The Iowa Aviation Conference this week tackled the high price of fuel, which for airplanes, means somewhere between $3.40 and $5.29 a gallon.
D-O-T Aviation Marketing Director Tim McClung says that could put a burden on Iowa farmers who hire cropdusters to seed or spray their land. Ag aviation’s very important to the state of Iowa, McClung says. He says it’s a constant choice whether to have some chores done by ground or by air.
With airplane fuel costs up it’s tougher on ag aviation operators, though he points out fuel lately has been higher for operators of ground vehicles, too. Security’s also an issue airport managers from across the state talked about at their two-day conference in West Des Moines.
McClung says the state transportation department and the Transportation Security Administration in Iowa have joined together to work with the general-aviation airports, to help get security plans in place and make changes to their facilities, as well as helping implement community watch programs around the airports.
McClung says “Iowa’s really leading the nation with its general aviation security initiative.” He says airport operators this week were also talking about installing new GPS-based navigation systems to give pilots better location detail and safer landing guidance.