Earlier this year, I became a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. I became a member when the users of aviation began polarizing with regards to funding the National Airspace System and its modernization.
But what is this? An airline employee, one who gives his all to the airline he works for, doing what he can to make the airline profitable, joining what the airlines' deemed as the enemy, not paying "their fair share"?!
That's right. I joined AOPA in rebellion against what my airline, and the Air Transport Association was trying to pull on GA. Airline executives don't know that it's the GA environment where their pilots learn to fly in nowadays. Airline executives don't know that GA contributes more to aviation, and communities involved in aviation way more than some money-hungry airline would ever even dare consider! It's a fight that AOPA won recently.
Without ceremony, we succeeded in preventing user-fees from happening...for now. We know that the airlines will try to pull this stunt again, but we know that they will fail.
Phil Boyer is seen in some aviation circles as a superhero. And he should rightfully carry that title. All that he has done for general aviation deserves accolades. And although I have never seen Mr. Boyer in person, I want him to know how much I appreciate what he has done for general aviation. Though I was unable to attend AOPA Expo this year, I did keep myself updated online.
Craig Fuller is the new president of AOPA. He now leads the first and foremost organization of pilots in the world, and I know he will receive our support. Hand in hand, all of us will succeed in making general aviation safer, more reliable, and a lot more fun for pilots and non-pilots alike. We're with you, Mr. Fuller.
And I'd like to thank Mr. Boyer for everything he has done for the GA pilot. He knew pilots well. And though with a heavy heart that we see him leave, the torch has been passed on.
Thanks, Phil.
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