Welcoming attendees to the second day of AOPA Expo 2008,
President Phil Boyer announced the theme for Friday's General
Assembly, simply called "Today." In almost 70 years of operation,
AOPA has come from humble beginnings of "2000 members in 1939, six
percent of the pilot population then; and today, 414,000 members,
75 percent of the pilot population."
Taking little credit for the increase himself, Boyer lauded his
management team, each with over a decade of service during his
tenure, as "responsible for a tremendous growth in AOPA membership
over this time."
Boyer said the most important challenge in the last years of his
presidency has been the issue of user fees. "The statement 'we won
in '08' is correct, but I'm going to disclaim it just a little bit,
and say, 'sort of,'" explaining the battle was won for the moment,
but starts again in 2009.
Turning over the presentation to his management team, Boyer
introduced AOPA Vice President of Government Affairs, Andy Cebula.
"One of the things that was really driving this whole discussion of
user fees was this concept of 'what's going to be the next air
traffic control system?' Cebula said.
Another important issue that has come up in recent years is that
of GA security, Cebula said. "Michael Chertoff, who serves as
Homeland Security Secretary, has on numerous occasions...
pinpointed GA as a concern, and it's a concern that isn't
necessarily justified as we can see it.
Executive Vice President of Communications Karen Gebhart said
her role in AOPA has been to get the word out about GA. Telling the
hard stories and the inspirational stories has "created a new
interest... one that goes beyond learning about the latest in
aviation or our advocacy."
Gebhart introduced Logan Flood, a pilot whose story was featured
recently in AOPA Pilot magazine. Flood received severe burns over
85 percent of his body as a result of a plane crash in 2001, and
had given up on a career as a pilot as a result.
Citing support from his family to overcome his personal
challenges, Flood said, "Whatever roadblocks you come across, if
you try just a little bit harder, you can make your dreams come
true." An inspiration to others, Flood is now employed as a First
Officer for Republic Airways.
Wrapping up the morning's presentation was Executive Director of
AOPA's Air Safety Foundation, Bruce Landsberg. "We have the largest
non-governmental database on GA aircraft in the world," he said.
"From 2003 through 2007 there is a very slight decline" in the
overall accident rate, but added "we're wrecking airplanes for
about the same reasons we always have."
"All of you who are donors, thank you very much, because this
doesn't happen for nothing. If you like what we do, we hope that
you will support us as you get to the end of the year and make a
tax-deductible contribution. We will spend it more wisely than your
government will," Landsberg quipped.
Airborne 08.29.25: G800 Delivery, Alaska F-35 Crash, USCG-RCAF Medevac
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