Paul Heintz elected new AOPA chairman

Incoming AOPA Chairman Paul C. Heintz (left) presents outgoing Chairman R. Anderson Pew with a special print honoring Pew's 17 years of leadership of the AOPA Board of Trustees.

Paul C. Heintz was elected chairman of the AOPA Board of Trustees May 4 during the association's annual meeting at historic Wings Field outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (AOPA was founded in 1939 at Wings Field.) Heintz succeeds R. Anderson (Andy) Pew, who, at the board's request, will remain as an AOPA trustee.

The board paid tribute to Andy Pew, who has led the board since assuming the chairmanship from J.B. "Doc" Hartranft in 1985. New Chairman Heintz presented Pew with a framed print of a Piper Cub, specially prepared by noted aviation artist Sam Lyons. The Cub carries the tail number NC98138, the aircraft that Pew first soloed. Heintz recalled that when they learned to fly, they both started in Champs, and both soloed off grass strips in Piper Cubs.

The presentation to Pew also bore a plaque reading, "With sure hands on the controls, you have kept AOPA and the AOPA Air Safety Foundation on a steady course, assuring that general aviation will be safe, less expensive, more useful and more fun. AOPA members, employees and your fellow Board members, whom you have served so well, express our deep appreciation."

Incoming Chairman Paul Heintz also spoke about the transition to younger trustees on the AOPA board. In the past six years, five new trustees have been named, the majority less than 40 years old. The new chairman noted the continuity this provides for the future of the 63-year-old association.

"All AOPA members owe a real debt of gratitude to the trustees," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "The trustees serve without compensation, generously donating their time and expertise to ensure the future of the association and the continuation of our unique freedom of flight."

Paul C. Heintz is a partner with the Philadelphia law firm of Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP. He is chairman of the firm's Fiduciary Department. He has more than 30 years experience in estate and trust planning and administration, and fiduciary and tax law. He also has experience in aviation law, including aircraft accident litigation, FAA enforcement actions, and the representation of airport owners. He's served as chairman of the Aviation Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.

He owns a Cessna 210 and is a certificated airline transport pilot (ATP), instrument flight instructor, advanced ground instructor, and glider pilot.

Heintz is a member of numerous community and civic boards, including the Franklin Institute and the National Constitution Center. He obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law, and he is included in "The Best Lawyers in America" and "Who's Who in American Law."

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