As many of you may know, I spent a fair part of my early career on the campaign trail in presidential elections. Now I am back at it, but I’m working for GA, not any particular candidate.
I think my experience in the political arena serves me especially well in my role as president of AOPA. After all, so much of GA’s future depends on decisions made in Congress and by federal agencies.
And cultivating relationships on Capitol Hill has never been more important. This is an election year, and the decisions voters make in November will impact GA for years to come. The next Congress will again be tackling tough issues such as FAA funding, NextGen modernization, replacing leaded fuel, airspace regulation, and dozens of other issues that will affect our ability and cost to fly far into the future.
I know that when you are first learning to fly, just getting through the next lesson or phase check can seem monumental—and the health of general aviation can seem like an abstract concept for someone else to worry about. Believe me, every pilot can relate. But it’s still important to know that the decisions made in Congress do affect you directly. Your access to airports and airspace, your cost to fly, and your ability to take advantage of the latest safety and information technology all are affected by congressional decisions.
That’s why, with the help of contributions from AOPA members, we’ve organized a series of meetings around the country and invited members of the general aviation caucuses in the House and Senate to join us. Taking advantage of the summer break, when members of Congress are in their home states and districts, we were able to bring together pilots and politicians to share ideas about the value of general aviation and how to protect it. We held meetings in hangars at community airports in California, Georgia, Colorado, Oklahoma, and elsewhere. In doing so, we’ve demonstrated the value of GA firsthand, using GA to reach each destination efficiently, with all the tools, equipment, and personnel needed to host a big event.
I like to start these events by giving a report on AOPA’s key initiatives before introducing our guest senator or representative to make some remarks. Then, together, we answer questions and respond to comments from the audience.
Hundreds of AOPA members have turned out for these events—a show of strength and an important demonstration that our members are actively engaged in the issues that affect their flying. The insightful questions and comments from these audiences have left the participating congressmen and senators with a new understanding of who our members are and what they are concerned about—both at home and in Washington.
These events always give me a few minutes before or after the official gathering to chat one on one with the elected officials we’ve invited. Raising their awareness of GA issues through these events, and having a few quiet moments to emphasize our key issues, is simply invaluable.
If you have not yet attended one of these forums, know that you have been well represented by your fellow AOPA members. Watch a recent community forum with Rep. Darrell Issa at California’s Oceanside Airport on AOPA Live (aopa.org/aopalive).
I encourage you to find out more about how you can support general aviation and candidates who care about our future by visiting the General Aviation Serves America website (gaservesamerica.com). Your engagement today can make a difference for years to come.
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