The Historic Columbia Air Center Airport/Museum Inc.
WHY we do it?
The Columbia Air Center was the first African American (Black) owned and operated, licensed airport in the United States of America and was located in Croom Maryland. The 450-acre historical airport site is currently a corn field. The site is owned by Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC).
MY WHY
After a discussion with Mr. Melvin Cooper who wanted to go up in his aircraft and look for some land to jointly purchase with a few other people to put in a runway and a hangar. He wanted to have a place where pilots could pay a reasonable price to have their aircraft serviced.
I suggested the site in Croom because he could get the land for free as a 501(c)(3) and preserve the history of the site while helping general aviation pilots. I tried to explain the 501(c)(3) process in very general terms to him and others involved. I drafted and filed articles of incorporation and bylaws, drafted and filed IRS Form 1023 and all supporting documentation;
I drafted and spoke to all concerns pertaining to all correspondence and meetings with Council Member Marilynn M. Bland, Council Member Tony Knotts, Samuel J. Parker, Jr. Chairman, Prince George's County Planning Board Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission, Frances Guertin, Planning Board Administrator, Ronnie Gathers, Director Parks & Recreation, Chris Wagnon, Facility Operations, Deputy Director, The head of the Economic Development Corporation and others.
I used my professional contacts and friends to arrange; media coverage, meetings with potential contractors with global airport construction experience, and potential major corporations with the financial stature to absorb the cost of this type of project if it was properly packaged in an appropriate 501(c)(3) format. I meticulously tried to teach them about the 501(c)(3) process.
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"As I have stated many times, it does not matter to me who preserves the history of the Columbia Air Center
as long as it gets done and it seems crystal clear (after more than 18 months) it is not getting done. "
Wayne A. Tonkins, Sr.,Esq
Preservation
The Columbia Air Center was the first African American (Black) owned and operated, licensed airport in the
United States of America and was located in Croom, Maryland.
The goal of this project is to build at no cost to the local, county, state or Federal government a historically
and educationally significant environmentally friendly state of the art 501(c)(3) general aviation airport, The Historic Columbia Airport / Museum," (hereinafter referred to as the airport).
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education
The airport will have the potential to provide additional science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) exposure to elementary, middle school and high school students.
Aviation consists of applying science, technology, engineering and math.
The airport has the potential to create and sustain a vital workforce with skills desired worldwide in the aviation industry and beyond.
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economic
The 501(c)(3) airport will have the potential to serve as an economic engine creating jobs for all Marylanders including but not limited to
minorities, veterans, ex-convicts,
high school graduates,
college graduates, physically and mentally challenged citizens.
The airport would create new business opportunities while enhancing existing businesses.
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Wayne A. Tonkins, Sr., Esq.
When the attorney working on the 501(c)(3) application for the "African American Heritage Preservation Group, Inc. told June White Dillard that he was in over his head and could not complete the form 1023. June White Dillard asked for my help. I finished the Form 1023 with adjustments and she received a ruling letter from the Internal Revenue Service October 5, 2010, awarding the organization exempt status. This was done pro bono. I drafted and filed, pro bono, for "Lets Go Up To The Twenty First Century" its articles of incorporation, bylaws and IRS Form 1023. The organization was awarded tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code... Read more: Bio of Wayne A. Tonkins, Sr., Esq.
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