When aviators gathered at Great Lakes International Aviation Conference last week in Novi, Mich., AOPA was there to help educate pilots and listen to their concerns.
Jennifer Storm, director of the AOPA Airport Support Network, said incompatible land use was a hot topic for pilots at her seminar on “Proactive protection: Promoting your airport.” The presentation covered the importance of pilots being on the lookout for development proposals, land rezoning, and property transfers.
“It’s far easier to fight these types of issues when they’re in the developmental stage,” said Storm. “That’s why ASN volunteers are so valuable as AOPA’s early warning system.”
Storm hosted a lunch meeting for local volunteers to thank them for their service, discuss ASN program administration, and address their airport issues. She also recruited new pilots for airports without ASN volunteers. ( See if your airport has an ASN volunteer.)
Also on hand was Bill Dunn, AOPA vice president of local airport advocacy, who participated in the seminar and assisted members with questions about local airport issues throughout the weekend. In order to help guide AOPA’s advocacy efforts in Lansing, Mich., AOPA Great Lakes Regional Representative Bill Blake solicited member feedback about various proposals to increase aviation fuel taxes in the state this legislative session.
