Actor and GA Serves America spokesman Harrison Ford’s visit with members of the House and Senate General Aviation Caucuses April 27 sparked interest in the industry among those on the Hill. Ford had a captive audience—26 members of Congress, three senators, 92 congressional staff, and 53 others from federal agencies and industry stakeholders—to explain the benefits of GA.
“Your presence at the event generated significant interest and was very helpful in educating our colleagues about the importance of general aviation to our economy, our transportation system, and domestic and international humanitarian efforts,” wrote Reps. Allen Boyd (D-Fla.) and Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.), co-chairs of the House GA Caucus, and Sens. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) and Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), co-chairs of the Senate GA Caucus, in a note to Ford May 10.
During the open discussion with members of the caucuses, Ford talked about the challenges facing GA, GA relief flights to Haiti (including his own flight to help with the effort), how to grow the number of participants in the GA caucuses, and the joy of recreational flying.
On the heels of this successful event, AOPA, the Experimental Aircraft Association, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, National Air Transportation Association, and National Business Aviation Association will continue to work to introduce the value of GA to members of Congress.
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