AOPA President Mark Baker was among those who participated in the AirVenture Cup Race July 27. He flew his Cessna Grand Caravan float plane.
The race started at South Dakota’s Mitchell Municipal Airport and ended at Wisconsin’s Wausau Downtown Airport. Baker spoke the day before the race at the airport’s Open House Wings and Wheels event.
AOPA, celebrating its seventy-fifth anniversary, is the world’s largest civil aviation association, said Baker. “We represent more than 350,000 pilots, owners, and aviation enthusiasts in the United States, and we represent members in more than 70 countries,” he said.
AOPA’s mission is protecting the freedom to fly and helping to make flying fun and affordable, said Baker. “Third class medical reform is AOPA’s top priority. It’s important because it will save pilots time and money, keep more pilots flying longer, make it easier to get started in flying, and cut through bureaucracy,” he said. “The General Aviation Pilot Protection Act is currently in Congress with 124 cosponsors in the House and 17 in the Senate.” And since Baker’s speech on July 26, five more members of Congress have signed on as bill cosponsors.
FAA Administrator Michael Huerta recently visited AOPA’s headquarters in Frederick, Maryland, said Baker. “He promised action soon, but we encourage you to contact your congressional representatives and ask them to cosponsor third class medical reform,” he said.
