Leading state aviation officials from around the country gathered March 19 for the National Association of State Aviation Officials conference in Washington, D.C., to discuss the top issues facing aviation, including user fees and airport encroachment.
While AOPA President Phil Boyer brought the leaders up to speed on the FAA funding debate, AOPA Airport Support Network (ASN) Director Stacy Platone Swigart participated in a panel discussion about compatible land-use planning. Swigart told the officials that ASN volunteers are a vital asset in their efforts to implement land-use initiatives.
"ASN volunteers are not only our local eyes and ears who alert us to airport threats - they're the ones who take action in their aviation community," Swigart said. "These volunteers are key to reaching voters who support the airport, educating local pilots, and creating working relationships between pilots and state agencies that can be valuable in ensuring proper land use around airports."
March 23, 2007