Daniel White's interest in airports comes naturally.

"I've been around airports my entire life," said White, 25, the new airport manager of the Augusta Municipal Airport.

White also is a pilot and certified flight instructor. His father, Victor, is director of airports for the Wichita Airport Authority. His sister is an airport police dispatcher in Florida, and his mother works for United Airlines in Wichita.

The Augusta airport is home to 82 airplanes and averages 99 operations a day.

White joined the airport after working for Bombardier Learjet's flight demonstration team for its annual Safety Standdown. He also worked as a flight instructor at the Cessna Employees Flying Club.

Before moving to Wichita in early 2006, he was airport operations supervisor at the Orlando Sanford International Airport.

White has a bachelor's degree in business administration from Wichita State University.

He received flying lessons as a 16th-birthday present. He eventually earned his private, instrument, commercial single-engine and multi-engine and flight instructor ratings.

What attracted you to a career in airport management?

"It's been a lifetime dream to become an airport manager. I've seen my dad do it for the last 25 years and really enjoyed seeing the passion he had with his job. (I) wanted to create the same passion but wanted to include my flying background."

What was attractive about the position with the Augusta airport?

"I love the possibility for growth."

What will you do to grow the airport?

" (I have plans to) be very active in the marketing of the airport and utilizing my experience as a flight instructor to help benefit the airport as a whole."

What does the airport need?

"I would love to see more aircraft based at the Augusta airport.... A lot of it (comes through) good relationship marketing."

Does the airport need any upgrades?

"We're looking at a 'crack-fill' project on our runway. We've already received a KDOT (Kansas Department of Transportation) grant for that."