The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the world's largest aviation association with 413,000 members, recently featured Charleston Air Force Base/International Airport located in Charleston, South Carolina, in its award-winning magazine, AOPA Pilot. "A Day in the Life of America's Airports" appeared in the August 2007 issue of AOPA's magazine, which is the most widely read aviation magazine in the world.
"What better way to celebrate America's general aviation airports than to show their diversity on a single day," said Tom Haines, AOPA Pilot editor in chief. "From floatplanes to helicopters, airshows to charter flights, each airport has something unique to offer and each is a community treasure."
Charleston Air Force Base/International Airport is a perfect example of a well-run joint-use military base and public-use airport. It serves a mix of customers and aircraft from military F-16s to corporate Cessna Citation jets to commercial airlines to general aviation Cessna 172s. When AOPA Pilot visited on May 19, several corporate, commercial, and general aviation arrivals had landed earlier in the morning, delivering passengers headed for the barrier islands for the weekend.
AOPA Pilot editors and photographers traveled to 11 airports across the country - from Alaska to Florida, New Hampshire to California - to observe, participate in, and write about what was going on there on May 19, 2007. Along with the special feature article in the August 2007 issue of AOPA Pilot, the project includes a multimedia online component accessible to both AOPA members and non-members at www.aopa.org/pilot/dayinthelife/.
Showcased is the article about each airport, photographs, a timeline of the day, and even video that captures the spirit the editors experienced. In addition, expanded local area coverage with multiple links to local area attractions and visitor information is available to assist anyone interested in traveling to see the airports and communities in person.
The 413,000 members of AOPA make up the world's largest civil aviation association. AOPA is committed to ensuring the continued viability, growth, and development of aviation and airports in the United States. These airports are a vital and critical component of a national transportation system.
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Editors: AOPA provides two important resources for covering general aviation news - an online newsroom and a television studio and uplink. Contact us for more information.
August 16, 2007