September 9, 2022: Ankeny, IA –
The Iowa Aviation Promotion Group (IAPG) regrets to report the passing of its long-time Executive Director, Chuck McDonald (Charles H. McDonald Obituary). Chuck had a passion for aviation and grew IAPG into an effective non-profit organization providing positive aviation exposure to tens of thousands of Iowans. Programs included the annual Fly Iowa event held at a different Iowa airport each year, the Fly Iowa Challenge
promoting air tourism in Iowa, and aviation rallies that exposed youth and their parents to aviation and the possibilities of aviation careers. The most recent initiative was the development of an aviation scholarship program that the IAPG board of directors unanimously insisted be named the Chuck McDonald Aviation Training Scholarship.
The IAPG board of directors is comprised of volunteer members who are passionate about promoting aviation in Iowa. In the coming weeks, the Board will be transitioning business operations, communicating with membership, updating its website, and continuing to work on its core programs that support the mission of the association. The annual meeting is planned for November 12th with more details to come. The Board extends its sympathy to Chuck’s family and expresses immense gratitude for the impact he has had on aviation in Iowa. It also thanks IAPG members for their continued support during this time and looks forward to a strong future for IAPG.