Aero-TV At AOPA Expo 2008: From Boyer To Fuller

It was somewhat bittersweet to all concerned... the thought that Phil Boyer was presiding over his last AOPA Expo as the President of the world's largest pilot's organization.

And what an Expo it was! The combination of seasonably pleasant weather, new product announcements -- and, most importantly, Phil's looming retirement -- drew 9,500 members and attendees, according to the pilot advocacy organization. That's far from the record 12,973 members and others who attended AOPA's last West Coast event, the 2006 Expo in Palm Springs... but given current anxieties about a looming recession, it's a rather impressive number nonetheless.

There's no denying when most pilots think about the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association... they think of Phil Boyer, the man who has helmed the pilot advocacy organization for the last 18 years. Alas, Phil's time at AOPA headquarters in Frederick, Maryland is nearing its end... and on Saturday, incoming president Craig Fuller was formally introduced to AOPA members, and the media...

Boyer 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."

Following its usual biennial rotation, the 2009 Expo will take place November 5 through 7 in Tampa, FL, before returning to the western US the following year. Aero-TV looks forward to seeing you there.

Aero-TV: Working Tomorrow -- AOPA Outlines Support For Members

FMI: www.aopa.org, www.aero-tv.net, www.youtube.com/aerotvnetwork, http://twitter.com/AeroNews