Dear Members :

 

On behalf of the Greater Miami Aviation Association and the GMAA Batchelor Scholarship Fund we would like to thank you for your contributions to the 2015 Gala dinner/Silent Auction and Golf Tournament.

 

It was because of you that our 88th annual Gala dinner and our Golf Tournament was such a huge success.  We were able to achieve a remarkable level of attendance.

 

This year we were able to offer fourteen (14) scholarships each valued at $5,000 because of your generosity and support to the GMAA and a A-320 Type Rating  donated by CAE.

 

Thank you again for your continued Support to the GMAA.

 

We are looking forward to an amazing 2016 !

 

Sincerely,

On May 17, 1913 pioneer aviator Domingo Rosillo trail-blazed the first record-setting Key West to Havana flight. The flimsy tiny plane brought Cuba and USA closer together than ever before.

To commemorate the achievements of Cuban-American aviation history, come May 2016 we'll behold the marvel of early flight as a replica 1913 vintage monoplane soars above Key West on its way to Havana to reenact the momentous occasion a century earlier.

This historical remembrance is another step bridging the gap between the nations a little closer - once again. And GMAA is in a unique position to support this awesome project.

Be a part of this unique centennial celebration of aviation. Contact Richard Sante at 305-251-4406 or email rick@alfa.aero for details.

The growth of female involvement in aviation today is evidenced across the industry at all levels, including in airframe and powerplant maintenance at George T. Baker Aviation Technical College. The technical college is actively encouraging and supporting its female students to not only succeed academically in STEM programs, but also to be prepared to succeed in the traditionally male oriented world of aviation.  

Baker Aviation has formed a group of Women in Aviation that meets to network, collaborate and discuss topics pertinent to women's issues in the industry. Guest speakers such as Baker alumnus Raquel Oliva who is currently working as an Avionics technician, address the group and share portfolios, experiences and their personal journeys in the industry in order to assist female students along their paths to becoming the most successful technicians they can be.

Able Body Passenger, a term that became popular after the passengers of United Flight 73 came together successfully to stop the terrorists from using the airplane as a weapon against a target on the ground. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) defines able bodied passengers as passengers selected by crewmembers to assist in managing emergency situations should they arise. In the event of a medical emergency, a passenger disturbance or an aircraft emergency, aviation professionals can play an important role in ensuring the safety and security of everyone on­board. Two recent engine fires prior to departure resulted in the evacuation of passengers onto the tarmac. 

I was fortunate enough to begin my professional banking career at Southeast Bank back in 1985 at our bank branch located on NW 36th Street and Lejeune. A location that was right in the epic center of the aviation industry in Miami. 

I quickly immersed myself in the local businesses and remember working on my very first aviation transaction financing two Douglas DC-8-62s for one of the woman pioneers, Mrs. Jean Rich of Rich International Airways. Equally exciting was having the privilege of working with another aviation pioneer and Icon, Mr. George Batchelor. He was a remarkable (tough and demanding) man; who taught me many life lessons. Throughout the years, I amassed a great number of aviation clients and fondly referred to NW 36th Street as "Anita's Boulevard". 

My customers lined the street, from maintenance facilities to airlines. It was truly a magical time in my career. The aviation people I have had the good fortunate to meet are unique, passionate, visionaries, and share one common trait: Determination to be the best that they can be. The aviation industry even touched my personal life. Who would have thought that I would meet my future husband and father of my daughter on an ordinary day in October of 1997; in the lobby of Pan Am Flight Academy waiting to see one of my customer's. Fast forward twenty plus years later, I remain active in the aviation industry and will forever be grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Miami aviation circle; even if only indirectly as an outsider peaking in. 

Today I work as a Regional Executive at Florida Community Bank. After 30+ years in banking, I continue to provide financial support and guidance to my aviation clients and look forward to getting to know each and every one of you. Thank you for the opportunity to share my story.  

Anita Aedo 

Senior Vice President 

Regional Executive Florida Community Bank 

The FL Goldcoast 99s are celebrating the 75th Diamond Anniversary with a Luncheon to be hosted at Wayman Aviation's 11,000 sqft hangar at North Perry Airport (KHWO) on January 23, 2016 from 11am to 4pm. Tickets will be available soon.

The event will kickoff at 11am with a WINGS credit Round Table with Designated Pilot Examiners Jack Boyd and Michelle Melendez. The discussion will be about "Expanding Personal Minimums" and will be followed by a question and answer period. Lunch will follow at 12 noon.

Following lunch, motivational Leadership Speaker Elizabeth McCormick will entertain and motivate the group, training people how to step forward as leaders in the workplace and in their personal lives. As a sought-after keynote speaker, Elizabeth teaches from experience, sharing stories about her time spent as a decorated Black Hawk Helicopter Pilot and Chief Warrant Officer 2 for the US Army.

An auction will coincide with coffee and dessert. Following the Auction, guests will have an opportunity to dance, mingle, and meet with our sponsors to the tune of a DJ. Simultaneously, Wayman Aviation's motion Red Bird Flight Simulator will be available to use for $25 with CFI Sheik Amir ($125 value). The event is expected to end around 4pm.

The FL Goldcoast 99s are looking for donations and sponsors for the event. Please contact Katie 561.542.2126 katie@wayman.net to receive a sponsorship packet.

Regards,

Katie Koch
Wayman Aviation Business Development
c. 561.542.2126
w.305.685.5264

Dear GMAA Board:

I am writing this letter to inform you of my recent achievement, thanks to the 2014 GMAA type-rating scholarship. On April 13, 2015, I commenced the training course and on June 6, 2015, I successfully completed my Airbus A320 checkride. 

Additionally, the scholarship award afforded me with the wonderful opportunity to complete the Entry Level Training (ELT) Jet Familiarization and Multi-Crew Coordination courses. Undoubtedly, the GMAA type-rating scholarship award has been a tremendous blessing to me and I wanted to express my heartfelt appreciation and to say "thank you."

My journey to become a well-trained and highly skilled pilot has not been easy; I have encountered and endured many hardships and obstacles. I have been homeless, without a car, and sometimes even without food to eat. Even so, I can positively attest that I have not allowed such circumstances to deter nor stop me, but rather, I have used these difficulties to propel me forward and to find the inner-strength to tackle each obstacle. Through it all, GMAA has been there for me and has provided me with much needed assistance each time I have been ready to take the next step in my aviation career. In 2005, I received my first GMAA scholarship for the Multi-commercial add-on certification; in 2012, the Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII) and Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI) certifications; and most recently (in 2014), the Airbus A320 type-rating scholarship. Words simply cannot express my gratitude to the GMAA Board of Directors for believing in me enough to award me with multiple scholarships.

As I continue this journey as a professional pilot, I promise to exude the confidence GMAA has instilled within me. I have even attached my résumé as a testament of the many accomplishments I have achieved largely due to GMAA's commitment to aviation excellence. Please receive my abundant thanks!

Sincerely,

Lossie J. Williams III

(MIAMI, October 26, 2015) - Miami International Airport welcomed an impressive mix of new carriers, new routes and new superjumbo aircraft on Sunday, October 25, led by Four-Star carrier Turkish Airlines' inaugural Istanbul-Miami flight. 

The lineup also featured longtime MIA airline partner British Airways' introduction of daily Miami-London Heathrow service aboard the massive Airbus A380 superjumbo, and the start of daily Las Vegas service by ultra-low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines. 

Additionally on October 25, Lufthansa introduced expanded seasonal to Munich, SWISS and Virgin Atlantic launched additional daily flights and Air France kicked off seasonal Airbus A380 service.

Other important air service developments that began on Sunday, October 25 at MIA include:

Seasonal Miami-Munich service by Lufthansa (6 weekly through March 26)

Air France seasonal Airbus A380 superjumbo service to Paris (daily through March 25)

Virgin Atlantic's addition of a second daily flight from Miami to London
SWISS' addition of four additional weekly frequencies to their year-round daily Miami-Zurich flights (11 total per week) through November 30, when double-daily flights take effect through May 25

With 2.4 million more passengers through the first three quarters of the year compared to the same time period last year, MIA is on pace to shatter its all-time annual passenger record set in 2014. Collectively, MIA's new air service options provide an early jumpstart to the final quarter of 2015, which is expected to be another busy holiday travel season.

"We couldn't be happier about introducing all of these new air travel options to our valued customers, and we're most grateful to our airline partners for their commitment to the red-hot Miami market," said Miami-Dade Aviation Department Director Emilio T. González. "New routes, new aircraft and new carriers - it's all part of our strategic growth plans, and it's all in a day's work for our team here at MIA."

(MIAMI, November 5, 2015) - The Geneva-based International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents some 260 airlines or 83% of the world's total air traffic, announced on November 4 that it has designated Miami International Airport as the first pharmaceuticals (pharma) freight hub in the U.S. and only the second in the world. MIA was recognized for organizing its pharma logistics providers to undergo IATA's Pharma Certification Program, which certifies that pharma products are transported in accordance with global best practices. The announcement was made at the recent 2015 Air and Sea Cargo Americas Conference in Miami, the largest gathering of air and sea cargo executives in the Western Hemisphere.

The designation underscores MIA's leading role as a safe and efficient global logistics hub for high-value, temperature-sensitive drugs and medicines. As the busiest U.S. airport for international freight and perishable imports, MIA is already a booming pharma hub, with the total value of pharma products transported through MIA increasing by 79 percent since 2010 to $3.283 billion in 2014.

To achieve the designation, the Miami-Dade Aviation Department and Miami's Health Technologies Distribution Alliance (HTDA) partnered together to organize a group of MIA cargo airlines, ground handling companies and freight forwarders who will undergo specialized training through IATA's Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) Pharma Certification Program.

"As the first IATA-designated pharma freight hub in the U.S., we have the goal and expectation of increasing as well as attracting new pharma business from untapped markets across the globe," said Miami-Dade Aviation Department Director Emilio T. González. "We deeply appreciate our cargo partners for collaborating with us in this exciting new chapter of MIA's growth."