2024 Minnesota Airports Conference Presentations

FAA leaders introduced new staff, provided organizational updates, highlighted new initiatives, and shared their perspectives on the future direction of aviation in Minnesota.

• Conference presentation by Lindsay Terry, FAA (PDF)
• Conference presentation by Carlton Lambiasi, FAA (PDF)
• Conference presentation by Sean Doyle, FAA (PDF)

MnDOT’s Office of Aeronautics leaders discussed funding, policy, staffing, and other news relevant to Minnesota’s aviation community.

• Conference presentation by Ryan Gaug, Kirby Becker, and Mike Hartell, MnDOT Aeronautics (PDF)

MnDOT and the FAA talked about ways to ensure your airport is in compliance.

• Conference presentation by Tim Jarvis, MnDOT (PDF)

• Conference presentation by Nicole Harris, FAA (PDF)

MnDOT staff discussed five to seven areas of emphasis and detailed the current expectations for those areas, including how airports can succeed.

• Conference presentation by Tim Jarvis, Jim McCanney, and Jared Wedel, MnDOT Aeronautics (PDF)

Does your airport have more than one runway? Don’t assume your crosswind runway is eligible for Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding, even if it was built with AIP funds. Attendees learned what it takes to get an eligibility determination from the FAA for their second runway and how other airports are wrestling with this emerging capital funding issue.

• Conference presentation by Mead & Hunt staff (PDF)

The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) executive director/CEO shared what’s happening at the MAC and in Minnesota’s aviation scene.

• Conference presentation by Bryan Ryks, MAC (PDF)

Attendees learned about the upcoming priority projects coming from MnDOT as a result of the recently completed Minnesota State Aviation System Plan (MnSASP). Topics included the development of an automated data collection portal for MnSASP data, an overview of the state-owned NAVAID modernization initiative, and the status of MnDOT’s new CIP and grant management platform.

• Conference presentation by MnDOT staff (PDF)

Advanced air mobility (AAM) can be broadly defined to encapsulate novel and emerging aircraft designs including zero-emission propulsion systems and increasingly, automated piloting systems. Airports have started to consider AAM, as well as uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), in their planning efforts, and some airports have begun installing electric aircraft charging stations on the airfield. This session explored the current AAM industry, key players, expected entry-into-service dates, and how Minnesota airports can prepare.

• Conference presentations by Joseph Block, MnDOT Aeronautics (PDF)

Former State Representative and county board member Mike Beard and former State Senator Ann Johnson led a discussion on how to best connect with your state legislators. The legislative session was in full swing during the conference, and Mike and Ann gave an update on what was accomplished to date, along with advice on how you can have input into how decisions are made. 

• Conference presentation by former State Representative and county board member Mike Beard and former State Senator Ann Johnson (PDF)

This session covered how revenues are collected for the State Airports Fund (SAF), including funding generated through aircraft fuel taxes, aircraft registration, aircraft sales, and aircraft commercial operations licensing. Additionally, this session dove deeper into SAF revenues collected through the aircraft registration system, the benefit to airports, and how improved partnerships help keep the SAF healthy. Presenters also went into detail about how those SAFs are put back into airport communities through grants that provide state match for federal grants, funding for maintenance and operation grants to help with day-to-day expenses, and state-only funded airport projects.

• Conference presentation by Kirby Becker and Arika Johnson, MnDOT Aeronautics (PDF)