National pilot association president to meet with pilots in San Carlos, California

AOPA President Phil Boyer will hold a Pilot Town Meeting in San Carlos, California, on Tuesday, September 16, 2003. As Boyer speaks to pilots out West, he'll be spreading the news that AOPA has reached a membership milestone. The association recently topped the 400,000 member mark, making it the world's largest civil aviation organization.

At the Pilot Town Meeting, Boyer will address hard-hitting facts about the latest changes in regulations and legislation that affect general aviation. During lively, interactive discussions, Boyer will solicit pilots' views on the general aviation situation in California.

Boyer will also address perceived security issues facing the general aviation community and discuss AOPA's Airport Watch program, which is a joint venture with the Transportation Security Administration to help keep America's general aviation airports secure from terrorists.

Boyer will outline the General Aviation Serving America Web site, which is an initiative to educate the country about the important role of general aviation in the national economy and transportation system. The Pilot Town Meeting in San Carlos begins at 7:30 p.m. and is open to all pilots without charge. For more details on Pilot Town meetings, visit the Web site.

Phil Boyer, a 36-year veteran aviator and former network television senior executive, is the third full-time president in AOPA's 64-year history. Instrument and multiengine rated, he has logged nearly 7,000 flight hours, including two transatlantic crossings. He has been president of AOPA since January 1991.

Boyer has held over 300 Pilot Town Meetings since 1992, reporting to pilots all across the country and soliciting their feedback to keep AOPA action focused on current pilot concerns. To date, more than 65,000 pilots have participated in these Pilot Town Meetings.

AOPA represents pilots and owners of the 221,000 general aviation aircraft that constitute 92 percent of the U.S. civilian fleet.

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