43rd Texas Aviation Conference
Access conference programs and presentation materials for the 43rd Texas Aviation Conference.
Conference Program and Presentations
The 43rd Annual Texas Aviation Conference took place from May 5-8, 2025, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Denton Convention Center in Denton, Texas.
| Monday, May 5, 2025 | |
|---|---|
| 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Texas Airports Council Annual Golf Tournament |
| 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Black Cat Training (Appaloosa/Quarter) |
| 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Exhibitor Setup (Kincaid/Pioneer) |
| 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Registration/Check-In |
| 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | TxDOT RAMP Coordinators Site Visit |
| 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | New Participant Orientation (Appaloosa/Quarter) Facilitator: Becky Vick, TxDOT, Aviation Division If you are attending for the first time, traveling solo, or want the chance to meet other attendees before the Get-Acquainted Reception begins, we urge you to attend the New Participant Orientation. Attending a conference for the first time can be a bit overwhelming. This orientation will provide an opportunity for attendees to meet friendly faces before the conference begins. This is an informal event on Monday evening, before the opening reception in the exhibit hall. |
| 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | Exhibits Open (Kincaid/Pioneer) |
| 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | Get Acquainted Networking Reception (Exhibit Hall) |
| 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. | Dinner and Networking (on your own) |
| Tuesday, May 6, 2025 | |
| 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Registration Desk Open |
| 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. | Breakfast in Exhibit Hall (Kincaid/Pioneer) |
| 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. | Opening Session (Eagles/Chilton) Presentation of Colors Air Force JROTC (TX-962), Denton High School National Anthem Sabrina Frost, Sr. Music Therapy Student, Texas Women University Welcoming Comments Dan Harmon, Director, TxDOT, Aviation Division Mayor Hudspeth, City of Denton Introduction of Aviation Advisory Committee State of the Aviation Division Address Dan Harmon, Director, TxDOT, Aviation Division |
| 9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. | Legislative Update Tom Chandler, Regional Manager, Central Southwest, AOPA (Chandlerpresentation slides, 1.4MB) Steve Hadley, Regional Director, Southwest Central, NBAA |
| 9:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Washington Update (Eagles/Chilton) Greg Pecoraro, President and CEO, National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) (Pecoraropresentation slides, 2.7MB) |
| 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Break (Kincaid/Pioneer) |
| 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | System Plan Update and Economic Impact Study Announcement (Eagles/Chilton) Mollie Knowles, TxDOT, Aviation Division (Knowlespresentation slides, 2.2MB) Daniel Benson, TxDOT, Aviation Division (Bensonpresentation slides, 2.6MB) |
| 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Plated Luncheon (Eagles/Chilton) Art Contest Awards sponsored by NBAA (Art Contest Awardspresentation slides, 19.2MB) Texas Aviation Advisory Committee Awards Program (Art Contest Awardspresentation slides, 3.1MB) National/Regional Airport of the Year Local/Basic/Unclassified Airport of the Year Airport Professional of the Year (Airport Professional of the YearPresentation 1 | Airport Professional of the YearPresentation 2) Airport Project of the Year Aviation Educator of the Year (K-12) RAMP Coordinator of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award – Fred Underwood |
| 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Breakout Session I I: Aviation Education I (Triangle Ballroom) Moderator: Dana Donati, Breaking Down Barriers Kelly Filgo, Director of Operations, Choose Aerospace Women in Aviation, North Texas Chapter Mark “Capt.” Kirk, Aerospace and Aviation Instructor, Granbury High School Michael Johnson, Aviation Instructor, Career Institute North, Dallas ISD Preparing the workforce of tomorrow is critical to the continued success of the aviation industry. Our panel of experts will share insights on various aviation educational and outreach programs as well as initiatives designed to cultivate interest and talent in aviation and aerospace. This session will highlight efforts for K-12 students to encourage interest in STEM and aviation. II: Airport Construction from a Contractor’s Perspective (Palomino/Arabian) Moderator: Ed Mayle, TxDOT, Aviation Division AGC Panel This session will examine the construction project process from the perspective of the contractor. This panel discussion will cover a broad range of topics that will surely be of interest to both airport consultants and airport sponsors. Understanding various projects from different perspectives enables the stakeholders to better understand them, minimize delays and other issues, and ultimately results in a better finished project. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions and participate in this session that brings together contractors, consultants, and airport sponsors. III: Airport 101 A: Compliance (Appaloosa/Quarter) Moderator: Michael Van Vliet, TxDOT, Aviation Division (Van Vlietpresentation slides, 631KB) This session will summarize the importance of the airport compliance program and airport grant assurances. It will also allow airport stakeholders to speak about current or past experiences, gain clarification, and engage with TxDOT Aviation staff related to airport compliance. |
| 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Break |
| 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Breakout Session II I: Aviation Education II (Triangle Ballroom) Moderator: Jeff Borowiec, Ph.D. Mr. James Clinton Grant, BS, MBA, Director, Texas Women’s University Mr. Allen Wilson, Director of Aviation, Stephen F. Austin State University Dr. Felix Quayson, B.A.A.S. Program Coordinator, Texas State University Mrs. Angel Newhart, Director of Alignment, Texas State Technical College Mr. Steve Joiner, Principal Lecturer, Department Advisor; Supply Chain Management, Aviation Logistics, University of North Texas This session will address the current state of aviation higher education in Texas through a panel discussion with leaders of aviation education programs at universities across the state. Over 20 years ago, Texas did not have any comprehensive aviation/professional pilot programs at four-year public universities; a study aimed to address why this was and how a program may be designed to meet that need. Since then, several programs have emerged to meet that need including some that began enrolling students and teaching classes in the Fall of 2024. II: Airport Consultant Session (Palomino/Arabian) Moderator: Eusebio Torres, Director of Engineering, TxDOT, Aviation Division TxDOT, Aviation Engineering Section (Torrespresentation slides, 1.3MB) This session will provide an opportunity for the consultant community to hear updates from the Engineering Project Management team. Eusebio “Chevy” Torres, the Engineering Project Management section director, along with his team of project managers, will also be available to answer questions. III: Airport 101 B: Lease Agreements (Appaloosa/Quarter) Moderator: Catriona Gomes, TxDOT, Aviation Division Randal A. Wiedemann M.B.A., R.A. Wiedemann & Associates, Inc. (Wiedemannpresentation slides, 709KB) This session will provide both new and seasoned airport managers with an overview of lease agreements including ground leases, large hangar rentals, and T-hangar/tie-down rentals. There will also be an opportunity for attendees to ask questions and gain clarification on their questions related to lease agreements. |
| 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Texas Airports Council Annual Meeting and Elections (Triangle Ballroom) |
| 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Networking in Exhibit Hall |
| Wednesday, May 7, 2025 | |
| 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Registration Desk Open |
| 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. | Breakfast in Exhibit Hall (Kincaid/Pioneer) |
| 8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. | Agency Update (Eagles/Chilton) Dan Harmon, Director, TxDOT, Aviation Division (Harmonpresentation slides, 1.4MB) |
| 9:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Airport Layout Plans (Eagles/Chilton) Ben Breck, TxDOT, Aviation Division (Breckpresentation slides, 2.8MB) Michael Van Vliet, TxDOT, Aviation Division |
| 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. | Why Your Airport Needs an AWOS: From a Meteorologist’s Perspective, Things You Need to Know Victor Murphy, Surface Observation Program Manager/ASOS Program Manager, National Weather Service Southern Region HQ, Fort Worth, TX Troy Kimmel, Senior Lecturer (Retired), Department of Geography and the Environment, University of Texas at Austin; Contract Security and Emergency Management Incident Response Meteorologist, University of Texas at Austin; Incident Response Meteorologist, City of Kyle (TX) Office of Emergency Management (Kyle PD); Incident Response Meteorologist, Q2/Austin FC Soccer (Murphy and Kimmelpresentation slides, 2.2MB) |
| 10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Break (Exhibit Hall) |
| 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Keynote Speaker (Eagles/Chilton) Darren Pleasance, President and Chief Executive, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (Pleasancepresentation slides, 4.3MB) |
| 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Lunch Buffet (Eagles/Chilton) |
| 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Breakout Session III I: Advancing/Emerging Technologies I (Triangle Ballroom) Moderator: Ernest Huffman, NCTCOG Okeoma Moronu, Zipline Kendal Prosack, Wing Amit Regev, Flytrex Dr. Clinton Purtell, University of North Texas The North Texas region is home to several drone delivery services; all part of the growing advanced air mobility (AAM) ecosystem that includes drones, electric vertical take off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and related infrastructure. Attendees will hear from three different companies providing service in the DFW area on the future of drone delivery and the role of Texas airports. II: Aviation Construction Specification Book and RPR Training Updates (Palomino/Arabian) Moderator: Robert Johnson P.E., TxDOT, Aviation Division (Johnsonpresentation slides, 1.2MB) Sheri E. Hollaway P.E., Hollaway Consulting Engineers, LLC Tom Hart P.E., Woolpert (Hartpresentation slides, 2.0MB) The TxDOT Aviation Division is developing an Aviation Construction Specification Book and a Resident Project Representative (RPR) training course. The session will provide an overview of the progress to date on developing these two resources. This is an opportunity for key stakeholders to gain information on these efforts and guide the development to meet Texas aviation needs. III: HUB/DBE/Title VI (Appaloosa/Quarter) Moderator: Eli Lopez, TxDOT, Aviation Division (Lopezpresentation slides, 615KB) Nicolle Kord, Title VI Program Manager, TxDOT, Civil Rights Division (Kordpresentation slides, 2.6MB) Review of DBE and HUB program as well as Title VI compliance. The session will focus on compliance throughout the life of the project including an overview of eGrants interaction and documentation. |
| 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Break |
| 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Breakout Session IV I: Advancing/Emerging Technologies II (Triangle Ballroom) Moderator: Emily Lambert, TxDOT, Aviation Division Sergio Roman, Director of Emerging Aviation Technology, TxDOT, Aviation Division (Romanpresentation slides, 306KB) Dan Dalton, VP of Global Partnerships, Wisk (Daltonvideo) From drone delivery to eVTOL, technological development is advancing the aviation industry and airports of all sizes should be prepared for the changes these advancements will bring. This session will explore the status of the AAM industry from state and local perspectives in Texas. II: Hangar Inspections and Use Policy (Palomino/Arabian) Moderator: Daniel Benson, TxDOT, Aviation Division Chase Patterson, Denton Enterprise Airport (Pattersonpresentation slides, 4.9MB) Gary Weiland, Deputy Fire Marshal, Denton Fire Department This session is tailored for airport managers and aviation professionals responsible for hangar leasing and tenant engagement. Attendees will learn about conducting an effective hangar inspection and learn ideas to develop fair use policies that ensure safety, compliance, and operational efficiency. The session will cover regulatory requirements, best practices for inspections, and strategies for handling noncompliance with existing policies. It will also address security measures, code enforcement, and risk management. III: RAMP (Appaloosa/Quarter) Michelle Burcham, Director of Grant Management, TxDOT, Aviation Division (Burchampresentation slides, 8.5MB) TxDOT’s Aviation Division administers the Routine Airport Maintenance Program (RAMP), which matches local government expenditures up to $100,000 for eligible maintenance at publicly owned general aviation airports in 2025. This session will provide more information on RAMP grants including funding and eligibility requirements. |
| 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Exhibit Hall Open |
| 6:00 p.m. | Dinner on your own |
| Thursday, May 8, 2025 | |
| 7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Exhibits and Registration Desk Open |
| 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. | Breakfast Buffet (Kincaid/Pioneer) |
| 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Airport Manager Roundtable (Eagles/Chilton) Moderator: Sharlette Wright, Airport Manager, Mid-Way Regional Airport James Mason, Airport Manager, Bay City Regional Airport Haley Cuevas, Airport Manager, Mineral Wells Airport Ryan Adams, Airport Manager, Denton Enterprise Airport (Airport Manager Roundtablepresentation slides, 6.8MB) Got questions? We have answers! This session provides attendees with an open forum to ask questions and engage a panel of experienced airport managers. No formal presentations will be made during the session, but the panel members will share their experiences and thoughts on questions and issues brought up by the moderator and those attending this session. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions about any issues and concerns at their airports. This forum is designed to provide an exchange of information and ideas among airport professionals. |
| 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | FAA Update and Listening Session (Eagles/Chilton) Ignacio Flores, Director, Southwest Region, Federal Aviation Administration Dan Harmon, Director, TxDOT, Aviation Division |