VERO BEACH — Todd Scher, Assistant Airport Director at Vero Beach Municipal Airport, is the 2011 recipient of the FAA’s “Runway Safety Partnership” award.
Selected by the Federal Aviation Administration Southern Region (which covers eight southern states plus Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Mr. Scher was presented the award on Jan. 27 in Atlanta, Ga., and was honored locally at the Vero Beach City Council meeting on Feb. 7.
Scher is in charge of operational safety and security during construction projects at Vero Beach Airport. Because Vero Beach Airport is one of the busiest GA airports in the FAA Southern Region, with a federal tower that is used to train air traffic controllers, these projects require diligent monitoring while contractors are busy on the field.
Scher is always available for day-to-day coordination and management of multiple organizations and agencies in order to maintain safety during airport projects.
Scher’s consistent efforts working with multiple contractors and airport tenants, new ATC controllers-in-training, and a high tempo operational pace over the past several years were completed without incident or injury, including zero runway safety violations.
Scher is also active in the local Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 99, which sponsors the airport’s annual airport open house event known as “Aviation Day.” The event is very popular in the community every year, drawing over 3,000 people and helping to promote general aviation to the public.
Scher has the responsibility of coordinating all of the operational activities for Aviation Day, beginning months before the event. These activities included the recruitment, scheduling, and placement of static aircraft displays, coordination with the Air Traffic Control Tower and airport aviation tenants, managing and directing airport operations staff in their support role, and a multitude of other behind the scenes activities.
Thanks to his hard work and conscientious efforts, the Aviation Day program has been accomplished with zero incidents or injuries for 13 years in a row since 1998.
Todd is also an FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) member and has developed, updated, and presented many safety programs at FAA-sponsored seminars throughout East Central Florida. He is a sought after speaker at aviation group meetings, and he regularly holds and chairs meetings of airport users and support crews.
A 12,000-hour general aviation pilot with an ATP license, Citation X type rating, and several other aircraft type ratings, Scher has also presented Runway Safety and Incursion Prevention programs to area EAA chapters, airport tenants and users, and Vero Beach Airport Operations staff.
This level of commitment, professionalism, and enthusiasm is demonstrated by Scher in every aviation safety project in which he is involved. Scher maintains an “ownership” philosophy toward the airport and is not satisfied unless all of the airside facilities (runways, taxiways, lights, signs, safety areas, etc.) are in full compliance with FAA standards, and as safe and secure as they can possibly be for the flying public.