AOPA works for members at the state and local level across the United States. Catch up on what the association has done for you recently in the Central Southwest region.
Central Southwest Regional Manager Yasmina Platt has been busy talking to lawmakers about the importance of general aviation during a string of aviation days at state capitols. In Kansas, Platt met with lawmakers to discuss setting up a general aviation caucus to address GA issues while in Oklahoma she spoke with members of the state Aeronautics Committee about growing the pilot population. And at a state aviation day in New Mexico, she urged lawmakers to pass House Bill 242, which would prevent the current 0.046-percent contribution from the gross receipts tax to the state aviation trust from expiring in 2018. Platt is also getting ready for the New Mexico Aviation Conference set for May 11 through 13. As part of the event she’ll talk to airport managers about what pilots look for when selecting a destination field or FBO. In Texas, Platt is working with Pat Brown, AOPA’s new Texas Triangle ambassador, to spread the word about great ways to make flying more fun and affordable. The two were scheduled to host a booth and a series of seminars at ModAero, the #NextGen Aviation Festival, March 16-19 in Conroe. Platt is also spreading the word about aviation opportunities with a slightly younger crowd. She recently gave a 90-minute presentation with Airport Support Network (ASN) Volunteer Linda Street-Ely to about 350 kids at Hicks Elementary near Houston on career possibilities in aviation. In Missouri, Platt is scheduled to take part in Aviation Day at the Capitol on April 5 and will be a speaker at the Missouri Aviation Conference during that April 6 through 8 event.
