Ambassador Program

The Virginia Aviation Ambassador Program encourages pilots and aviation enthusiasts to visit Virginia public-use airports and aviation museums and to attend a safety seminar and event such as a fly-in. Participants can collect stamps to earn awards while learning about Virginia’s excellent air transportation system, experiencing the beauty of the Commonwealth, and having fun.

Point of Contact

Ambassador Program

Tony Sotelo

anthony.sotelo@doav.virginia.gov

804-774-4634

How the Program Works

obtain a Virginia Aviation Ambassador Program passport
have your passport stamped every time you visit an airport or aviation museum and attend a safety seminar or event, including a fly-in
contact DOAV when you have collected the number of stamps to qualify for a bronze, silver, or gold level to claim your award
when you have received the proper number of stamps entitling you to a bronze, silver, or gold level award, contact the Virginia Department of Aviation.

Levels and Awards

Obtain a passport

Multi-state Challenge

Ambassador Levels and Awards

Member Level

Level Criteria

Award

Bronze

Silver

Gold

Awards for the bronze and silver levels are usually presented the same day as the level review is made. These awards may be distributed by mail if participants can not visit DOAV’s office or if supplies are not available at the time of review.
Awards for the gold level will be distributed within 2 months from the time of review due to the customization of the jackets.
Participants earning the gold level will be invited to attend the annual awards ceremony. A group photo will be taken for inclusion in the Virginia aviation calendar.

How the Program Works

The Virginia Aviation Ambassador Program is open to pilots, their passengers, and others. People do not have to be residents of Virginia to participate in the program.
Participants should obtain a stamp in their passports when visiting an airport or aviation museum or attending a safety seminar, fly-in, or event.
All stamps must be made in the appropriate location in a passport. No stamps may be made on any other document and placed in the passport.
Each participant may receive only one stamp per airport or aviation museum visit or seminar, fly-in, or event attendance.
Once a participant has collected stamps to complete a bronze, silver, or gold level, the participant’s passport, along with photos for unattended airports, must be submitted to DOAV for review. Participants need to contact DOAV at 804-774-4634 to schedule the review; participants may fly or drive to DOAV’s office, located at 5702 Gulfstream Road, Richmond, VA 23250. Passports may be mailed to DOAV for review. For the gold level, participants are encouraged to have an in-person review to be sized for the leather flight jackets; wrong-sized jackets cannot be exchanged.
Passports will be returned after the review for the bronze and silver levels so participants may continue to the next level in the program. Passports for the gold level will be returned after the review.
Gold level awards may be withheld from participants who own aircraft based in Virginia that have not been properly registered with DOAV until the registration is complete.
No deadline has been set for completing the passport program while the program remains active.

Collecting Stamps

Stamps can be collected at public-use airports, aviation museums, safety seminars, and fly-ins or events. Stamps may be collected by participants who fly or drive to airports.

Stamp markers are located inside airport terminal buildings. Stamps are also available at fixed base operators at larger airports. If an airport does not have a terminal building, the stamp marker is located inside a residential mailbox accessible to participants.
If an airport is attended, participants must present a photo ID matching the name in the passport.
If an airport is attended but the stamp marker is not available, participants should ask an airport operator to sign and date their passports, and they should take a digital photo of themselves in front of a sign clearly identifying the airport.
If an airport is not regularly attended and the stamp marker is not available, participants may take a digital photo of themselves in front of a sign clearly identifying the airport; the date taken needs to be displayed on the photo. The program allows up to 2 digital photos to substitute for passport stamps at airports that are not regularly attended. If a participant needs to use more than 2 digital photos, the participant needs to contact DOAV for instructions at 804-774-4634.

Stamp markers are located at the front desk of an aviation museum.

Stamps will be available at qualifying in-person safety seminars. Qualifying seminars include FAASTeam events, flight and ground reviews with FAA, AOPA’s Rusty Pilot program, aviation weather programs presented by the National Weather Service, and FAA’s Operation Rain Check.
If a safety seminar does qualify but a stamp is not available, participants should ask an instructor to enter the name, date, and location of the seminar with the instructor’s signature in the space reserved for the stamp.
Aviation safety webinars are considered as safety seminars for the program. Participants must provide proof of completion when their passports are reviewed.
Please contact DOAV at 804-774-4634 for information on qualifying seminars and webinars.

Fly-in and event stamps are available at aviation events at which DOAV has an exhibit.
DOAV has an exhibit at the annual Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida. Staff will provide a fly-in stamp at the event.
A fifth aviation museum stamp may be substituted for a fly-in stamp.

Virginia Public-Use Airport Directory

You can use the Virginia Public-use Airports Directory to locate airports. The directory enables you to search for a specific airport or filter airport information such as fuel and weather station availability.

Public-use Airport Directory

Virginia Aviation Museum Directory

You can use the Virginia Aviation Museum Directory to locate museums. The directory enables you to search for museums by name or multiple amenities.

Aviation Museum Directory

Seminars and Events

You can use DOAV’s events calendar to find information on safety seminars, fly-ins, and events being held in Virginia.

Ambassadors Multi-state Challenge

The Virginia Department of Aviation is partnering with other states to offer a program extension for participants who complete an ambassador program in another state. Each state will award a patch to participants who complete 2 or 3 state aviation ambassador programs. Participants will be awarded the Virginia patch once they have completed the Virginia program and another state’s program.

Next Board Meeting

Virginia Aviation Board

Board Meeting Library