From the Klosterman family come true tales of the air, starring UND-trained pilots who received the Annette Klosterman Memorial Scholarship

By Jim Klosterman

UND graduate and Delta pilot Rose Kirby sits in the cockpit of an Airbus 350, just before taking off for a nonstop flight from Detroit to Seoul, South Korea. Kirby was the 2011 recipient of the Annette L. Klosterman Memorial Aviation Scholarship. Photo courtesy of Rose Kirby and the Klosterman family.

Since 2008, my wife Jan, our son, Peter, and I have sponsored a scholarship within the Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences at UND, in loving memory of our daughter, Annette. The scholarship specifically is designated for a woman majoring in Commercial Aviation who demonstrates the same passion and work ethic that Annette did during her four years enrolled at UND.

Annette graduated Magna Cum Laude in May 2007 with a degree in Commercial Aviation and a minor in Economics. As with many Commercial Aviation graduates, she stayed on at UND following graduation as a full-time flight instructor to build up her flight time. This is a normal post-graduation activity because, as readers may know, pilots seeking employment with a regional airline must accumulate at least 1,000 hours of flight experience before they can be hired.

But it was only five months after her graduation in 2007 that Annette and her student were killed when their Piper Seminole aircraft collided with a flock of geese over central Minnesota on a night flight returning to Grand Forks. As any parent can imagine, it was a devastating blow, and our world was turned upside down overnight!

However, due to Annette’s incredibly positive experience at UND, we felt compelled to honor her by establishing an endowment to help other women pursuing the same passion of flight.

Since 2008, we personally have met all 17 scholarship recipients (some years have had more than one recipient) and maintain regular contact with most of them. Jan and I refer to them as our “adopted flight daughters,” and it has been an absolute joy to see these women excel in an industry long dominated by men.

The majority of the women have found their way into the commercial airline business, becoming first officers and then captains for both regional and major airlines. Others are flying cargo jets, a bush plane on floats in Alaska and an F-16 fighter in the U.S. Air Force. There’s also an FAA inspector in the mix, as well as another who designs satellites at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

We are so proud of them all! And to give UND Today readers a sense of their amazing stories, what follows are updates that we received recently from just two of the scholarship recipients who graduated several years apart.

Christine Benson, a UND graduate and pilot for JetBlue, stands with her mother, Pamela, a JetBlue captain with more than 40 years of flying experience. Christine was the 2018 recipient of the Annette L. Klosterman Memorial Aviation Scholarship. Photo courtesy of Christine Benson and the Klosterman family.

Like mother, like daughter

Christine Benson, who hails from Pennsylvania, was our scholarship recipient from 2018 and graduated from UND with a Commercial Aviation degree in December 2019. Christine was well-acquainted with the airline industry from a very early age, having grown up in a home where both of her parents were commercial pilots.

Her father retired three years ago after a career with American Airlines, and her mother is currently a captain with JetBlue Airlines with 40 years of flying experience under her belt.

After graduating from UND, Christine stayed on as a flight instructor to build the necessary hours of flight experience. By the way, students at most flight schools must accumulate a minimum of 1,500 hours of flight experience before they can be hired by a commercial airline. But flight training at UND is so in-depth and rigorous that in accordance with FAA regulations, airlines can accept UND-trained pilots who have a minimum of 1,000 hours of flight experience.

You see, training at UND goes far beyond just learning how to take off and land safely. Mandated courses include not only flight training (in both single and multi-engine aircraft) but also Aviation Safety, Flight Physiology, Aerospace Law, International and Long-Range Navigation, Gas Turbine Engines, Aerodynamics, Aircraft Systems, Meteorology, Air Traffic Control and other subjects that I undoubtedly forgot.

Christine was hired by Republic Airways in mid-2021 and began flying an Embraer 175, a regional jet that typically seats up to 80 passengers. More recently, Christine made the jump to JetBlue, the nation’s fifth-largest airline.

At JetBlue, she was able to immediately take the yoke of the Embraer 195, a larger version of the 175, which typically seats up to 105 passengers and carries a price tag of $50 million to $60 million. I wonder if she has a license plate frame on the back of her car that says, “My Other Car is a Jet.”

So awesome for a young lady who graduated from college just three years ago! The professionalism of the training at UND produces pilots who are as well-equipped as any to enter the cockpit.

Above is a photo that Christine recently shared with us. It shows Christine with her mother, Pam, a senior captain in her own right (as I mentioned) with JetBlue.

Understandably, it’s Christine’s dream to fly together with her mother in the cockpit. But in fact — although Christine may not fully understand this, not being a parent herself — it’s probably even a bigger dream for her parents!

Christine will need to fly the Embraer for at least one more year before she can apply to be trained on the Airbus and be eligible to fly with her mother. That would be a first for any of our 17 scholarship recipients, and we look forward to it.

Rose Kirby, a UND graduate who’s now a pilot for Delta Airlines, stands beneath an Airbus A320/321 during a pre-flight check. Kirby was the 2011 recipient of the Annette Klosterman Memorial Scholarship at UND. Photo courtesy of Rose Kirby and the Klosterman family.

Smooth skies over the Pacific

Forgive me for sounding like a broken record, but I must repeat that the scholarship recipients’ success after graduating from UND has been phenomenal. Here’s another example: Earlier this year, we received an update from Rose Kirby, our daughter’s scholarship recipient from 2011 (gosh, where has the time gone?).

Rose has been an absolute joy over the years to keep in contact with, as we have followed her career after she received her world-class education in Commercial Aviation from UND.

After graduating from UND and not being a fan of the infamous North Dakota winters, Rose relocated to Phoenix to continue flight instruction to build flight hours. After gaining this experience over two years, she got her first commercial job, which saw her flying sightseeing passengers over the Grand Canyon and other tourist attractions in the Southwest.

Then, Rose applied for her first regional airline job and was hired by GoJet in 2015. As a GoJet pilot, she flew around the country in a Canadair Regional Jet, which — depending on the model — seats 60 to 90 passengers.

After a few years with GoJet, Rose was able to move up to the major airlines. She was hired by Delta in early 2017. You may have flown with her in the cockpit recently, as Rose has spent the past five years flying an Airbus 320, a $100 million aircraft that typically has a passenger capacity of about 160.

But Rose is hoping to fly internationally, and the A320 was not designed with the needed range to cross the oceans. So, Rose applied for international flying with Delta; and, she recently told us, her application was accepted!

Rose now has completed her training in the Airbus 350. Designed with long distances in mind, the aircraft can carry up to 400 passengers and fly up to 8,700 nautical miles or about 10,000 statute (think land) miles on one tank of gas.

This state-of-the-art aircraft just started commercial service in the past five or six years and carries a price tag of just more than $300 million.

Imagine that: being out of college for only about 10 years and being responsible for flying such a machine! I’m trying to imagine $300 million, and I’m reduced to putting it in household financial terms. So, I’m thinking, if that was a typical 30-year mortgage with 20% down and an interest rate at 5.5%, that would equal monthly payments of $1.36 million.

You know, Rose used to send photos of herself standing next to her aircraft, and now it is photos of her standing under her aircraft. Above is a recent photo of Rose — reprinted with her permission — standing beneath an Airbus 320/321 during a pre-flight check. This is the aircraft that she’s flown for the past five years before moving up to the Airbus 350.

How many other women in the world could be featured in such a photo?

The second photo of Rose is the lead photo of this story; it shows her in the cockpit of the Airbus 350 before a nonstop flight from Detroit to Seoul. Flights this long actually require a crew of four pilots with a separate rest area per FAA regulations; to me, it looks like the cockpit is almost large enough to set a buffet table for transoceanic flights.

This photo montage honoring Annette Klosterman is part of a poster that describes her life and legacy, and that hangs on the wall outside the Annette Klosterman Aviation Safety and Data Analytics Lab at UND. Click on the image for a high-resolution image of the full poster. Photo montage by Heather Schuler/UND.

With gratitude and love

To repeat, the success of these UND grads has been made possible by the tremendous and professional training they received at UND. It has been a true joy for our family to watch their success after graduating, and we easily can say that sponsoring the scholarship in our daughter’s memory has been one of the most gratifying activities we have participated in.

To those who have been gracious enough to contribute to this scholarship, please know that your generosity is indeed bringing about real-world results! These young ladies repeatedly have told us not only how meaningful the financial assistance is to them, but also how encouraging it is that people whom they’ve never met are willing to make an investment on their behalf. We are so proud of them all! Jim, Jan and Peter Klosterman

Photo by Andrea Johnson/MDN Branson Keeley, a student in the aviation technology class at Minot High School-Magic City Campus, works in class on Nov. 23.

Students in the Aviation Technology program at Minot High School have a leg up on others who are interested in aviation careers.

“It’s all for free,” said Meric Murphy, the instructor, as his students practiced air traffic control procedures last Wednesday in their classroom at Magic City Campus. “This would cost $150 to $200 an hour if they were doing it on the outside.” 

Each computer has its own call sign, like Lima or Foxtrot, and students were practicing the procedures needed to safely direct an aircraft off the runway and into the air.

“They don’t have to memorize it because they use it so much during the year,” said Murphy.

Student Branson Keeley, whose dad is in the Air Force, said he is interested in an aviation career and going into the Air Force.

Student Noah Miller, who is also in Minot High’s ROTC program, said hopes to earn an ROTC scholarship and enroll in the aviation program at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.

Murphy said the software program, which is less sophisticated than more expensive equipment, still enables the students to practice about 90% of what they could in a more realistic simulator. Those who take two years of aviation technology at Magic City Campus will log hundreds of hours of instruction that will enable them to accelerate through their pilot training and obtain certification more quickly and sometimes at less expense. They also will fly simulations in which multiple instruments on an aircraft are inoperable and in hazardous conditions and do it successfully.

“You earn your keep about once a year being a pilot,” said Murphy.

Murphy, a former air traffic controller at Minot Air Force Base, tells his students that if they apply themselves to their education, they will go far in the field.

He said high schools in many of the larger districts in the state have similar programs funded in part through grants as there was a concern about the shortage of pilots.

Murphy said there is a shortage of people going into all fields of aviation right now, so students in his aviation technology classes will be highly employable as air traffic controllers, pilots, in aircraft maintenance, or airport operations. Many of his students have gone on to aviation careers.

“It’s unlimited right now,” said Murphy.

Reprinted with permission from The Minot Daily News.

In early November, the Dickinson Airport opened their new Primary Runway 14/32, after a long reconstruction and expansion project. The project shifted and expanded the runway from a length of 6400 ft. to 7300 ft. It also included the construction of a full-length parallel taxiway, which operated as a temporary runway for two years while the main runway was under construction. Also included in this project was the installation of a new Instrument Landing System (ILS.) The overall project took four years to complete and the airport was fully operational throughout the construction period. Completion of this project ensures that current and future commercial aircraft will have a runway that meets all current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements for safety areas. The new runway also has an increased weight bearing capacity, allowing larger aircraft to operate without waivers. Congratulations, Dickinson!

Generally, our weather decisions are based on experience, book knowledge, and a willingness to reduce whatever risk we find in the process. I believe all of us do what we can to stay legal; where we fall short in the process is recognizing the potential outcome, based on the weather data we find. Current and forecast weather conditions are just the first step towards your Go or No-Go decision. Enroute weather or what you see out the window affects our immediate decision making, but did we plan for unforecast conditions? Knowing your personal weather minimums and pre-planning is where risk levels change, for better or for worse.

Setting personal weather thresholds is all about taking an honest examination of your experience level and setting boundaries on what your skill and experience affords you to safely operate. The key to effective thresholds is being honest with yourself, identifying what makes you uneasy, scares you, or maybe what weather you have just never had to consider. 

Let’s take a look at a short inventory of weather related questions that you may need to consider for your day-to-day flying:

Crosswinds (Of course, this IS North Dakota):

Keeping in mind that the Maximum Demonstrated X-Wind component of your aircraft is NOT a limitation. A combination of aircraft aerodynamics and your ability to manage control are the limitations! Consider the following:

When was the last time you operated in significant crosswinds? 

How many crosswind landings have you accomplished in the last month, three months, or year?

How confident were you when operating in those conditions? 

Did you walk away from the airplane thinking, “That was a bit scary?”

Ceiling/Visibility:

Are you comfortable flying above small temperature and dew point spreads at night? 

How marginal of a ceiling is too marginal? (i.e. “The last time I flew with a 1500’ ceiling it was stressful”, or “I became so distracted trying to read what the clouds were telling me that I lost situational awareness.”)

How marginal IS marginal visibility to you? (i.e. Light snow with 6SM visibility or you want nothing falling from the sky?)

Icing (Assuming the aircraft is rated for icing conditions):

How much icing is too much for you or the aircraft (i.e. light rime or moderate clear etc?)

What icing types would you rather not deal with? Can you anticipate weather patterns that favor those types?

When was the last time you flew in icing conditions?

It’s been years since you encountered ice during a flight, AIRMETs along your route are forecasting moderate icing, no PIREPS are available. Are you going to alter your route or fly through the AIRMET?

Are you comfortable flying across a warm front in winter?

The answers to these questions can be discussed with your local Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) or maybe it’s time to get back into the books and refresh your knowledge on these topics. Either way, considerations must be given before you go flying.

Beyond the items listed above you may consider using a Flight Risk Analysis Tool (FRAT.) These tools are available through most industry providers and my favorite website: www.faasafety.gov.

WINGS Proficiency Program needs you - Join today! www.faasafety.gov. Safety is a motivated action which requires attention, skill, and refreshment throughout time.

Fly Safe!

Jay M. Flowers, Safety Educator, Airline Transport Pilot, CFI, Fellow Aviator

Military aviation is an important part of our state’s aviation community. In this spotlight, we highlight some of our local military aviators, who represent North Dakota around the world, and share their stories with you. We thank them for their dedicated service to our country and community. Our spotlight this issue features Andy “Comma” Niemyer, a retired Captain in the U.S. Navy.

Q: What is your hometown? 

I am California-born, but have lived in North Dakota from 1990 to 2002 and from 2021 to present, both in Bismarck and Fargo.

Q: What was your job title? What did your work include? 

At the time we moved to North Dakota, I was a Commander in the Navy and was flying as a Bombardier-Navigator in the Grumman A-6 Intruder with a West Coast Navy Reserve squadron. I later served with two Joint USCG-USN units and then was a lecturer and instructor training various Navy Battle Group staff. I finally commanded a small unit based out of the Minneapolis International Airport.

Q: What inspired you to join the military? 

I grew up next to the original home of US Naval Aviation, Naval Air Station North Island, Coronado, CA. Naval Aviation and the Navy was all around me. With the Vietnam War still going on and a possibility of being drafted after college graduation, I found out about opportunities to enlist in the Navy and then apply for officer training. That seemed like a great idea! 

Q: How many years of service did you have? 

I served for 31 years and six months, including an initial 18 months as an enlisted sailor and officer candidate at the end of the Vietnam War, from 1972 to 1973.

Q: What was the most rewarding part of your time in the military? 

The people, the places, the challenges and the chance to fly in Navy aircraft world-wide.

Q: Are you involved in the North Dakota aviation community outside of the military? 

Not too long after moving to Bismarck, I immediately began renting General Aviation (GA) aircraft; I attended my first Upper Midwest Aviation Symposium (UMAS), joined the former North Dakota Pilots Association (NDPA), and became involved in the North Dakota Aviation Council (NDAC). I helped with UMAS, NDPA annual presentations, and then became the Editor-in-Chief of the Quarterly. In the meantime, I flew and owned a couple of planes out of KBIS. I’m now based out of KFAR and still active in GA activities.

Q: What advice do you have for anyone interested in military aviation? 

You will never, ever have an opportunity like the one presented to you by applying for and being selected for military flight training. You will be presented unique challenges, unparalleled training, given the chance to fly in some of the world’s most advanced and unique aircraft and make friendships that will last a lifetime. As you do this, you will gain life skills and self-discipline that will serve you a lifetime, no matter what you end up doing with the rest of your life. And, should you succeed, you will join an incredibly small and unique cadre of peers with whom you will share a fantastic set of world-wide adventures and experiences, no matter how long you serve.

A national defense authorization bill passed by the U.S. House December 8 on a 350-80 vote includes language reflecting the advocacy work of AOPA that will eliminate an FAA policy change made in 2021 that requires pilots—and their flight instructors—to obtain a letter of deviation authority (LODA) to give or receive flight training in experimental aircraft.

Disregarding decades of precedent, the FAA changed its tune on flight training and in July 2021 issued a directive requiring certain aircraft owners and flight instructors providing flight training in experimental aircraft to obtain a LODA in order to conduct flight training.

The new policy and its requirements drew backlash and confusion from AOPA and other aviation associations who argued that the directive was nothing more than a paperwork exercise that did nothing to enhance safety—and in fact achieved quite the opposite. Following its release, nearly 40,000 pilots were grounded overnight. Even the FAA Administrator at that time, Steve Dickson, called the LODA a “four-letter word.”

AOPA championed an effort to reverse the FAA directive. With the strong support from Reps. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), and Kai Kahele (D-Hawaii) and Senators Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), a provision to eliminate the LODA requirement was included in the final defense authorization bill.

“The FAA legal office has turned the definition of flight training upside down and this provision is only the first step in getting us back to where we were and where we need to be. Flight training is a safety issue and we don’t need anything that impacts that in a negative way,” said AOPA President Mark Baker. “AOPA appreciates the bipartisan effort of members of Congress and our allies in the GA community for addressing this issue. We will continue to work with our friends in Congress to take the next step and codify the definition of flight training that has been used for more than 60 years.”

The bill is expected to pass the Senate soon and arrive on the president’s desk for signature.

I am excited to be joining the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission (NDAC) team as their new airport planner for Western North Dakota! I grew up in Pierre, SD, where I graduated from T.F. Riggs High School in 2015. I attended the University of North Dakota (UND), graduating in August of 2020 with a B.B.A. majoring in Aviation Management. I also have my Commercial Pilot’s License ASEL/AMEL, and have two years of experience as a line technician before finding my new home with the NDAC.

My love for aviation was very prominent early in my life. I would beg for any toy, or Lego set, that had anything to do with planes. When we first moved to Pierre in 2007, my favorite part of our new house was the amazing view of the airport from our living room window. I first got a taste of flying on my 14th birthday, when my mom organized for a family friend to take me up on a scenic flight in a Cessna 172. I was absolutely terrified, but by the time we got back on the ground I was forever hooked. Thus began my addiction, and I knew I wanted to pursue aviation as a career. My next step was UND, where I had an amazing college experience from 2015-2020. Some of my favorite memories were made at UND: joining the hockey team in Tampa Bay and watching them become national champions in 2016; flying next to thunderstorms for my summer internship with Weather Mod; and the best, of course, was meeting my future wife, Michaela, on our first day of band camp during freshman year.

When I’m not working or flying, I have plenty of hobbies to keep myself busy. Music is another passion of mine; I can’t have a road trip without losing my voice from screaming in the car. I love to stay active with my wife, rollerblading and swimming in the summer, and pretending we know how to play hockey in the winter. I’m also quite a gamer as well, including Xbox, PlayStation, and my own PC which I built myself a few years ago.

I am extremely thankful for the NDAC team for giving me this wonderful opportunity. I am ready to get to know aviation from a whole new perspective, and I cannot wait to help our airports and aviation industry grow across our beautiful state of North Dakota!

Blue skies and buttery landings, Grant Erwin

The Happy Hooligans’ 178th Attack Squadron celebrated receiving the 2021 Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies’ General Atomics Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Squadron of the Year Trophy Dec. 9, 2022 at the Fargo Air Museum, Fargo, N.D. (National Guard story and photos by Senior Master Sgt. Michael Knodle, 119th Wing Public Affairs)

The 178th is the first National Guard unit to earn this award, presented annually for outstanding performance by RPA squadrons in achieving intelligence, surveillance, persistent attack, and reconnaissance over the preceding year.

Major General Steven Nordhaus, director, Air National Guard Readiness Center, renders remarks as the keynote speaker of the award presentation, Fargo, Dec. 9, 2022.

Article reprinted with permission from the North Dakota National Guard. 

Have you had a chance to start your journey collecting stamps for the North Dakota Passport Program? If you enjoy flying, or more important,landing, then the Passport Program has just what you are looking for. After getting a program book, start collecting stamps at all 89 airports around the state and earn some prizes in the process. Always check NOTAMS and make a safety determination based on your skill, the aircraft you are flying, the current weather, and any other considerations you have prior to flight. If you arrive at an airport but are unable to land as a result of the weather, current field conditions or other reasons, you may request a sticker from our office to include in your book. If you have completed the Passport Program, you may be interested in learning that there are a number of other states with similar programs. Each has their own rules, but most are similar to North Dakota. 

We have a couple of changes coming to the Passport Program that you should be aware of, if you have not yet completed the program. First, a change already implemented this year is the number of required airports. Some of our airport environments can be extra challenging. This may be because of obstacles, rough terrain, etc. We have changed the requirement to land at nine of the airports in North Dakota. The following airports are now considered optional for completion of the passport program: 

Gackle

Larimore 

Lidgerwood 

McClusky 

Minto 

Page 

Plaza 

Richardton 

St. Thomas 

Pilots completing the Passport Program will not need to contact our office for a sticker, if you choose to or are unable to land at these airports. 

An additional change that is in the works for the Passport Program is the addition of digital check-ins. This opportunity will eliminate the need to carry a physical book and receive physical stamps. Though we are not ready to go live with the digital program, it should be ready to go by this spring or summer. Watch our social media for more information. The digital Passport data will be collected through the AOPA app. Currently, functionality exists to check in at airports but these check-ins do NOT count toward the North Dakota Passport Program. Only check ins after the “go live” date will be eligible. Pilots will have the opportunity to use either method of collecting stamps and will have the ability to combine digital check ins with your physical book for Passport awards. 

If you have any questions about the Passport Program, do not hesitate to reach out to the NOrth Dakota Aeronautics Commission office. I look forward to seeing many of you at the Passport awards Sunday, March 5, 2023, at the Fly-ND Conference in Bismarck, ND!

Mike McHugh, Aviation Education Coordinator 

North Dakota Aeronautics Commission

701-328-9650 | mmchugh@nd.gov

The 2023 North Dakota Legislative Session began on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 This is an opportunity for us to engage with our legislators for the betterment of aviation and airports in our state. We have experienced great success in recent sessions, because we have worked together and made compelling cases to support our initiatives. I would like to brief you on our No. 1 priority for the 2023 Session: to improve the Operation Prairie Dog Infrastructure Funding Program.

During the 2019 Legislative Session, the North Dakota legislature passed Operation Prairie Dog to support infrastructure development throughout the state. This 2019 appropriations bill included allocations of Municipal/County & Township Infrastructure Funds for the non-oil producing areas of the state, and $20 million for a new Airport Infrastructure Fund. These infrastructure funds were placed at the bottom of a series of buckets that are filled by streams from both the Oil & Gas Production Tax and Extraction Tax. However, a $400 million bucket for the Strategic Investments and Improvements Fund (SIIF) was placed in front of the infrastructure funds. This $400 million bucket was never proposed as part of the original Prairie Dog program. It was placed in front of the other infrastructure funds coming out of the joint Senate and House Conference Committee in 2019. In that sense, it was a surprise to many policymakers, including sponsors of the original Prairie Dog bill. Due to a substantial downturn in oil prices and production, largely because of a drop in energy demands as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the infrastructure funds failed to fill during the 2019-2021 biennium.

During the 2021 Legislative Session, Prairie Dog remained intact. At the end of the 2021 Legislative Session, it was forecasted that the infrastructure funds would not fill during the 2021-2023 biennium. This meant cities, counties, townships, and airports were unable to rely on this funding source, as they planned and prepared for projects within the current biennium. Reliable state and local funding for transportation projects is critical in order for state and local leaders to plan ahead, create shovel ready projects, and to maximize federal grant funding. It is also important to ensure that high priority projects can move forward as efficiently as possible throughout the planning, environmental, design, bidding, and construction stages. 

The $400 million SIIF Fund started to fill in May 2022. Without that fund, the other infrastructure funds would have started to fill in May 2022 and would have all been filled before the end of summer 2022. The $400 million SIIF Fund is simply cash accumulated by the state. It is not programmed for any use, until the next legislative session determines how to allocate it. In the meantime, the infrastructure planning for cities, counties, townships, and airports waits for another season to begin projects – exposing them to inflation risks and delaying important infrastructure planning and projects throughout the state. The executive budget forecasts that the SIIF Fund will be over $1 billion by the end of the current biennium.

Our request is to eliminate the $400 million SIIF Fund allocation placed ahead of the infrastructure funds and let it fill at the end of the stream, as originally contemplated in the Operation Prairie Dog bill. The Airport Association of North Dakota, North Dakota League of Cities, and North Dakota Association of Counties are supportive of this change. This is a great example of how we can work together to implement change and make an improvement for our state and aviation system. Please help us support this priority by reaching out to your legislators and discussing this proposed change in the Operation Prairie Dog Infrastructure Funding Program.

We are also excited for the upcoming FLY-ND Conference to be held March 5-7, 2023, in Bismarck, ND. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend. This will be another great opportunity to meet with legislators and tell our story about how to improve our aviation system for the future.

Keep ‘em flying!

By Ryan Riesinger

President, Airport Association of North Dakota

Executive Director, Grand Forks Regional Airport Authority