Florida-based pilots Joseph Hurtuk, Ian Goldbaum, and Richard Golightly collaborated in the design of a specialty plate with the theme, “Support General Aviation.” Among their goals was highlighting the economic impact of aviation in the state, which ranks third in the U.S. for the total number of pilots, aircraft, and airports.  

The three pilots worked with Stacey Heaton, AOPA’s southern regional manager, to seek help from elected officials to promote the plate. State Representative Doug Bankson (R-District 39) and State Senator Gayle Harrell (R-District 83) played major roles in legislative efforts to gain House and Senate approval. The next stop for the plate is the governor’s desk, where it is expected to receive approval by the end of March, AOPA said.

“Special thanks go to representative Bankson and senator Harrell,” said Heaton. “The representative’s own passion for aviation and the senator’s recognition of our members’ passion for aviation made this effort possible.” 

After receiving the governor’s signature, the plate still has to go through a process to coordinate its distribution. Presales are set to begin October 1 with a requirement of 3,000 purchases before the state can begin turning out the plates for drivers. Proceeds from the sale of the specialty plates will go toward funding aviation education scholarships for Floridians, which will be managed through the Aerospace Center for Excellence in Lakeland, Florida.

The post Sales of Aviation License Plates to Begin in Florida Later This Year appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

At its graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020 held on June 11, the Aerospace Center for Excellence at the Central Florida Aerospace Academy in Lakeland, Florida, announced the winners of a roster of scholarships intended to support the students’ continuing study in aviation and STEM fields. The eight scholarships granted totaled $110,000.

The leading award, the Top Gun Citation of Merit, went to Sean Stolz, as the graduating senior who “consistently demonstrated outstanding scholastic accomplishment, exemplary character and motivating leadership during their tenure at CFAA,” according to the ACE press release. “The Top Gun honoree is one who has been an example to others in service to their community and work ethic defining them as an influential moving force in the future of the aerospace industry by supporting the Aerospace Center for Excellence’s mission of ‘Engage, Educate and Accelerate the next generation of aerospace professionals.’”

Congratulations also go out to the following CFAA Class of 2020 students upon receiving one of several James C. Ray Continuing Education Scholarships:

• Noel Bell – $5,000 – will be attending Southeastern University majoring in Aviation Management with aspirations of joining NASA as an astronaut.
• Isaac Castellanos – $5,000 – will be attending Polk State College majoring in Aerospace Science.
• Christopher Lopez – $2,500 – will be attending University of FL to major in Aerospace Engineering. Christopher is the first CFAA student to have earn a Certified SolidWorks Professional Certification for Mechanical Design.
• Sean Stoltz – $2,500 – will be attending Embry Riddle Aeronautical University majoring in Aviation Meteorology and pursuing an Airframe and Powerplant Certification.
• Jonathan Fortin – $2,500 – will be attending Embry Riddle Aeronautical University to major in Aerospace Science.
• Colin Jimenez $2,500 – currently completing his private pilot certificate.
• Autumn Richarz $2,500 – will be attending Embry Riddle Aeronautical University majoring in Aeronautical Science with aspirations of becoming a commercial pilot.
• Tyler Wood $2,500 – will be attending Embry Riddle Aeronautical University majoring in Aeronautical Science with aspirations of becoming a military pilot.

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