ASN volunteer and doctor honored at Pilot Town Meeting
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| Dr. Frank Austin receives an AOPA Presidential Citation from Phil Boyer. |
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| Andy Serrell honored for defending Ocean City (Md.) Airport. |
AOPA President Phil Boyer honored two Maryland residents last night with AOPA Presidential Citations. The awards were presented during a Pilot Town Meeting in Baltimore. Honored were Dr. Frank H. Austin and Airport Support Network volunteer Andy Serrell.
Dr. Austin was recognized for his 50 years of dedicated service to both military and civilian aviation medicine. Boyer told the 290 pilots attending the town meeting that Dr. Austin was among the first to push for special issuance medicals for insulin-treated diabetics. That led to AOPA's work with the American Diabetes Association to challenge the FAA's blanket ban against issuing medical certificates to insulin-dependent diabetics. That policy was reversed in 1996, and today more than 200 such pilots are flying on third class special issuance medicals. Boyer also noted that Dr. Austin's career included serving the U.S. Navy in aviation medicine as well as government service as the FAA federal air surgeon, for NASA, and as an aviation medical examiner.
Boyer also honored Andy Serrell of Ocean City, Maryland, for his selfless and untiring dedication to Ocean City Airport (OXB) and to the rights and needs of general aviation pilots who use it. Boyer told the crowd of area pilots that over the past 12 years, Serrell has worked with fellow pilots to obtain improved services and facilities (including new T-hangars) for the airport. He has also educated elected officials and residents about the value of the airport and general aviation and explained noise issues and traffic patterns. Serrell helped defeat two public referenda, which, if passed, would have adversely affected the viability of OXB. Boyer encouraged Serrell to continue his work in support of one of AOPA's highest priorities, airport preservation.
00-4-063x
November 14, 2000
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