Incoming AOPA President Craig Fuller Takes The Reins

by ANN Associate Editor Scott Evans

Chairman of AOPA's Board of Trustees Bill Trimble led off the third and final General Session of the 2008 AOPA Expo Saturday, praising outgoing AOPA President Phil Boyer's vision and accomplishments during his 18 years of service.

Facing "challenges that would have overcome most organizations... an attack on our homeland greater than Pearl Harbor that grounded the fleet…an energy crisis that left avgas at over six dollars a gallon…an ever-shrinking pilot population... a Federal government bent on implementing costly user fees... and tragic aircraft accidents... Phil Boyer posted a heck of a lot of victories," Trimble said.

"The current situation reflects an incredible legacy including a robust war chest for AOPA and ASF: 415,000 members strong, product liability reform, FSS reform, Airport Safety coast to coast, award-winning Online Safety Courses, Airport Watch and many, many more initiatives.

"After compiling such a record and leaving our association in such incredible shape, many would be content to just declare victory and move on. Not so for our Phil Boyer. He works harder and smarter than anyone I've ever known. He is passionate about general aviation. He has won the admiration of so many, including the aviation industry as a whole -- all who live and breathe GA, our members and this board.

"Last but not least, he has won the admiration of AOPA's employees and the respect of government officials - Federal, state, and local. There are few words that can adequately describe Phil Boyer, but I choose one... and that is superb," Trimble said.

Boyer received a sustained standing ovation as he took his place at the podium. Describing the transition time during his last year in office, Boyer (below) said, "You'd think after all he said, that this would be easy going, coasting through the year, doing more pilot town meetings, getting to say goodbye to so many of you, but that hasn't been the case.

"And it hasn't been the heavy lifting in Washington, because nothing's happened in Washington almost the whole year, which is probably good for GA. But it's been working on some of our flight plan for tomorrow. So, we've aptly title today's session 'Tomorrow,' and it's really about planning for the future.

"So, while everybody was doing their regular jobs at AOPA, on top of that, the president was working on tomorrow and insisting that they be looking ahead and not just be working on today," Boyer said.

A flight bag positioned prominently on the stage symbolized the baton to be handed to incoming AOPA President Craig Fuller. Boyer said, "I want to put some things in that flight bag that I want to turn over to the new pilot that will use that bag," and discussed several investments into the future.

The most prominent example is AOPA's newly revamped Internet Flight Planner, designed to be compatible with all popular computer operating systems. Boyer said the robust program, developed in partnership with Jeppesen, features overlays with terrain, weather, and TFRs, and is fully integrated with AOPA's Airport Directory.

AOPA's partnerships with Embry-Riddle, the University of North Dakota, and most recently with Middle Tennessee State University not only facilitate the education of students in aerospace programs, but the alliance is also an effective membership recruitment tool for AOPA.

Formally announcing the AOPA Foundation and the launch of "Let's Go Flying," Boyer reaffirmed AOPA's commitment to grow the pilot population. AOPA Executive Vice President of Development Harvey Cohen detailed fund raising efforts to support the Foundation, giving an updated total of over $25 million raised.

To wrap up the session, Boyer then introduced AOPA President-elect Craig Fuller, who graciously said that the opportunity "to take my professional passions, and now put those to work on behalf of something that's been a part of my life for 40 years, general aviation, is frankly a blessing beyond anything I could imagine.

"It's been a wonderful few weeks during this transition, it's been great to be here," Fuller said.

"Thanks to you, as members, for the support you have given the organization, for the personal support you have given me in this last week, and for the chance to work with you over the course of the years ahead in making sure aviation is as exciting looking forward as it has been for all of us in the past."

FMI: www.aopa.org