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Jay White Named Winner of AOPA's Joseph R. Crotti Award for Aviation Advocacy in California

Palm Springs, Calif. – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has presented the Joseph R. Crotti award to Jay White, former president and current general counsel of the California Pilots Association (CPA). White was lauded for spending the past 30 years protecting California’s general aviation airports and fighting for pilot’s flight privileges.

In 1974, White, a commercial airline pilot, singlehandedly saved the organization, then known as the California Aviation Council, when no one came forward  to assume leadership.

As the new leader, White worked tirelessly on general aviation matters within the state, subsequently developing an excellent working relationship with the California Department of Transportation Division of Aeronautics (DoA).  This valuable relationship is still in place.  He also applied his law degree to better understand state aviation regulations, and deal with some of the state’s airport sponsors who rejected the DoA’s handbook on appropriate land usage around their airports.

The Crotti Award for general aviation advocacy in California is named in honor of the late Joe Crotti, longtime AOPA regional representative and former chief of the state’s Division of Aeronautics.  The award was presented during AOPA’s Aviation Summit in Palm Springs, California.

- AOPA –

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October 12, 2012