“As I see it, some of the top issues include protecting our nation’s airports, ensuring that air traffic modernization accounts for the needs of all system users, and building the pilot population,” AOPA President Craig Fuller recently told airport directors and commissioners. “To make real progress on these issues, I will be asking every one of AOPA’s more than 415,000 members to get personally engaged in protecting and promoting general aviation.”

“There are literally hundreds of ways to do that,” said Fuller. “Being more engaged can be as simple as staying informed about the issues that affect your flying and as involved as hosting a major public event. But in between are almost infinite opportunities.”

Fuller said tools such as a new engagement section of AOPA Online, which includes tips and suggestions on how to get more deeply involved in the future of GA, can help members. The association will continue and even increase its advocacy for GA across a broad front. One of the issues AOPA will address is the declining pilot population and the need to draw more people into aviation.

“We are going to be doing some carefully crafted research and taking advantage of the first-hand knowledge of those in the training industry to find out what works and what doesn’t, with the goal of developing best practices to help student pilots complete their training and earn their certificates,” Fuller said.

FAA to work on decommissioning of navaids

The scheduled decommissioning of many ground-based navaids starting this year puts GPS on course to supplant VOR equipment in general aviation cockpits. AOPA is asking the FAA to work closely with users on a decommissioning strategy that aligns with the deployment of new technology and takes into account many pilots’ current use of VORs for navigation. The FAA plans to phase out VORs starting with service reductions in 2010. AOPA is communicating directly with the FAA’s office of navigation services and providing input about the decommissionings as requested.AOPA has long supported the use of GPS for navigation and surveillance but has warned against relying on the technology without a safety net in the event of an outage.

Engage in aviation under the Big Yellow Tent

Join AOPA at the thirty-sixth Annual Sun ‘n Fun Fly-International Fly-In and Expo from April 13 through the 18 in Lakeland, Florida, and celebrate Spring Break for Pilots. AOPA is once again the Platinum Sun 'n Fun sponsor and will have many exciting activities going on under the Big Yellow Tent and around the Sun 'n Fun grounds throughout the week. Make your travel plans now, and we’ll see you there! For show details, highlights, and ticket information visit the Web site.

Hire your own legal department—for $33 a year!

Participation in the AOPA Legal Services Plan is a wise and affordable decision. For just $33 a year, you have more than 600 attorneys on call for you. If you get yourself into a jam involving your flying, your business lawyer or tax lawyer, no matter how trusted these lawyers may be, may not be your best choice.

The FAA initiates thousands of enforcement actions annually, and you never know when a routine flight could result in one. That’s why it pays to have an attorney to call. No need to waste time getting references and referrals—you’ll go straight to the AOPA Legal Services Plan panel of attorneys.

Start your flying off right by enrolling in AOPA’s Legal Services Plan online or by calling 1-800-USA-AOPA.