Dear friends and supporters:

Eight years ago, I was elected to the position of President of the GMAA. It was and still is a tremendous honor. I said in my acceptance speech, that we need to make our 90+ years association relevant, and to that end, I set three main goals:

1. Extend the reach of GMAA beyond our current membership: we must do a better job, communicating to prospective members who we are, what we do and how will it benefit them to join us. Today, we have an engaged board, very diversified and representing many aspects of our industry. It is a very balanced board as we doubled the number of amazing female directors. We have increased our membership and outreach. Our message about the value proposition of GMAA membership is clearer as we focused on 3 pillars, which I call IRS: Inform, Represent & Scolarships.

2. Strengthen GMAA and the Foundation financial status… together we will work towards creating a sustainable budget. We will embark on a fund-raising campaign to increase our foundation funds, so that we can support many students for future years. These students are the lifeblood of our industry, and it is our primary goal to assist them. What a difference our team made since that day: Our fund raising campaign is growing stronger, with significant donations by AAR and AAS. Our fund investment account, which we diversified and protected has more than doubled in the past 7 years. We were able to give last year 50 scholarships, totaling $100,000, and we are looking to exceed that in 2025. We have added more accredited programs and currently talking to FIU and STU about working together. We have encouraged students to join GMAA for free, they are present at our luncheons, and some even serve today on our board. It is a great success story.

3. Cooperate with local and regional aviation and civic/ Economic development associations to send a unified message which will promote sustaining local aviation companies and help their expansion. If we pull together our resources, we can be more effective. We are a force to be recon with when it comes to advocating the needs of our local aviation industry, as we work with the local economic development agencies who are represented on our board, and local government. We have advocated for the industry in many forums and through interviews in publications. We have embarked on a social media campaign which created thousands of followers. 

So, 8 years later am I satisfied? Hell no! I am pleased we are working so well as a team to achieve even loftier goals. It is great to know we are much more financially secure, and able to help more people achieve their dreams as aviators. It is rewarding to be recognized and respected as the leading aviation association in the State of Florida. However, Oliver Cromwell wrote: “He who stops being better stops being good." We could be better, and I am looking forward to continuing this journey with our phenomenal team.

Best,

Aviv Tzur

President

Sustainability is a growing priority in aviation, and businesses can demonstrate their commitment at trade shows with eco-friendly initiatives. Here are six creative ways to promote sustainability while making a lasting impression:

1. Aluminum Water Cans with Your Logo

Swap out plastic bottles for reusable aluminum water cans featuring your logo. These not only reduce plastic waste but also promote sustainability with a sleek, aviation-inspired look.

2. Bamboo or Recycled Notebook & Pen Set

Offer notebooks and pens made from sustainable materials to minimize plastic waste while ensuring your brand stays in attendees’ minds.

3. Solar-Powered Phone Chargers

Encourage energy efficiency with solar-powered chargers—an eco-friendly and practical giveaway that aligns with sustainability goals.

4. Seed Paper Business Cards or Flyers

Switch to biodegradable business cards or flyers embedded with seeds, allowing attendees to plant them instead of throwing them away.

5. Eco-Friendly Tote Bags

Reduce plastic waste by providing reusable tote bags made from recycled materials or organic cotton, giving attendees a sustainable alternative.

6. Go Digital with QR Codes

Minimize paper waste by directing attendees to a digital landing page using QR codes instead of printed brochures. This not only supports sustainability but also makes it easier for attendees to access your information.

Sustainability in aviation goes beyond fuel efficiency—it’s also about reducing waste and adopting eco-friendly business practices. Implementing these strategies at trade shows can enhance your brand’s reputation and contribute to a greener industry.

Need help with your marketing?

We’d love to support you. Reach out to us today!



Rebekah Knaster

Founder, Becks and the Jets LLC

Steinbauer Commercial Real Estate has served the Air Line industry since establishing in1981 in Miami (Souith Florida) and Lakeland (Central Florida -Orlando and Tampa).  John Steinbauer (SIOR) is a member of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors that has over 4,000 members worldwide to serve throughout the US and Worldwide. Give John a call at 305-794-7676 for a personal consultation.

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, GMAA member and official public/private partnership for economic development in Broward County, has been hard at work assisting aviation/aerospace companies to relocate or expand, as part of South Florida’s thriving aviation industry cluster.  

Some recent announcements include: 

Just four weeks ago, ATI held a grand opening for its new dedicated additive manufacturing facility in Margate developing parts for the defense industry including nuclear submarines and aerospace components using advanced manufacturing methods including metal 3D printing. The secure, 132,000 sq. ft. facility will create 60 new jobs.  

Leading aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services provider, Xtreme Aviation, in partnership with Sheltair, is developing a new hangar facility at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). The 70,000 sq. ft. hangar facility will reduce maintenance turnaround times and costs for airlines that serve FLL, as well as decreasing flight delays for travelers. The project is expected to create 400 high skill jobs and has a projected total capital investment of $30 million. 

Ontic, a leading global manufacturer of aviation and aerospace parts, is expanding into Florida with the opening of its eighth global site. As part of a strategic decision to create a global network of Ontic MRO Centers of Excellence, the company’s new 64,000 sq. ft. facility in Miramar will create 88 jobs with a capital investment of $10 million.  

Aerothrust, an aviation maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) company, is adding 85 airframe and powerplant technicians at a new 45,000 sq. ft. space in Davie, where they are making a capital investment of more than $15 million.  

VSE Corporation (“VSE” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: VSEC), a leading provider of aftermarket distribution and repair services, today announced the relocation of its corporate headquarters to Miramar, Florida. The new headquarters will be co-located with the Company’s Aviation segment headquarters and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (“MRO”) center of excellence at 3361 Enterprise Way, Miramar, FL, 33025.

8thAnnual“Let’sFlyNow”Event at Homestead General Aviation Airport (X51)

“Let’s Fly Now!” is a Ninety-Nines’s signature introductory flight program developed in 2018. Let’s Fly Now!” targets females of flying age (although men and youth may be flown, too). Airplanes, fuel, and time are donated by Ninety-Nines, Friends of The Ninety- Nines, and other properly certified pilots for the introductory flights.

Let’s Fly Now!” is an opportunity for 99's to share their passion for aviation and inspire a new generation to: EXPLORE the wonders of aviation, DISCOVER the magic of flight, and IMAGINE the possibilities for

their future.

The Florida Gold Coast Chapter of Ninety Nines has been conducting “Let’s Fly Now” program with Homestead Executive Jet Center, ever since the inception of this noble outreach. Myra Bugbee who is a true ambassador of General Aviation and woman pilots, envisaged and implemented this program nationwide to empower women in aviation industry and to meet industry pilot shortage.

On February 22nd, 2025, Homestead Executive Jet Center hosted “Let’s Fly Now” event with the Florida Gold Coast Chapter (FLGC) of Ninety Nines at Homestead Airport (X51). During this event, volunteer pilots of FLGC and Pilot Training Center Homestead gave 39 introductory flights and Aviation career opportunity information to all participants.

Homestead Executive Jet Center and Pilot Training Center Homestead under the leadership of Yogini Modi and Bryan Shelton contributes to many community outreach programs and have been working “Let’s Fly Now” every year since 2018 and have successfully given more than 300 introductory flights through “Let’s Fly Now” platform in conjunction with the Florida Gold Coast Chapter of Nines.

General Aviation in the USA is stronger due to such events and meetings that exposes the wonders of aviation to the local community.

Yogini and Bryan also aim to spread this aviation community spirit globally through their international students who will be torchbearers for the aviation community in their country.