The Mid-Atlantic Aviation Coalition recently awarded three prizes to New Jersey pilots who successfully completed the second annual New Jersey Airport Challenge.
The New Jersey Airport Challenge tests pilots’ skills by providing an incentive to fly to all of the airports that participate in the MAAC-sponsored event. This year, 27 airports agreed to take part in the event. Pilots flew to the airports where they were given a signed and dated entry card. Pilots then took all of their entry cards to MAAC’s annual picnic and fly-in. Prizes were awarded to the pilots who had the most entry cards.
The 2011 prize winners were Robert Guhr, Allan Streit, and Howard Cooper, all of whom flew to all 27 general aviation airports that participated in the this year’s Airport Challenge. Bob (shown below with MAAC Vice President and Airport Challenge Coordinator Bob Checchio) flies a Maule MX7 based at Lincoln Park Airport, and was awarded a DVD-based course in IFR flying donated by Sporty’s Pilot Shop.
Allan (shown below with Bob Checchio) flies a Cessna 150 based at Central Jersey Regional Airport located in Hillsborough. Allan was awarded a gift certificate worth $279 towards any course offered by King Schools.
Howard Cooper, who flies a 1977 Grumman Lynx, was not able to attend. He was awarded a gift certificate for $75 of avgas at Somerset Airport, provided by Somerset Air Service. All three pilots received a MAAC hat, a copy of the book “Adventures in Flying” autographed by the author, former Star-Ledger aviation columnist Jack Elliott, and a MAAC mouse pad.
Besides the opportunity to win prizes, the participating pilots reported that the Airport Challenge gave them an incentive to fly to airports that they would not have flown to otherwise. Flying to a variety of airports provided an opportunity to sharpen their skills, including operating at towered airports and turf fields. All three pilots reported having a great time flying the Challenge.
Details about the 2012 New Jersey Airport Challenge will be available in the spring on MAAC’s website, NJAviation.com. For more information about the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Coalition, send an email to [email protected]
