News from around the Eastern region

Two New Jersey bills that would have raised aviation fuel taxes for the benefit of highways and bridges have been defeated with the help of AOPA and its members. More than 3,200 AOPA members in New Jersey responded to an AOPA call to action on the bills, which would have increased taxes with no discernible benefit coming back to airports and pilots. AOPA continues to monitor all aviation tax legislation to ensure that fuel tax revenues are returned to the state airport system. AOPA Regional Manager Sean Collins has been actively opposing a plan by Gov. Dan Malloy and the Connecticut Department of Education to terminate funding for two aviation technical high schools, Connecticut Aero Tech and Stratford School for Aviation Maintenance Technicians. Both schools prepare students for careers in aviation maintenance fields.