 AOPA Regional Representative Jerry Hooper (center) and Bill Dunn (right) visit with Texas State Representative Rick Hardcastle, who sponsored a bill last session to protect airports from tall towers and to require cities to adopt protective zoning around airports. |
AOPA this week told general aviation's story to people who can make a big difference—state legislators. AOPA took part in the annual three-day National Conference of State Legislators in San Antonio, Texas, August 13-15. The conference attracted some 7,500 lawmakers and their staffs from across the nation.
AOPA's impressive booth with the eye-catching headline, "Can you ignore $65 billion a year?" helped AOPA staff make the point that general aviation is vital to a state's economy.
"We told the legislators that general aviation should be viewed as a key component of a state's entire transportation system," said Bill Dunn, AOPA vice president for regional affairs. "Legislators should fund and protect GA airports for the good of their entire economy."
AOPA handed out a brochure reinforcing the importance of general aviation and reminding lawmakers that AOPA represents a large pilot constituency that is important to them and their states.
The AOPA representatives at the conference also told lawmakers that they could use AOPA as a key resource in developing policies and legislation to protect and promote general aviation.
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