FLY South Dakota Airports! is a program sponsored by the South Dakota Pilots Association (SDPA). We have shamelessly patterned our program after the Fly Minnesota Airports! program and the Create a Flying Legacy in North Dakota program.

FLY South Dakota Airports! is designed to promote general aviation in South Dakota. The program was launched in the summer of 2010 in anticipation of the 100th Anniversary of Flight in South Dakota, which occurred on April 9, 2011.

FLY South Dakota Airports! rewards pilots who fly to South Dakota’s public-use airports, attend aviation safety seminars, and visit South Dakota museums with aviation displays. FLY South Dakota Airports! promotes safety and education, and encourages pilots to practice approaches and landings in many different environments. It’s also a great way to support general aviation airports, businesses, and tourism. Just visit one of the places or events listed in this passport, and have your passport signed in the appropriate box. It’s as easy as that!

• How to Participate
• Rules of Program
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Participating Levels and Awards
• South Dakota Airports Map
• Program UPDATE January 14, 2022
• Program UPDATE November 19, 2020
• Program UPDATE August 15, 2020
• Program UPDATE October 15, 2015
• Program UPDATE August 15, 2013
• Program UPDATE March 1, 2011
• Program UPDATE November 1, 2010
• Award Recipients

How to Participate

Contact the SDPA (dale.knuth@gmail.com or call 605-366-5862) and request a FLY South Dakota Airports! Passport.

Fill in the page at the front of your passport with your name and contact information. Each time you visit a South Dakota public-use airport, museum with an aviation display, or participate in an aviation safety seminar, have your passport signed in the appropriate box.

When you have received the proper number of signatures entitling you to a Bronze, Silver, or Gold Level Award, submit your completed passport to the SDPA (PO Box 89844, Sioux Falls, SD 57109).

Rules of the Program

• Use the HONOR system – don’t sign for an airport you visited prior to the start of this program.
• Fill in the page at the front of your passport with your name and contact information.
• The program is open to pilots. Participants are not required to be South Dakota residents. Participants must obtain an official FLY South Dakota Airports! passport to participate.
• When visiting a qualifying airport, museum, or aviation safety seminar, participants must obtain a signature in their passport. All signatures must be made in the appropriate location in the booklet. No signatures may be made on any other document and later placed in the booklet.
• Each participant may only receive one signature per visit. For aviation safety seminars, the signature should be that of one presenter per seminar at qualifying events. A multiple seminar event such as the East River Aviation Symposium (with multiple seminars during the 8-hour symposium) counts as one event [SDPA wants participants to participate in several aviation safety seminars throughout the year].
• When you have earned the proper number of signatures (visited 20, 40 or 74 airports), submit your passport to the SDPA for review. Please note which level has been earned: Bronze, Silver, or Gold. Passports should be mailed to SDPA, PO Box 89844, Sioux Falls, SD 57109.
• Once a passport has been submitted and gift awarded, the passport will be returned to the participant so that he or she can continue to the next level.
• Awards and recognition will be made in the SDPA News newsletter (we will list your name, town, airports visited, and award level).
• If an airport has a pilot sign-in book, please sign-in so that the airport can document use for the airport sponsor, i.e., city or county.
• Get a “standard weather briefing” including TFRs and NOTAMS before flying. FLY SAFE!!
• There is no deadline for completing the passport program as long as the program remains in operation.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Once I complete the Bronze level, can I continue using my same passport to the Silver or Gold levels?

   Yes, once a passport has been submitted and reviewed, it will be returned to its owner and can be used to advance to the next level of the program.

2. Who can sign my logbook?

   Anyone at the airport can sign your passport – airport manager, FBO employee, local pilot, aviation mechanic, CFI, city / county worker, airport bum, etc.

3. I visited a South Dakota Airport and no one was around to sign my passport. What do I do?

   If no one is around the airport, as might occur at our smaller airports like Lake Andes, you may initial the signature box and add the time of the visit. Use the HONOR system – don’t sign for an airport you visited prior to the start of this program. REMEMBER: we will be reporting your accomplishments in the SDPA News newsletter including the airports you visited – to encourage others to follow in your footsteps.

4. Is my passport washing machine safe?

   No. Don’t forget your Passport in your clothing pocket.
   

Participating Levels and Awards

Participating Levels and Awards
Level	Award	Airports	Museums	Safety Seminar
Bronze	“I Flew SD” patch with “20 Airports” chevron AND Coffee mug with “I Flew SD” and SDPA logos OR SDPA tote bag.	20 out of 74 airports	2	2
Silver	“I Flew SD” patch with “40 Airports” chevron AND Glass paperweight with “I Flew SD” logo OR Book “South Dakota’s First Century of Flight.”	40 out of 74 airports	3	3
Gold	“I Flew SD” patch with “74 Airports” chevron AND $100 gift certificate to Sporty’s or EAA or AOPA.	74 out of 74 airports	4	4

B R O N Z E	“I Flew SD” patch with “20 Airports” chevron	AND (select only one choice below – either the mug or the tote bag)
		Coffee mug with“I Flew SD”and SDPA logos	OR	SDPA tote bag (canvas: 15” wide x 14”tall)

S I L V E R	“I Flew South Dakota” patch with “40 Airports” chevron	AND (select only one choice below – either the glass paperweight or the book)
		Glass paperweight (4”x3”) with “I Flew South Dakota” logo	OR	Book: “South Dakota’s First Century of Flight” by Norma J. Kraemer

G O L D

“I Flew South Dakota” patch with “74 Airports” chevron

AND

South Dakota Airports

Program UPDATE January 14, 2022:

Recent changes to the FLY South Dakota Airports! Passport Program:

1. Graham Field-North Sioux City (7K7) is now a public use airport.

Program UPDATE November 19, 2020:

Recent changes to the FLY South Dakota Airports! Passport Program:

1. Clear Lake Airport (5H3) has been closed as of November 19, 2020, by SD Aeronautics Commission at request of City of Clear Lake.
2. White River Airport (7Q7) current NOTAM is confusing and should be corrected in the near future. The NOTAM states, Start Date UTC: 03/16/2020 2359; End Date UTC: PERM; Condition: RWY 12/30 CLSD DLY 2359-1200 2003162359-PERM. Airport officials should be in the process of changing the incorrect time period (2359-1200) in the NOTAM to read "closed sunset to sunrise" because the public airport license has the restriction "daylight use only."

Program UPDATE August 15, 2020:

UPDATE: As with any program – change happens! Here are some recent changes to the Passport program.

1. Add entry for new seaplane base at Lake Cochrane (SD2) on page 16 of Passport after Yankton. Being a seaplane base, pilots are encouraged to "visit" Lake Cochrane without landing unless your aircraft is equipped with floats.
2. Add entry for Groton (2E6) on page 16 of Passport after Lake Cochrane.

Program UPDATE October 15, 2015:

Recent changes to the FLY South Dakota Airports! Passport Program:

1. Mission Airport (0V6) has been closed and removed. Replace it in the passport with Rosebud (SUO), which is a new airport nearby.
2. Bowdle Airport (5SD3, formerly 5P3) became private in 2015.
3. The SDPA will accept official certificates of completion for on-line safety courses from the FAASTeam and AOPA Air Safety Institute for the safety seminar component of the FLY SD Airports! Passport Program. There are few, infrequent aviation safety seminars in SD for a variety of reasons. Although the SDPA will accept online safety course completions, we encourage pilots to participate in face-to-face safety seminars to facilitate interactions and networking among participants. For those mailing in their FLY SD Airports! Passport, please include a copy of the official certificate of completion from the FAAST or AOPA ASI for on-line safety courses you have completed.

Program UPDATE August 15, 2013:

Here are some recent changes to the Passport program. Participants in the FLY South Dakota Airports! Passport program no longer need to land at the following three airports:

1. Harrold (formerly 5G3, now SD50) became private in 2010 (the owner has been giving permission to land if you want to include the airport in your quest to land there and mark your passport.)
2. North Sioux City (7K7) stopped being a public airport in 2011, but the airport is still open.
3. McIntosh (8D6) stopped being a public airport in 2013 and has been closed.

**President’s column, May-June 2011:
" Greetings everyone, I trust the winter hasn’t been too harsh this year and that everyone is looking forward to a good season of flying! As I write this, the sun is starting to peep through breaks in the clouds and motivates me to make a declaration! I’ll buy lunch (restaurant of your choice) for the first pilot, in South Dakota, who completes all the requirements of the Fly South Dakota Airports! Passport Program.” -- John Barney, SDPA President

Program UPDATE March 1, 2011:

UPDATE: As with any program – change happens! Here are some recent changes to the Passport program.

We have expanded the list of “museums with aviation displays” to include additional presentations on aviation history in SD:

1. “First Century of Flight in South Dakota” PowerPoint by Norma Kraemer shown at Spearfish on 9/4/10, and at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre on 10/24/10.
2. “Wings Over Yankton: 1943-44” PowerPoint by Steve Hamilton shown at Spearfish on 9/4/10, and Yankton on 12/12/10.
3. “Western SD Takes to the Skies” PowerPoint by Norma Kraemer at Oacoma on 2/12/11.
4. “South Dakota’s First Woman Pilot: Nellie Zabel Willhite” PowerPoint by Norma Kraemer at the Old Court House Museum, Sioux Falls, on 3/18/11.
5. “First Century of Flight in South Dakota” -- major museum display at The Journey Museum in Rapid City from Feb to April 30; and at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre from May 3 to September 12.
   
   ONE VISIT for each presentation even if you have seen the SAME presentation two or more times. Add the aviation history presentations on page 17 at the bottom in the blank box or in the white space on page 16.
   
   BOTTOMLINE: There are more opportunities to achieve the museum visits with the addition of presentations on aviation history in South Dakota.

Program UPDATE November 1, 2010:

As with any program – change happens! Here are some recent changes to the Passport program.

1. SD gained a new airport on Oct 7 with the grand opening of the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Airport (SUO). Please add that airport to your passport after the entry for Yankton on page 16. The nearby Mission Sioux Airport (0V6) will remain open until the PAPIs at Rosebud are flight checked and a few other items are completed at the new airport.
2. You can remove Dupree Airport (7F2) from your passport because the City of Dupree has decided to close their airport.
3. We have expanded the list of “museums with aviation displays” to include Norma Kraemer’s 1-hour PowerPoint presentation on the First Century of Flight in South Dakota. If you attended Norma’s presentation in Spearfish on September 4th at Black Hills Aero as part of the SD Aviation Hall of Fame event or her presentation on Oct 24 in Pierre at the Cultural Heritage Center – you can count that as a museum visit – BUT just ONE VISIT even if you have seen the presentation two or more times. Add Norma’s entry on page 17 at the bottom in the blank box.
   BOTTOMLINE: There is now one less airport to visit with the loss of Dupree, and more opportunities to achieve the museum visits with the addition of Norma’s PowerPoint presentations.

Award Recipients

Bronze Award (20 Airports):

• Greg Clabots (Green Bay, WI): March 2023
• Marguerite Kaleda (Rapid City): February 2023
• Greg Malkowsky (Oshkosh, WI): September 2021
• Michael Haubrich (Racine, WI): September 2020
• Allan “Tex” Goerger (Barney, ND): June 2019
• Wendy Lessig (Tooele, UT): August 2017
• Randi Pederson (Sioux Falls): July 2017
• Brad Schmidt (Brookings): October 2016
• Dale Knuth (Hartford): February 2016 [PDF]
• Jim Eisenmenger (Yankton): January 2016
• Russell Kinneberg (Plymouth, MN): August 2015 [PDF]
• Allen Bucholz (Tea): June 2015
• Charles Moe, Sr. (Rosebud): December 2013
• Warren Hovland (Brookings): September 2013
• Neil Schmid (Sioux Falls): March 2012
• George Bittner (Mitchell): November 2011
• Steve Hamilton (Yankton): May 2011
• Dwayne LaFave (DeSmet): Sept 2010

Silver Award (40 Airports):

• Greg Clabots (Green Bay, WI): March 2023
• Russell Kinneberg (Plymouth, MN): June 2022
• Greg Malkowsky (Oshkosh, WI): September 2021
• Michael Haubrich (Racine, WI): September 2020
• Allan “Tex” Goerger (Barney, ND): August 2019
• Jim Eisenmenger (Yankton): November 2017
• Dale Knuth (Hartford): October 2017
• Wendy Lessig (Tooele, UT): August 2017
• Brad Schmidt (Brookings): October 2016
• Allen Bucholz (Tea): September 2015
• Charles Moe, Sr. (Rosebud): October 2014
• Warren Hovland (Brookings): September 2013
• Neil Schmid (Sioux Falls): October 2012
• George Bittner (Mitchell): July 2012
• Steve Hamilton (Yankton): August 2011
• Dwayne LaFave (DeSmet): July 2011

Gold Award (74 Airports):

• Greg Clabots (Green Bay, WI): March 2023
• Greg Malkowsky (Oshkosh, WI): November 2022
• Russell Kinneberg (Plymouth, MN): June 2022
• Michael Haubrich (Racine, WI): October 2020
• Dale Knuth (Hartford): August 2020
• Allan "Tex" Goerger (Barney, ND): November 2019
• Wendy Lessig (Tooele, UT): August 2017
• Allen Bucholz (Tea): September 2015
• Neil Schmid (Sioux Falls): November 2014
• Warren Hovland (Brookings): November 2013
• George Bittner (Mitchell): October 2013
• Steve Hamilton (Yankton): October 2012
• Dwayne LaFave (DeSmet): September 2012

Gold Level recipient: Greg Clabots flew his RV-12 to visit SD airports.

Gold Level recipient: Greg Malkowsky flew his Cherokee 140 to visit SD airports.

Gold Level recipient: Russell Kinneberg flew his Piper PA-28-180 to visit SD airports.

Gold Level recipient: Michael Haubrich flew his Flight Design CTLS to visit SD airports.

Gold Level recipient: Dale Knuth flew his Cessna 170B to visit SD airports.

Gold Level recipient: Allan "Tex" Goerger flew his Cessna 140 to visit SD airports.

Gold Level recipient: Wendy Lessig flew her PA-12 to visit SD airports.

Gold Level recipient: Allen Bucholz flew his RV-6 to visit SD airports.

Gold Level recipient: Neil Schmid with Civil Air Patrol Cessna 182 used in visits to some SD airports.

Gold Level recipient: Warren Hovland with J-3 Cub used in visits to some SD airports.

Gold Award recipients (left to right) Dwayne LaFave, Steve Hamilton, George Bittner.