AOPA member honored by county for airport advocacy

Scheinpflug is an aircraft owner and passionate general aviation pilot who spent his career as an engineer after serving in the U.S. Army, and has been a member of the advisory board since July 2005, including stints as chair and vice chair.

The award—a wrestling championship-style belt—was presented to Scheinpflug by Commissioner Robert Patrick, who said the award signifies Scheinpflug's "enduring role as a heavyweight champion for the PDK aviation community," according to a statement.

At the meeting, Patrick praised Scheinpflug's contributions to the board, which has touched major initiatives at the airport including the recent airport master plan, T-hangar development, airport rules and regulations, lease agreements, landing fee discussions, and more.

"Even as a city planner coming into this job, for all the things I knew, I knew nothing about airports except they were cool and my kids like watching [aircraft] take off at the park," said Patrick. "But Larry has really given me an insight on sort of some of the politics and drama that happen back there, some of the realities that we do want to have an airport that is growing but we also want to acknowledge that the small propeller operators that are there who are sort of the mainstay, whether the economy goes up or down, that you guys are always there."

Scheinpflug's presence on the board helps local leaders make informed decisions, according to AOPA Southern Regional Manager Stacey Heaton.

"It can be hard for local officials to effectively oversee an airport, but Larry does an incredible job filling the gap," said Heaton. "Pilots often know little about what it takes to manage an airport. Most airport managers are not pilots and know little about aircraft. And local officials often know little about aviation in general."

"My main goal is to make PDK a safe place, and so far we're doing a really great job over there," Scheinpflug told commissioners. He also said he has always enjoyed public service, including his time in the military and now in DeKalb County.

"Larry is the perfect example of how pilots can drive meaningful progress for their local airports," added Heaton. "Commissioner Patrick talked about his dedication, his knowledge and expertise, and providing information and understanding about the importance of GA in DeKalb County. But what really sets him apart is his decision to put those talents to work for the greater good of the community, and his dedication to the role for more than 20 years."

If something at your airport is of concern, consider reaching out to your AOPA regional manager or Airport Support Network volunteer. If your airport does not have an ASN volunteer, consider joining our ranks to engage with, promote, and protect your airport today at aopa.org/asn.