AOPA Action
Shuster out, but ‘privatization’ lingers
AOPA continues to fight AIRR act
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) announced in January that he will not seek reelection in 2018.
BAKER ON THE NEWS
“The fight against the so-called privatization of air traffic control is far from over. AOPA will continue mobilizing our members who have already contacted Congress more than 150,000 times.” —AOPA President Mark Baker
ACTION IN THE STATES
AOPA opposes restricted airspace in Alaska
The FAA has issued a scaled-back proposal to establish new restricted airspace near Fort Greely, Alaska, in response to strong opposition from AOPA and the Alaska general aviation community that followed the plan’s introduction last year. In March 2017, the FAA published a proposal to establish the restricted area for joint military use involving hazardous activities in an area already bordered by large blocks of special-use airspace. AOPA objected to the proposal in formal comments, noting that it would constrain GA’s ability to use Isabel Pass—which connects interior and south-central Alaska and offers one of the lowest-terrain routes through the Alaska Range.
Web: www.aopa.org/pilot/alaska
AOPA supports actions in New York
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the funding of $20.5 million in capital projects at 29 airports from Long Island to Lake Erie for 2018, describing the state’s aviation infrastructure as the “front door to the Empire State.” AOPA and local organizations, including the New York Aviation Management Association, welcomed the announcement that details implementation of capital projects—an initiative that was strongly advocated by the associations and other groups during the 2017 legislative cycle, said Sean Collins, AOPA eastern regional manager. “To Governor Cuomo’s credit, he has long supported New York airports and the aviation industry,” Collins said.
Web: www.aopa.org/pilot/newyork
Michigan airport opens new runway
A general aviation airport in Antrim County, Michigan, that recently renovated its runway has earned an award for making the project happen, and wants pilots to try out the smooth new surface on a visit to the area. Antrim County Airport in Bellaire, Michigan, took on the $1.5 million airport improvement project to rehabilitate 5,000-foot-long Runway 2/20, for which the funding included a mix of sources including a state-discretionary-funds grant of about $558,000. Kyle Lewis, AOPA Great Lakes regional manager, credited the airport administration with coordinating the runway upgrade, and he noted that plans are to follow up the runway work with other improvements.
Web: www.aopa.org/pilot/michigan
Shuster, the leading congressional proponent of removing air traffic control from the FAA, has held his seat since 2002 and is in the final year he can serve as chairman because of term limits. His air traffic proposal has been strongly opposed by AOPA and a coalition of hundreds of general aviation organizations, small airports, and others; at press time, it had not reached the House floor because of a lack of votes. Despite the disagreement on Shuster’s air traffic proposal, AOPA President and CEO Mark Baker thanked Shuster for his work on issues such as third class medical reform, airport improvement funding, and other important matters.
The proposed 21st Century Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act (21st Century AIRR Act) faces more hurdles, especially with the Senate—where there is no appetite to hand over the nation’s ATC system to special interests. AOPA and 156 general aviation organizations from type clubs to state aviation entities have put up vigorous resistance to the AIRR Act, as members of Congress—who have received more than 150,000 contacts from the public on the issue—have affirmed, said Jim Coon, AOPA senior vice president of government affairs and advocacy.
The Senate’s FAA reauthorization measure, which has already been approved by the Senate Commerce Committee and does not seek to separate the Air Traffic Organization from the FAA, is expected to move through the Senate, on a bipartisan basis, this year. The Senate measure includes AOPA-supported provisions of the proposed Forward Looking Investment in GA, Hangars and Tarmacs Act (Flight Act) that would “almost overnight” provide millions of dollars for infrastructure projects at “non-primary entitlement” airports.
Web: www.aopa.org/stopprivatization
SiriusXM, AOPA enter agreement
Strategic alliance will support association programs
SiriusXM and AOPA are offeringa free one-year AOPA membership to pilots who purchase any eligible new SiriusXM aviation receiver between January 1 and March 31. This new strategic alliance also will support AOPA Air Safety Institute programs and feature SiriusXM Aviation services in the AOPA You Can Fly Ambassador Program that educates and engages pilots in order to build a stronger, more vibrant pilot community.
Pilots who purchase a qualifying SiriusXM aviation receiver will get a complimentary one-year AOPA membership valued up to $69; for existing members, a $69 credit toward their next membership renewal will be applied. The makes and model numbers of the approved receivers are the SiriusXM SXAR1 and Garmin GDL 51/52, GDL 51R/52R, GXM 42, Garmin G3X Touch, GDU 455/465 and GDL 69/69A SXM.
“AOPA is thrilled to be collaborating with SiriusXM,” said AOPA Senior Vice President of Marketing Jiri Marousek. “We believe their detailed in-flight weather information will enhance pilot safety and situational awareness, whether the pilot is on the ramp preflight, at 1,500 feet, or FL450.”
AOPA welcomes industry leader to iits board of trustees
Foundation board of advisors chair expands AOPA role
AOPA has welcomed William “Bill” Ayer as a new member of its board of trustees. No stranger to AOPA and general aviation, Ayer has been the chairman of the AOPA Foundation board of advisors since 2014 and has been a member of AOPA since 1980.
Ayer officially joined the AOPA board of trustees in December 2017 and will be a member of the AOPA Audit Committee and the Compensation, Organization, and HR Committee.
Ayer began his career with Piper Aircraft Co. and is the founder of Air Olympia, a small commuter airline in Washington state. He joined Horizon Air in 1982, where he held a variety of marketing and operations positions. He joined Alaska Airlines in 1995 as vice president of marketing and planning, and became the airline’s CEO and chairman.
Well-known as a leader throughout the aviation industry, Ayer dedicates his time to several companies, academia, and associations, including the board of directors for the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and Honeywell, an NBAA member company. He is a board of trustees member at the Museum of Flight, and on the board of the National Air and Space Museum. Ayer also serves on the board of regents at his alma mater, the University of Washington, and sits on the boards of two early stage companies: AirMap and VICIS. Ayer previously served as a member of the FAA’s Management Advisory Council and is past chairman of the FAA’s NextGen Advisory Committee.
Ayer is supportive of AOPA initiatives that work to grow the pilot population, and recently attended AOPA’s High School Aviation STEM Symposium in Dallas, Texas.
He learned to fly at age 15 and has more than 5,000 flight hours. He holds airline transport pilot and flight instructor certificates. Ayer graduated from Stanford University with a degree in economics, and holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Washington. He owns a Piper Malibu.
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