Colorado legislature honors general aviation, AOPA's Phil Boyer

Legislators in Colorado's Senate and House of Representatives recently took time to formally praise the state's GA industry in general, and AOPA President Phil Boyer in particular, for efforts after the Sept. 11 attacks to keep U.S. skies open to all. In a joint resolution, the legislators "commend Colorado's general aviation industry for its contributions to the health, welfare, and economy of Colorado and commend AOPA President Phil Boyer for his relentless defense of general aviation in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, and his success in returning general aviation to the skies of Colorado and the nation."

"It's gratifying to see the efforts of AOPA and Colorado's 16,000 pilots recognized in the wake of those terrible attacks," said Boyer. "But our work is not done. Even now, eight months after the attacks, there are those who see general aviation as an unregulated wildcard that poses a national security risk. We at AOPA will continue to speak out and to educate the public at large. Individual pilots can also help by 'flying friendly,' and by speaking up when they hear misinformed statements about general aviation."

In the joint resolution, the legislators made particular note of the economic benefit general aviation provides the state of Colorado, contributing more than 8,000 jobs and more than half a billion dollars in economic activity.

State Rep. Alice Borodkin (D-10th Dist.) and State Sen. Lewis Entz (R-5th Dist. and past winner of the AOPA Joseph B. Hartranft Award) guided the resolution through the House and Senate respectively, with help from AOPA regional representative Bill Hamilton.

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