Plamondon, board chair; Bob Nelesen, airport engineer; Kevin Klein, chief executive officer; Brian Budds, MDOT Office of Aeronautics director; and Dan Saal, chief operating officer. Front […]
Michigan Airports to Receive $4 Million in Grants for Airport Improvement Projects
The Michigan Aeronautics Commission (MAC) and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) have announced $4 million in one-time Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 airport development grants to be awarded to 33 Michigan airports for 44 improvement projects. These funds will help airports with clearing obstructions, repairing runways, upgrading lighting, building hangars, and acquiring operations equipment. Fast […]
State Transportation Commission Approves Final 2025-2029 Five-Year Transportation Program
The State Transportation Commission (STC) approved MDOT’s final 2025-2029 Five-Year Transportation Program (5YTP) for transmission to the Michigan Legislature, state budget director, and the House and Senate fiscal agencies by March 1, 2025. The State Transportation Commission (STC) approved the final version of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) 2025-2029 Five-Year Transportation Program (5YTP) for […]
Lt. Governor Gilchrist Announces Over $6 Million to Four Projects Furthering the State’s Advanced Aerial Mobility (AAM) Leadership
Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist announced that four projects will receive $6.25 million in total funding to scale critical AAM infrastructure and deploy pilots that will generate operational data to validate the commercial potential of key AAM use cases and help inform the state’s AAM policy. The funding will be provided through the AAM Activation Fund, a […]
Bryan Budds Tapped As New Aeronautics Director in Michigan
Bryan Budds has been named the new Michigan Department of Transportation Aeronautics Director. Budds will serve as the executive administrator of the Michigan Department of Transportation Office of Aeronautics and director of the Michigan Aeronautics Commission. For the past eight years, Budds has served in the Office of Aeronautics in various roles, including the Aeronautics […]
Mike Trout Reflects on Career at MDOT Office of Aeronautics
After 13 years of service as the Executive Administrator for the Michigan Department of Transportation, Office of Aeronautics, Mike Trout is retiring effective July 5, 2024. He began his state service in 2011 after serving in various roles in the aviation industry. Mike was initially attracted to aviation, because the industry has always been about innovation and […]
Cirrus Delivers New Fleet of TRAC Series G7 Aircraft to Western Michigan University
Cirrus announced its delivery of seven TRAC20 G7 to Western Michigan University College of Aviation. In July 2023, Cirrus and WMU announced a purchase agreement for 32 TRAC20 G7 aircraft. The TRAC20 G7 is the latest generation of the TRAC Series product line which includes the TRAC20, TRAC22 and TRAC22T. The TRAC Series aircraft is […]
Michigan Department of Transportation Receives Latest Generation Automated Weather Observing Systems from ADB SAFEGATE
ADB SAFEGATE, through its DBT Transportation Services LLC (DBT) subsidiary, was awarded a $3.7 million contract to replace the 42 Non-Federal Automated Weather Observing Systems (AWOS) by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). DBT developed the F1 Standalone AWOS (F1 STA) in compliance with the FAA Advisory Circular 150/5220-16, while taking into consideration comments and […]
MAC and MDOT Announce Award Winners for Outstanding Achievements in Improving Michigan Aviation
At the 2024 Michigan Airport Conference held in East Lansing on Feb. 22, the Michigan Aeronautics Commission (MAC) and Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) announced the award winners for achievements in promoting and improving aviation. These awards are presented to airports, professionals, consultants, and others. Here is a list of the 2024 award winners: General […]
