AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2023 - 13

Spread the word
By Mike Ginter, AOPA vice president,
airports and state advocacy
P I L O T S G E T I T .
General aviation is a
big part of our lives,
and we spend a great
deal of time and money
chasing our aviation
dreams. As a pilot, you
understand the importance
of your airport.
Unfortunately, nonpilots may not have an
appreciation for GA's contributions to our society.
They also may not know how important
their local airport is to the community. When
this appreciation for GA and local airports is
absent, it is easy for citizens, government, and
business leaders to make decisions that hurt
the local airport.
As a passionate pilot, you can help by
describing what you love about GA or the
importance of your airport to your friends. It
is especially helpful if your network includes
influential community leaders. These business
and community leaders need to know that your
airport delivers significant economic impact to
your community and is a gateway to the national
airspace system. They need to be reminded that
most of the airplanes at the airport brought people
conducting business or patronizing local
attractions. They need to know that GA aircraft
are transporting medical patients, law enforcement,
or first responders quickly when needed.
They need to know that local pilots generously
donate their time and aircraft to transport
cancer patients, disabled veterans, pets, disaster
relief supplies, and emergency equipment
whenever the need arises. Local community
leaders need to know that the nationwide shortage
of pilots and aviation professionals will be
solved by local flight schools and companies
offering technical training at the airport, and
that these future pilots and technicians will earn
good salaries.
While AOPA protects your freedom to
fly every day, you can help by educating local
community and business leaders. Find a local
business or elected leader and tell them how
important GA and the airport is to their community.
Celebrate GA! mike.ginter@aopa.org
ON THE FRONT LINES /
REGIONAL NEWS /
Using social
media
By Jared Yoshiki, AOPA Western
Pacific regional manager
F I GH T I NG ON THE front lines of
airport advocacy often starts with
engaged pilots at your local airport,
but sometimes building a
pilot group is difficult. Social media
channels can accelerate efforts to
build coalitions that strive to save
or improve local airports.
That's exactly what a relatively
new AOPA Airport Support
Network volunteer did at Monterey
Regional Airport (MRY) in
California. Little did he know his
brief experiment with Facebook
for coordinating and connecting
pilots would become the epicenter
for information and the conduit for
pilot involvement. Comments asking
whom to talk to or where to send
letters flooded the space. The calls
to action from this group were clear.
Knowing where to start is
always the hardest part, but sometimes
the smallest actions can have
the biggest impacts-especially
when it comes to protecting your
local airport. If your airport lacks an
ASN volunteer, nominate yourself
(aopa.org/asn) and start your own
social media advocacy group. Even
at the smallest levels, a simple click
from your mouse can become the tip
of the spear. You can also report an
issue at your airport by calling the
AOPA Pilot Information Center at
800-USA-AOPA.
jared.yoshiki@aopa.org
14,400 The approximate number
of private-use airports in the United States,
according to the FAA.
EASTERN REGION
Support of New Jersey S.1228, to allow
airports to carry over unused airport
improvement funds into future fiscal years.
The bill passed by a vote of 11-2.
SOUTHERN REGION
Working to reduce impact of development
in Birmingham, Alabama (BHM), to advance
an aircraft bill in South Carolina, and pass
aircraft sales tax exemption bill in Florida.
CENTR AL SOUTHWEST REGION
Updated the Texas Aviation Advisory
Committee on airport issues across the
state and the status of unleaded aviation
fuel; testified in support of a New Mexico
bill requiring marking and lighting of
temporary meteorological towers.
GREAT L AKES REGION
Defeated Michigan House Bill 6361,
which would have had negative impacts
on airports, flying clubs, and skydiving;
opposing the Cleveland, Ohio, mayor who
proposes closing Burke Lakefront Airport.
WESTERN PACIFIC REGION
Reignited the fight to keep the Dillingham
Airfield open, meeting with the new Hawaii
DOT director.
NORTHWEST MOUNTA IN REGION
Submitted a letter to Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) in Utah recommending
resist new rules or restrictions in Grand
County; leading opposition to a Washington
state bill to ban distribution and sale of
leaded avgas beginning January 2026.
AL ASKA REGION
AOPA is working with industry stakeholders
and the FAA to create CTAF areas in the
Kenai/Soldotna area to reduce the risk of
midair collisions.
aopa.org/advocacy/state-advocacy
AOPA PILOT / April 2023
13
http://www.aopa.org/asn http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/state-advocacy
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2023

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