Today, Perry Worth Elementary Kindergarten classes enjoyed a fun filled, educational day at the airprot!  Carl Winkler, did a fabulous job teaching them all about the different types of airplanes.  He showed them all the moving parts of a Piper and explained to them why they were very important in the flight of the aircraft.  The kids were so very well behaved and had a great interest in learning about aviation and flying airplanes!  Maybe this trip will inspire some of these kids to one day become a pilot!!  Aviation education at a young age is important to continue the growth of general aviation, we always are willing to host field trips for our local schools and organizations.  Thanks again, Carl for a wonderful event!

Lawmaker Highlights Small Business Impact From Aircraft Tax-Change Proposal

March 19, 2013

The possible negative consequences from altering the tax-depreciation schedule for general aviation aircraft were recently highlighted by Rep. Todd Rokita (R-4-IN) during a hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2014 budget.

At issue was an amendment to a bill, sponsored by House Democrats, which would have altered the depreciation schedule for non-commercial aircraft purchases from five years to seven years. The White House has repeatedly called for an end to what the president terms the “corporate jet tax loophole,” asserting the adjustment would yield $3 billion in additional revenue over the next 10 years.

In the March 13 hearing in the United States House of Representatives Budget Committee, Rokita said the proposed amendment sought to “demagogue” business aircraft users, and would’ve harmed small business owners and general aviation pilots operating their aircraft on a variety of missions.

“We get some kind of satisfaction out of saying that they don't pay their fair share,” he added.

Rokita, himself a commercial pilot, then displayed a photo of Dan and Andi Montgomery, owners of Indiana fixed-base operator Montgomery Aviation, which supports general aviation operations including medical flights, airborne search-and-rescue, disaster relief, and law enforcement and agricultural support roles.

“Do they look like globe-trotting, jet millionaires to you?” he asked rhetorically. “They're small business owners.”

Watch Rep. Rokita's Comments in Support of GA Small Businesses

Rokita reiterated that any estimated gains from the depreciation schedule adjustment would be offset by the profoundly negative impact to all general aviation, including business aviation, which contributes more than $150 billion annually to the economy and employs more than 1.2 million Americans. Businesses relying on general aviation would be hit with increased capital costs, he added, as well as a drop in aggregate demand, manufacturing employment, and the number of GA service providers.

“When we demagogue the ‘jet-tax loophole’, and those people who might benefit from a simple business depreciation schedule, you might think about the real face of general aviation and the people who work in it who serve this country, and who we'd really hurt,” Rokita added. The amendment was ultimately voted down by the committee, by a vote of 17 to 22.

NBAA Senior Vice President, Government Affairs Lisa Piccione welcomed the groundswell of support from congressional lawmakers for the industry.

“Our Association is gratified by the support our industry has received from elected officials like Rep. Rokita and others in the House and Senate, who recognize that general aviation is an essential tool for citizens, companies, and communities across the country,” she said.

Article Originally published by NBAA - http://www.nbaa.org/admin/taxes/depreciation/20130319-lawmaker-highlights-small-business-impact-from-aircraft-tax-change-proposal.php

On February 24, Bill Harrelson, an EAA member from Fredericksburg, VA launched a record breaking flight in his modified Lancair IV (N6ZQ) from Montgomery Aviation at the Grissom Aeroplex (GUS).  He flew non-stop from Grissom to Honolulu, Hawaii - a 4,000 mile, 22.5 hour flight.  He then flew from Honolulu to Guam taking 17.6 hours and going 3,000 miles, then flew from Guam to Jacksonville, FL non-stop going 7,051nm in 38 hours, 29 minutes.  You can learn about the entire trek and the modified Lancair by reading the entire EAA story. http://www.eaa.org/news/2013/2013-03-05_long-distance-lancair.asp

There are only a few things in life to which we can ascribe no true price.  Learning to fly is one of those things.  It is priceless.  The absolute joy, the overwhelming feeling of accomplishment and the exhilaration at being able to escape your earthly bonds is indescribable.  It is the adventure of a lifetime; we at Montgomery Aviation Inc. would like to invite you to experience first hand.

But, flying should not be just a dream.  The practicality of being in charge of your own travel destiny, whether you own your own plane or choose to rent, general aviation, opens doors that only pilots have access too.  Montgomery Aviation Inc. and its flying club, “Eagle Flyers” holds your key to this whole new world.

Just think of it, possessing the ability to drive to an airport convenient to your or business, park for free within walking distance of your hangar, climb aboard your personal aircraft, take off and fly to the destination of your choice, on your schedule, and then return on your schedule.  Let’s replay that.  No parking fees, no waiting in the parking lot for the shuttle bus, no tickets to buy, no checking in, no metal detectors, no having to take your shoes off, no having to empty your pockets, no having to wait in long lines to board, and no departure delays at busy airports.  When you fly yourself the rules change.  It takes me 15 minutes to pull the plane out of the hangar, by the time you board a commercial airline, I’m 200 miles on my way.  Add in the time you’ll waste getting out of your destination airport and I’ll travel 400 miles.  I can beat a commercial airline fromIndianapolistoAtlantain the time you waste getting in and out of most commercial airports.

We are looking for people like you, people who seek out ways to improve their lives.  We have the means to introduce you to the dream.   Montgomery Aviation’s, “Eagle Flyers” is one of the few flight schools to offer training in new Cessna  and Cirrus aircraft.  Eagle Flyers, is a Cessna Pilot Center & Cirrus Pilot Training Center with the areas most experienced flight instructors.  All of our training staff are professional pilots with thousands of hour of experience.    Our instructors are not building time to go elsewhere.  They have time.  They instruct because they love aviation and the satisfaction of sharing the dream with new pilots.

Realize the dream.  Call me at 317-769-4487 or visit our website at

http://www.montgomeryaviation.net/Eagle-Flyers/

Schedule a flight and experience the dream, it’s easier than you think, in fact if you can qualify for a Indiana Driver’s License you can fly our Sky Catchers.

Sincerely,
Carl J Winkler III VP

In early November, the Aviation Association of Indiana (AAI) announced its 2012 Indiana Airports' Economic Impact Study.  The study evaluated the economic impact of the 69 public use airports in Indiana that are part of the state's official State Aviation System Plan.

The study found that Indianapolis Executive Airport contributes over $430 million in annual economic output and creates and sustains nearly 2,400 jobs with a payroll of nearly $125 million annually in Hamilton and Boone counties.  In total, Indiana’s 69 public-use airports, as part of the State’s Aviation System Plan, contribute $14.1 billion in economic output and create and sustain more than 69,000 jobs in Indiana. 

You can read the report published by AAI, Conexus Indiana, and INDOT HERE.

You can also view the press release by Indianapolis Executive Airport HERE.

Numerous media reports have been done on the study and feature Dan and Andi Montgomery:

Zionsville Times Sentinel (partial article - full article only available in print edition)

Indianapolis Star (paid archive file)

Inside Indiana Business (video)

Montgomery Aviation's own, Andi Montgomery sits down for an interview with Inside Indiana Business' Gerry Dick.  She discusses the important economic impact of Indiana's airports around the state.   See the link below and find her interview which is titled, "Airports Boost Economy, Air Fares Continue to Rise."  

http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/video.asp

Congrats are in order for NATA President, Jim Coyne.  He is retiring after a wonderful 18 years as President.  Dan and Andi Montgomery are very involved in NATA and wish him a happy retirement and they will miss him!  Pictured here is Dan with Jim and his wife Holly at the AvFuel party at NBAA.  

Again, congratulations on your retirement, Jim!!

Montgomery Aviation hosted the 4th Annual Safe Trick-or-Treat at Indy Exec and it was a whole lot of fun for the whole family!  Activities included; a haunted house bouncy house, bowling, fishing for candy, target bean bag toss, pin the nose on the pumpkin, an aircraft candy drop and much, much more!  The 100+ kids costumes were all so unique and creative and some adults got into the fun, Halloween spirit too!  Even the dogs came out with their best costumes on ranging from pumpkins, pigs and cows and even an airplane!  Here are some pictures from the spooky fun night and a big thanks to Kaleena White for taking these great photos!

Spooky bouncy house!  This was a very popular activity!

Lauren handing out the loads of candy to the kids

View from above!

Andi Montgomery on candy duty and looking fabulous as a 1920's flapper girl!

Lily the Dino helping the kids play the pumpkin bean bag toss

Dan as a Pirate.  Nice earring Dan!

Mack, the other airport dog dressed appropriately as a plane!

Little monkey waiting on the aircraft candy drop.  It was a beautiful evening!

Here they come, get ready!!

737 Sunset...thanks again Kaleena!

This month's edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine has a large feature focusing on the 75th Anniversary of the Piper Cub.  Longtime friends of Dan and Andi Montgomery, Steve and Jo Alcorn took the trip of a lifetime ferrying a Piper Cub from Bedford, IN to Winter Haven, FL.  The entire trip was detailed in the magazine and is now available online:

http://www.aopa.org/members/files/pilot/2012/november/f_cub.html

Andrea “Andi” Montgomery is the vice president of operations and functions as the chief financial officer for Montgomery Aviation, Indy Executive Airport’s full-service fixed base operator.

During Montgomery’s tenure, Montgomery Aviation expanded its facilities to include two 18,000-square foot hangars, central Indiana’s only covered ramp and an executive jet center terminal with corporate offices, conference rooms, pilot lounges and flight planning centers. The company also added two additional locations – Frankfort Municipal Airport in 2005 and Grissom Aeroplex in 2008.

The full-service fixed base operator provides aircraft services from maintenance, de-icing and fueling, and concierge services such as rental cars and hotel accommodations for passengers and crew. Montgomery Aviation also provides a full Cessna pilot & Cirrus training center flight school, Eagle Flyers Inc.

Andrea Montgomery is currently vice president on the Aviation Association of Indiana board and will be the next president. She serves on the board of the Boone County Economic Development Corp. and the Zionsville Economic Development Commission, National Air Transportation Association, Indiana Chamber of Commerce and the executive committee of the Westfield Chamber of Commerce.