AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011 - 84

JOHN HOWITT
“Now’s our opportunity. Everybody’s listening, and everyone’s paying attention.”

Rick La May (left) and John Howitt.

should be in place by mid-November, if not sooner. Randi Thompson, outgoing chair of the authority’s board, felt the committee “was a way we could get stuff done without micromanagement from the board,” and will help users decide what they want. “The key to growth is the communication that we’ve now established.” “We’re pretty well supported now, even by the politicians,” said Rick La May, vice president of the pilots’ association. “Right now, we’re kind of on a precipice, we have the [airport authority] resolution and new trustees. How fast does the user committee get going?” “Now’s our opportunity,” Howitt added. “Everybody’s listening, and everyone’s paying attention.” Looking ahead Pilots can’t claim success at the airport quite yet, Larkin said. “We’re even—we’re back to where we should have been at Reno/Tahoe. Success will be when we achieve parity with the hangars, and we’ve built [infrastructure] that will support current general aviation as well as future general aviation—and when the public feels welcome to get around airplanes and talk with pilots.” GA’s future at Reno/Tahoe International ultimately is in the east side of the airport. “Pilots are in agreement with that,” Larkin said, and they want to see

a fair-share allocation of the fuel flowage and use taxes GA pays at the airport. “We have not seen one investment in terms of taxiways, aprons, or hangar pads,” all of which are key to GA growth. “I tell the pilots, we came within hours of losing general aviation from this airport”—specifically, single-engine aircraft and flight schools, Larkin added. “The pilots were asleep at the wheel. It took a major event to awaken them.” “We’ve got years of work bringing this airport back to what it was,” Howitt said. “Get involved now. Don’t wait until the first punch is thrown.” Di Loreto agrees that the airport has turned the corner. “I think we’re on the right track at Reno. I really believe that it’s a new day with respect to the understanding of GA,” he said. “We did it the good old Democratic way: You go to the meeting, you stand up, and you speak.” You must be respectful, eliminate emotions, and above all, follow up. “I’m pretty pleased with the way it’s gone so far. I don’t think general aviation is going to be swept under the rug any more.” “Band together as pilots. Explain the value of GA to your elected officials and get them behind you,” Pagnano said. “The airport serves the community; it’s not the other way around.” Email the author at mike.collins@aopa. org.

How AOPA could help
Bob Larkin, the AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer for Reno/Tahoe International Airport, kept AOPA informed about the negotiations for the renewal of leases for two FBOs on the field. In April 2010, he reported that the leases would not be renewed and said the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority would assume control of the leaseholds. “AOPA corresponded with the airport authority, opposing any negative impact on GA operators and calling on the authority to continue providing GA services at Reno/Tahoe,” said Bill Dunn, AOPA vice president for airport advocacy. At the request of Larkin, in June 2010 Dunn testified before the Washoe County Commissioners on the benefits of GA at the airport. By unanimous vote the commission passed a resolution calling on the airport authority to conitinue to support GA at the airport. “AOPA brought a national presence that let the airport authority know we weren’t just a bunch of local renegades,” Larkin said. “AOPA’s knowledge and advice were invaluable.”
AOPA PILOT •

84 • SEPTEMBER

2011

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AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2011

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