Our Blog

Explore our blog for news, traveler or crew stories, travel tips, and more. Stay up to date on all things SHD to make the most of your #FlySHD experience.

Kid-Friendly Ways to Explore Aviation

Kid-Friendly Ways to Explore Aviation

Summer is here, and if you’re like me, you’re always searching for fun, educational activities to keep your kids occupied during summer break! Since Team SHD loves all things aviation, we’ve put together a list of fun aviation-related activities, programs, and resources for kids of all ages. We hope the kids in your life will love exploring the friendly skies and learning more about aviation this summer!  For Elementary School Kids The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provides wonderful resources for introducing elementary school...

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Happy International Civil Aviation Day

Happy International Civil Aviation Day

When you wake up in the morning and reach for your phone, take your morning medicine, and add fruit to your breakfast plate, there’s a very good chance that all of those items traveled to you in part by air. Today is International Civil Aviation Day, a celebration of the non-military, non-state side of aviation that impacts our everyday lives in surprising ways. If you order from Amazon, ship gifts to relatives across the country, or enjoy receiving your packages quickly, then you have reason to be thankful for civil aviation. The next time...

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Hello Queen City! Flights to Charlotte (CLT) Take Off November 1

Hello Queen City! Flights to Charlotte (CLT) Take Off November 1

SHD staff has been working with the Department of Transportation for the past several months to select a new airline to provide flights for Valley travelers. Today we are thrilled to officially announce our new partnership with Contour Airlines, offering daily jet flights to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)! Service to the Queen City will start November 1st, but tickets can be booked now at contourairlines.com. Contour is offering a special introductory fare of $49 each way to Charlotte for tickets purchased by October 31!* Many...

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SHD Names New Executive Director

SHD Names New Executive Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Heather Ream, Director of Marketing & Communications 540-234-8304 hream@flyshd.com Shenandoah Valley Airport Names New Executive Director Weyers Cave, VA – May 26, 2020 – The Shenandoah Valley Airport Commission (SHD) announces the promotion of Lisa Botkin to the role of Executive Director, effective immediately. Botkin has served as the Interim Executive Director since February 2022 when long-time Executive Director, Greg Campbell, was appointed as the Director of the Virginia Department of Aviation. Botkin...

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An Office at 35,000 Feet

An Office at 35,000 Feet

Happy World Pilots’ Day! From recreational aviators to commercial airline pilots, we appreciate the dedicated women and men in the skies who safely transport billions of passengers and cargo each year to where they need to go. Anyone who chooses to pursue piloting an aircraft as a career knows it will require a lot of hard work and grit to master each step, plus continual training to keep their skills sharp. However, they also know the many benefits of having an office in the sky – getting paid to visit new cities, meeting new people, free...

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Celebrating Female Aviators

Celebrating Female Aviators

Aviation is known for pushing the barriers of what seems possible. Even so, within the aviation industry, many groups have had to work especially hard to find their place, including women. Chances are, when you fly, your pilot and co-pilot are men. That’s because only 7% of all certified pilots are female. This statistic is slowly changing as more females choose this career path but there’s still a long way to go. In celebration of International Women's Day and Women’s History Month, we’re exploring contributions made by women aviators who...

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Celebrating Local Heroes on International Civil Aviation Day

Celebrating Local Heroes on International Civil Aviation Day

Today is an important milestone in aviation as we celebrate the 77th annual International Civil Aviation Day! When you think about aviation, airline travel may be the most common reference point, but without civil aviation, we wouldn’t have many of the products, goods, and services that make our lives better.  In some instances, like with PHI Air Medical (AirCare 5), civil aviation crews connect the public with life-saving medical care. The professionals at PHI Air Medical are highly trained healthcare and aviation professionals who provide...

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Travel Along to Alaska

Travel Along to Alaska

One of the most interesting parts of our work at SHD is learning about the amazing places our passengers are traveling. Whether you're on the move for business or a dream vacation, we're happy to be part of your journey and connect you with the world. We recently connected Nick and Nicky Swayne to Alaska, where they took in the gorgeous sights of Fairbanks, Denali National Park, Whittier, and more!  The Swaynes were gracious enough to be guest writers for our blog and share their epic trip with us. Keep reading to be transported to Alaska!...

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Celebrating National Aviation Day with Joe!

Celebrating National Aviation Day with Joe!

Today is one of our favorite days of the year because it’s National Aviation Day – a day to celebrate aviation and those within the industry that make it so special. Whether you’re an aviation buff, an avid traveler, or just enjoy a good story, you’ll want to keep reading to learn the fascinating story of Joe Bowman Jr., who at ninety years old is still making great contributions to SHD as the longest-standing Airport Commission member. He celebrated thirty years of service on the Commission last year. We chose to celebrate National Aviation...

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Celebrating Aviation Maintenance Technician Day

Celebrating Aviation Maintenance Technician Day

Today we take an extra special moment to celebrate aviation technicians in honor of Aviation Maintenance Technician Day! Every day these aviation heroes make sure that travelers reach their destination safely. Their job requires intense precision and skill and every successful flight is due in large part to their contribution. I was lucky enough to interview Kenneth Todd, an air maintenance technician for Classic Aviation (who is also a flight instructor!), to get the behind-the-scenes scoop on what it’s like to have this critical aviation...

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