Membership Services
Fuller visits Southern Illinois University aviation program
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As part of his ongoing program to get out of Washington, D.C., and talk with AOPA members, industry leaders, and public opinion leaders, AOPA President Craig Fuller meet with faculty and students at Southern Illinois University—Carbondale on Feb. 19.
Some 430 students are enrolled in the university’s aviation programs, including 200 in the flight program. The university flies 36 aircraft from Southern Illinois Airport located five miles from campus.
University officials are particularly frustrated by the recurring presidential temporary flight restriction (TFR) over Chicago every time President Barack Obama is in his home town. Because there is no commercial air service from Carbondale, the school flies a Cessna 340 and 421 the 250 miles to Chicago-Midway for the school’s business meetings in the city. But when the president is in town, they can’t land at Midway.
AOPA is continuing to advocate with the FAA and security agencies to obtain some relief for the general aviation pilots and the numerous GA airports near Chicago.
February 20, 2009
