Negotiating For A Leave Of Absence In Advance To Reprise 'Han Solo' Role

ANN April 1 Special Coverage

One of the names prominently mentioned as EAA searches for a new leader is one that would bring plenty of "Star Power" ... quite literally ... to the organization. Harrison Ford, who played Han Solo in the original "Star Wars" movies, and who is also a licensed pilot, is said to be considering taking the helm of the well-known "letter group."

However one of the sticking points with the action movie star is the possibility that he will reprise his breakthrough role in an upcoming movie for Disney, which recently bought the Star Wars franchise from creator George Lucas. "As I said to the General Aviation Caucus in Washington, D.C. recently, the pay for flying the Millennium Falcon is much better than about anything else I could be doing," Ford said. "So while I love flying and already have strong ties to EAA, lets face it, a swashbuckling action hero has to do what a swashbuckling action hero has to do."

EAA board chair Jack Pelton would neither confirm or deny that the organization is in negotiations with Ford, but hinted that he might be one of those under consideration. "I mean if AOPA is getting a former Pope, ... and those are a scarce commodity ... we have to make sure we have somebody who'll bring some star power to the position," Pelton said. I won't say that its Harrison Ford, but let's just say that we may well have a new leader for the millennium."

FMI: www.eaa.org