Happy Anniversary, Phil!

New Year's Day marked the start of Phil Boyer's 15th year as president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilot's Association -- and as tribute to his dogged service to general aviation, Boyer is receiving a special anniversary gift. But what do you get the man who already has everything... or heads a powerful organization of over 407,000 members?

You could say the answer was fixed -- as in navigational fixes, for the RNAV (GPS) Runway 5 approach to Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK), site of AOPA's headquarters. Three of them, to be exact: PHILB, DEFND, and GEEAY.

Get it?

"Phil brought a new approach to AOPA, and we think it only fitting that his tenure be honored with a new approach — a GPS approach, in fact," said Jeff Myers, AOPA executive vice president of communications. "I can't think of anything more appropriate, since nobody defends general aviation like Phil Boyer!"

"And Phil is a technology guy," added Myers. "He's done an awful lot to push GPS in his 15 years in AOPA's left seat."

According to AOPA, the GPS 5 approach to Frederick was one of the very first GPS approaches commissioned. Boyer flew then-FAA Administrator David Hinson on an inaugural approach in Boyer's Cessna 172.

The new fixes will show on terminal procedure charts when they are updated in June.

Boyer is only the third president in the association's 67-year history, following J.B. "Doc" Hartranft and John L. Baker.

FMI: www.aopa.org