President's Page
- Aviation Bio
- Learn about Craig’s aviation history...
- Career Bio
- Learn about Craig’s professional career...
- AOPA Now
- Online perspective from the president...
- President’s Position
- Craig’s monthly column from AOPA Pilot...
- Craig in the news
- News coverage of AOPA’s President...
- Outreach
- Publications to which Craig contributes...
- Speaking Events
- See where Craig is speaking...
In the news
Learn what news sources and organizations outside AOPA are writing and saying about AOPA’s president. The stories listed in this section are extracted from a variety of aviation, political, and news publications. This section includes audio podcasts, video interviews, and text articles.
For a listing of Web sites, blogs, and columns recommended by the AOPA president, please visit On the Web.
Lobbyist Named To Top Post At ATA
November 30, 2010 – AVweb
Nicholas Calio was named this week as the next CEO of the Air Transport Association, the trade organization that represents most U.S. airlines. Calio holds a long Washington pedigree both as a lobbyist and as a White House staffer.
AOPA Summit: By the numbers
November 21, 2010 – General Aviation News
Nearly 10,000 pilots and aviation enthusiasts gathered in Long Beach, California, Nov. 11-13, for the 2010 AOPA Aviation Summit to hear from industry leaders, see the latest and greatest, from aircraft to engines and avionics to pilot supplies, and to attend more than 60 hours of educational forums.
Graves to chair House General Aviation Caucus
November 17, 2010 – Examiner.net
Congressman Sam Graves has a new responsibility. Rep. Vern Ehlers (R-Mich.) announced that he would be handing over the reins of the House General Aviation Caucus co-chair to fellow pilot Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) when he retires from Congress at the end of this term, according to a press release.
AOPA Sweepstakes Plane Awarded
November 12, 2010 – AVweb
A New Hampshire CFI with a penchant for new technology is the winner of AOPA's sweepstakes aircraft, a new Remos GX light sport aircraft.
Fuller To Discuss State Of Aviation At Pilot Town Hall
August 18, 2010 – Gazettes.com (Long Beach, Calif.)
Pilots and aviation enthusiasts are invited to attend a Pilot Town Hall Meeting Saturday morning at the AirFlite FBO at Long Beach Airport hosted by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).
AOPA Summit examines GA’s future
November 11, 2010 – General Aviation News
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s Aviation Summit, which kicks off today in Long Beach, Calif., features three keynote sessions that will examine what lies ahead for general aviation.
Fuller To Discuss State Of Aviation At Pilot Town Hall
August 18, 2010 – Gazettes.com (Long Beach, Calif.)
Pilots and aviation enthusiasts are invited to attend a Pilot Town Hall Meeting Saturday morning at the AirFlite FBO at Long Beach Airport hosted by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).
Industry Leaders: Don't Panic On Avgas
July 27, 2010 – AVweb
In an effort to calm rising fears over the apparent lack of discernible progress on finding a replacement for 100LL, leaders of all the major alphabets held a fuel forum at AirVenture on Tuesday that produced this overarching message: Aircraft owners and operators shouldn't panic about the future lack of a 100LL replacement just yet, but they reiterated that the challenge of finding an avgas replacement is complex and won't be solved quickly.
Red tape cut for private international flights
July 26, 2010 – Reuters
Security officials on Monday unveiled simpler procedures for clearing private planes to fly to and from the United States, allowing them to submit a single manifest for review against government watchlists.
Cessna planes shuttle Special Olympics athletes from across the country
July 17, 2010 – Lincoln Journal Star (Lincoln, Neb.)
The Cessna Citation twin-jet landed just after 8 a.m. Saturday, and a handful of Maryland's Special Olympics athletes were swept past applauding volunteers and onlookers on their way to an unforgettable week.
Pelton, Fuller Take A Look At GAMI's G100UL
July 8, 2010 – AVweb
Cessna CEO Jack Pelton and AOPA President Craig Fuller flew into Ada, OK on Wednesday to get a look at a new 100LL replacement proposed by General Aviation Modifications Inc.
GA left out of DOT five-year plan
July 5, 2010 – General Aviation News
There is a hole in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) draft five-year plan, says the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). The plan, which covers the period from 2010 to 2015, almost completely ignores general aviation and its economic importance to the nation.
Oklahoma Aerospace Summit focuses on industry issues
June 4, 2010 – The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
When automotive industry leaders flew to Washington on private jets seeking a government bailout, it did more than create an image they were corporate fat cats. It hurt general aviation as well, industry officials say.
Flight Check: Pilots' Advocate Craig Fuller
June 1, 2010 – Forbes.com
The head of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association couldn't do his job without a plane. He's traveled the globe as chief of staff to then-Vice President George H.W. Bush, but a favorite flight is the one from Wichita, Kan., in his factory-fresh Cessna 172 RG. That was Craig Fuller's first plane.
Making The Case For Business Aviation
June 1, 2010 – Forbes.com
Business aviation veterans who have handled every type of weather became ill from one scene in Washington in November 2008. Three top auto industry executives flew private jets from Detroit to plead for a federal bailout. Couldn't you have jet-pooled, one congressman asked?
Pilots meet for breakfast with Sen. Charles Grassley
May 22, 2010 – KWWL.com (Waterloo, Iowa)
About 40 pilots flew into Waterloo Saturday for the second annual Flight Breakfast. Many plane enthusiasts came out to check out the historic planes, ride in a plane, and even sky dive.
Pilots association brings excitement of flight to Frederick
May 16, 2010 – Frederick News-Post (Frederick, Md.)
It took Peter Pan happy thoughts and fairy dust to fly. All you need is the passion. To help spread the enthusiasm for general aviation, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association held its first International Learn to Fly Day event Saturday at Frederick Municipal Airport.
Harrison Ford boosts GA on Capitol Hill
April 28, 2010 – General Aviation News
Star power met political power Tuesday, April 27, when actor Harrison Ford came to Capitol Hill to talk with members of Congress and staff members.
One fight won, others begin
April 19, 2010 – General Aviation News
Over the past year, AOPA President Craig Fuller has been busy traveling the country talking to pilots and spreading the good news about aviation, as well as urging pilots to “get engage” to help GA thrive.
AOPA Revamps Its Airport Directory – And Gives It Away For Free!!
April 15, 2010 – Aviation Week
Good for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) -- not only for completely redesigning its very useful airport directory, but now giving it away for free.
Trade associations call for united front to raise industry profile in Europe
April 14, 2010 – Flightglobal
Senior representatives from international general aviation trade bodies were calling at Aero Friedrichshafen for industry to create a strong united voice within Europe's corridors of power if it is to head off potentially corrosive regulation.
General Aviation Serves America campaign grows by going smaller
March 18, 2010 – General Aviation News
General Aviation Serves America, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s nationwide campaign to improve understanding about general aviation, is getting bigger by going smaller.
What Do You Think Of Obama's Transportation Budget Request?
February 16, 2010 – National Journal
Despite a pledge to freeze total non-defense, non-homeland security discretionary spending in his fiscal 2011 budget request, President Obama proposed to increase the Department of Transportation's budget nearly $2 billion to $79 billion.
AOPA To You: Get Involved!
February 11, 2010 – AVweb
AOPA President and CEO Craig Fuller Friday detailed AOPA's drive to safeguard general aviation's interests and build the pilot population, calling on members to "get personally engaged" in protecting and promoting GA.
FAA User Fees Dead for Now
February 4, 2010 – Aviation Week
NBAA President Ed Bolen said Feb. 3 the threat of aviation user fees seems to be dead “at least for this term of Congress,” and that FAA’s reauthorization bill could advance within the next “four to eight weeks.”
