When it comes to politics, it all boils down to whom you know. That’s why AOPA’s new Eastern Regional Representative Gregory Winton met with key legislative leaders in New Jersey on Aug. 7.
General aviation airports in New Jersey are frequently under fire, and AOPA has worked for years to strengthen laws to protect the state’s 43 public-use airports (28 of which are privately owned).
Winton and AOPA Manager of Legislative Affairs Joey Colleran flew a Cessna 172 from AOPA headquarters in Frederick, Md., to Trenton and Linden, N.J., to meet with the chiefs of staff for the Senate and Assembly Transportation chairmen in their district offices. By flying up for the meeting, AOPA was able to provide tangible examples of the benefits of GA.
Both staff members have asked AOPA for more information on how they can help GA pilots in New Jersey with specific aviation-related issues.
During the trip, Winton and Colleran also met with members of the New Jersey Aviation Association.
Winton serves as the AOPA regional representative for New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Virginia. His goals are to gather intelligence about state legislative initiatives, build relationships with key aviation decision-makers, and advocate for AOPA members on a range of critical issues.
For more than 25 years, Winton has dedicated his professional career to promoting the aviation industry. He is an experienced aviation attorney and was also a senior trial attorney for the FAA. Winton has a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single- and multiengine land and Instrument ratings. He is also a CFI.
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