AOPA President Phil Boyer received standing ovations for his presentations to Alaskan pilots this week in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau. But it wasn’t just about the Pilot Town Meetings. Boyer also spent a considerable amount of time lobbying on behalf of general aviation.
Boyer addressed more than 150 state aviation officials at the annual convention of the National Association of State Aviation Officials. He reminded them of the importance of GA to their communities and of AOPA’s strong support for GA airports. He urged them to continue to partner with AOPA to fight against the threats to airports, including residential encroachment and unwarranted security regulations. And he said that airports need to be proactive in addressing environmental issues that will become more of a factor in the future.
Boyer also met with key Alaskan aviation officials to update them on the FAA funding issue and the latest information on the proposed deployment of ADS-B. Alaska was a test bed for the technology under the Capstone program, and Alaskan pilots are eager for the FAA to build out the system in a useful way.
During the Anchorage Pilot Town Meeting, Boyer presented an AOPA Presidential Citation to State Sen. Donald Olson, who pushed a bill through the Alaskan legislature to establish low-interest, state-supported loans for aircraft owners to equip with ADS-B.
Boyer also honored State Rep. Kyle Johansen, who sponsored the legislative resolution opposing an increase in the aviation fuel tax and the imposition of user fees.
AOPA ePublishing staff
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