AOPA Manager of State Affairs Joey Colleran met with Ohio legislators this week to build support for removing aircraft owners from a requirement to sign a declaration each year that they are not involved in terrorist activity. Currently aircraft owners are the only ones required to do so within the Department of Transportation. AOPA staff explained that general aviation aircraft are not a threat and that this is an insult to pilots. The association staff also emphasized that the FAA and Transportation Security Administration have programs in place to catch terrorists, and that pilots and aircraft owners take voluntary steps to prevent terrorist attacks through the association's Airport Watch program. AOPA will continue pressing to eliminate this requirement.
January 26, 2007