Advocacy on behalf of Indiana’s aviation industry has brought about some significant gains in recent years, but it will take a continued strong relationship between state and national aviation groups to keep the momentum going, AOPA said at a statewide industry conference in Florence, Indiana.
The year 2013 saw important gains for the industry with passage of a measure reducing a fuel tax and an exemption from the state’s 7 percent sales taxes on maintenance at some repair shops—with one immediate result being the addition and preservation of jobs in the state’s aviation sector.
That victory was followed in 2014 by the passage of a measure expanding the exemption of parts used in aircraft maintenance from the 7 percent sales tax, permitting a greater number of aircraft repair facilities to complete tax exempt maintenance and allowing the state to compete more effectively against others and reducing aircraft operating costs.
What lies ahead?
Speaking at the Aviation Association of Indiana’s annual conference held Oct. 14 to 17, Greg Pecoraro, AOPA vice president of airports and state advocacy, brought aviation community members up to date on the association’s current initiatives—including a local priority of working together with the Aviation Association of Indiana to "bring about a stable funding source for Indiana’s airports."
As is the case everywhere AOPA meets with pilots, interest ran especially high regarding news about the effort to replace third class medical certificate with self-certification on the basis of a driver’s license for pilots flying basic aircraft for recreation, and the energetic effort to save the embattled airport in Santa Monica, California.
"AOPA’s effort to reform the third class medical process, to save Santa Monica airport, and to grow the numbers of the pilot population are always of interest to any aviation community," he said.
"We are also aware that issues affecting the local aviation community are of paramount importance to statewide organizations. That is why we appreciate the opportunity to discuss AOPA’s priorities in Indiana, and to work with the Aviation Association of Indiana in promoting aviation across the state," Pecoraro said.
