President's Position: A Season To Remember

AOPA’s Regional Fly-Ins not only are an opportunity for the general aviation community to learn and grow, but also a chance to highlight how important these smaller airports are to every community and town across the country. Small airports are especially important when natural disasters strike.

Following a tragic hurricane season that ravaged regions from Texas to the Caribbean (see “Sending Out a Lifeline,” page 80), we are reminded of why AOPA has dedicated so many resources to fight H.R.2997, the 21st Century Aviation, Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act, which would remove air traffic control from the FAA and turn it over to the airlines. Rural and sometimes remote airports that are a vital part of disaster relief and recovery efforts are the same airports that would be the most affected should the legislation be adopted. We must continue to do whatever it takes to let Congress know “privatization” would hurt rural America, and there’s no way we can let that happen.

When hurricanes Harvey and Irma hit, the GA community came together to gather resources and safely reach victims. After Irma, I personally witnessed government morass shutting down larger airports and holding back recovery efforts, while smaller airports became the lifeline to struggling residents (see “Waypoints: Nooks and Crannies,” page 20). GA has always led the way in disaster recovery efforts, and while these instances might be rare, we must always be prepared to help when the time comes. That is why we must continue to work to protect our airports to ensure that communities have the resources they need to accommodate GA during devastating times.

There’s also pending legislation that would be a step in the right direction for GA, that helps protect these airports during disaster relief. The Forward Looking Investment in General Aviation, Hangars, and Tarmacs (FLIGHT) Act would ensure strategic airports have access to funding specifically for emergency planning, equipment, and facilities. In addition, the FLIGHT Act helps protect airports designated for disaster relief.

AOPA members and fly-in attendees have already come through in a big way in the battle against “privatization.” From the wall of signatures collected at EAA AirVenture, to the more than 80,000 letters and calls from members to their congressional representatives through our calls to action, the urgency to protect GA has been memorable, to say the least.

And while our work will never be done protecting these airports and supporting the growth of GA, there are many other milestones to reflect on from this past record-breaking fly-in season.

Every year, I enjoy attending our fly-ins and meeting members who have as much passion for flying as I do. The most memorable stories come from attendees who show up to our events as rusty pilots, and leave with the same eagerness to get back in the air that they had as first-time student pilots. Through our Rusty Pilots initiative, along with all the other avenues available to our members through You Can Fly, we continue to pave the way for pilots of the past, present, and future.

Thanks to BasicMed, the simplified medical certification alternative, many pilots have been given the momentum they need to get back in the left seat. With more than 18,000 pilots utilizing BasicMed in just the first six months, this has been one of the best things to happen to GA in a long time. I’m reminded of this at each fly-in, when pilots come up to me and share how pleasantly surprised they are with the simplified process, and how grateful they are to be examined by their regular physician who knows their medical history best. BasicMed has allowed them to get back to doing what they love most.

As 2018 draws closer, I hope you consider the AOPA Foundation for your tax-deductible, end-of-year donations. One hundred percent of the proceeds go to support AOPA programs including You Can Fly initiatives, flight training scholarships, and the AOPA Air Safety Institute.

Finally, to get involved in next year’s fly-ins, either as a volunteer or an attendee, please check out our website for more information on each of our 2018 locations and dates. Details can be found online and in the December issue of AOPA Pilot. Thanks for a memorable fly-in season and I join you in looking forward to another great year ahead.

Email mark@aopa.org