Bluffton council may hear a request from the Bluffton Airport Advisory Commission for a suggested tribute to the late Dottie Anderson, a lifelong pilot at Bluffton Flying Services.
Council meets Monday night. The agenda is an attachment at the bottom of this story.
Bill Suter, commission member, asked the commission, meeting on Jan. 21, to consider naming the main terminal at the Bluffton Airport as the Dottie Anderson Terminal. It is anticipated that the request will eventually work its way to the council table.
In a related tribute, Nick Vance of Bluffton Flying Service informed the commission that he has asked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to name an “Approach Fix” for the Bluffton Airport to “DOTII.” He is awaiting word from the FAA on the request.
The late Dottie Anderson graduated from Bluffton High School and Bowling Green State University. She began her flying career as a pilot of small aircraft while still in her teens and at one time built her own plane, a Pitts Special.
Over the years she taught hundreds of students and flew in numerous air races throughout the country, most notable participating in 32 Air Race Classics, with a 4th place her best finish.
In 1978 she became a flight examiner. Over the years, she logged over 40,000 hours in the air. She was a member of the Ninety-Niners, AOPA (Air Craft Owners and Pilots), and EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association), as well as several other professional flying organizations.
Best known as a pilot at the Bluffton Flying Service, she was selected for participation in the Astronaut Training Program in Colorado during its early years. She declined as “it was a really busy time at the airport and they were shorthanded” and she didn’t have the means to pay for this “unfunded for females” invitation.
