As the days are getting longer, flights are being scheduled later and later into the evenings.

This is splendid! But there’s no one staffing our front office during these late hours, which makes accessing the aircraft a bit tricky. To remedy this, you must obtain an AOA badge.

Most students, renters, and staff here at SunWest already have AOA (Airport Operations Area) badges, but we’d like to remind our newer patrons that registering for an AOA badge is a privilege and is completely necessary to operate through the school and on the airport before and after customary business hours (or during solo flights.) Here are the steps you can take to obtain an AOA badge through SunWest:

1. Visit www.sloairport.com to locate the badge application, or ask our office staff for a printed copy.

2. Complete the application with all relevant information. For help with this step, please see our front office staff.

3. Upon completion, our Flight School Manager will review and sign your application.

4. Take the completed, signed form along with a U.S. Passport (or Passport Card) and a driver’s license to the badging office in the airport terminal on Wednesdays from 1100-1300. (Click here for a list of alternate forms of documentation to bring.)

5. The badging office will validate the information you’ve provided and send you a code via email that can be used to complete an online training course. After this course is completed, the badging folks will call you to confirm that your badge is ready for pickup and that payment (currently $56) is due.

Seems easy enough, right? If you have a badge already but you didn’t receive it from SunWest, we’ll need to update your paperwork. Additionally, anyone who possesses a badge through SunWest needs to keep his or her badge current. For more information on badge renewal, click here or inquire in our front office.

Questions? Comments? Just let us know!