Section 8 - Calendar of Events

The Centennial of Flight Commission is specifically required to provide recommendations and advice on the most effective ways to "maintain, publish, and distribute a calendar or register of national and international programs and projects concerning, and provide a central clearinghouse for information and coordination regarding dates, events, and places of historical and commemorative significance regarding aviation history in general and the centennial of powered flight in particular." This searchable calendar is one of the primary features of the Centennial of Flight Commission Web site at http://www.centennialofflight.gov. The Centennial of Flight Commission will work hard to ensure that the Centennial of Flight Commission Calendar is the central calendar of the centennial commemoration. There is a "Submit an Event" feature to submit information about upcoming events that are related to the centennial of flight, the history of aviation and/or aviation in general. In order to have an event listed, it must be: (1) sponsored by a reputable organization that is willing to provide basic details about itself and its event; (2) open to the public or have a large invited attendance; and (3) relevant to the centennial of powered flight or the history of aviation.

If the above criteria are met, the event is posted on the Calendar. Event planners can request special recognition by the Centennial of Flight Commission. If recognized, an airplane will be placed on the calendar next to the event. The Centennial of Flight Commission has established a clearly defined and electronic process for the selection of events that it will recognize. In addition, planners of recognized events may be able to use the Centennial of Flight Commission logo.

Under Section 9 of the Centennial of Flight Commemoration Act, as amended, the NASA Administrator, after consultation with the Centennial of Flight Commission, may make the Centennial of Flight Commission's logo available for use through licensing in a variety of ways, including sponsorships and product licensing. The Centennial of Flight Commission's advice to NASA regarding the use of the logo will be consistent with the overall strategy described above. In order to maintain the value of the logo, the Centennial of Flight Commission recommends to NASA that NASA adopt a controlled use of the Centennial of Flight Commission logo. Specifically, the Centennial of Flight Commission will review and recognize specific events based on a clearly defined process and a set of criteria. The Centennial of Flight Commission will then recommend to NASA that events that have been recognized be allowed to:
(1) display the logo in conjunction with the event and event advertising; (2) use the recognition as an aid in promoting the event to potential sponsors, donors and/or partners; and (3) enter into product licensing arrangements with NASA that include use of the Centennial of Flight Commission logo.

In addition, the Centennial of Flight Commission staff will identify and recommend to NASA independent product licensing activities designed to add to the value of the logo and raise the general awareness of the Centennial and related events. The Centennial of Flight Commission staff will also define criteria for the suitability of specific product licensing opportunities to assist the Centennial of Flight Commission in assessing potential opportunities and making its recommendations to NASA.

The Centennial of Flight Commission has publicized the Calendar of Events in many different ways. Letters were written to every Member of Congress and every Governor introducing the Centennial of Flight Commission, its Web site and calendar. The Centennial of Flight Commission's two educational posters were enclosed with each letter. Similar letters were sent to every federal agency or organization explaining the Centennial of Flight Commission's role and the Centennial of Flight Commission's Web site. The letters also requested any plans they had in place or were considering for the centennial celebration. Public service announcements with the Centennial of Flight Commission logo and the Web site calendar address were mailed to the 100 magazines with the highest circulation, and to approximately 100 trade associations and organizations related to the aviation industry. Educational posters featuring the Wright brothers provide information about the Centennial of Flight Commission Web site and the calendar. Bookmarks have been designed and printed that advertise the Calendar of Events prominently. Memoranda of agreement have been signed with organizations that will publicize the existence of the national calendar, and every presentation made by a Centennial of Flight Commission staffer contains information about the Centennial of Flight Commission's calendar and how to use it. In June 2001, a contract for Outreach support was awarded to Carter Ryley Thomas Public Relations and Marketing Counsel, who will help further publicize and increase the use of the calendar. The Centennial of Flight Commission has worked hard to enrich the material on the Centennial of Flight Commission's Web site in order to draw more people to the site and the calendar. Press releases have been issued, one specifically introducing the Centennial of Flight Commission's Web site and the calendar feature. The fiscal year 2000 Annual Report contained an entire section on the calendar.

The Centennial of Flight Commission hopes that other centennial organizations will not duplicate a comprehensive event calendar, but rather publicize and encourage their Web visitors to contribute to the Centennial of Flight Commission's national calendar. Some centennial organizations post special events on their Web site and some organizations maintain a local calendar of events. Examples of organizations that maintain a calendar are Inventing Flight: Dayton 2003; the FAA (although all of their calendar events appear also on the Centennial of Flight Commission national calendar); American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics; the First Flight Centennial Commission; and Aviation Week's Next Century of Flight.

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