Morrison, IL — Whiteside County Airport-Joseph Bittorf Field has been named the 2016 Illinois General Aviation Airport of the Year by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Division of Aeronautics. The award, presented earlier this month at the Illinois Aviation Conference, was based on the airport’s safety record, general maintenance, and services provided to the community.
Steven Young, IDOT Interim Director who presented the award to airport manager Michael Dowell, said, “Congratulations to you and the staff for efforts in making Whiteside County Airport one of the most outstanding examples of aviation excellence in Illinois.”
Whiteside County Airport Manager Mike Dowell thanked the Division of Aeronautics and Director Young, and said, “We’re honored to receive this award – this is like the ‘Super Bowl’ for General Aviation Airports – and I want to thank the staff of FBO M & M Aviation for all their hard work and making a difference at the airport.”
Dowell later described Whiteside County Airport, noting its longest runway is 6500’, a longer available landing distance than Chicago-Midway Airport, and that airport provides sites for several organizations like the Unified Area Command Site (nuclear emergency response), the Civil Air Patrol Emergency Response Command, and is a staging site for the Illinois National Guard. The airport has hosted well attended community recreational activities like the “Warbirds over Whiteside” (2012), and “The Last Time” (2010), a reunion of DC-3/C-47 aircraft. Dowell added, “We will be hosting the RV Aircraft Formation Flying Clinic this July 22nd thru the 24th. This is the sixth year we’ll host this group, and it’s a chance to see the most of one type of aircraft in a formation. This event is a lot of fun.”
Whiteside County Board President Jim Duffy also congratulated the airport on its award, and stated, “This is a great example of the assets we have in Whiteside County. We have the people, location and infrastructure here, but need to work on our ‘market awareness.’ An award like this is a good way to start spotlighting our strengths and assets. Well done Whiteside County Airport!”
For more information about Whiteside County contact the Whiteside County Economic Development Department at gcamarano@whiteside.org. For information about the Whiteside County Airport contact mike@mmaviation.net.
“The Last Time” DC-3/C-47 reunion at Whiteside County Airport in 2010.
