AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011 - 17

3 Nevada5

Pilot honored for local airport advocacy
AOPA awarded its highest honor for individuals to Robert Larkin, a county commissioner in Washoe County, Nevada, and volunteer for AOPA’s Airport Support Network at Reno/ Tahoe International Airport. The RenoTahoe Airport Authority took action Airports: Keeping GA at Reno/Tahoe,” September 2011 AOPA Pilot). Airport administration indicated they would operate the existing hangars for “at least one year or until new hangars were built at Reno-Stead Airport,” which the authority also operates. Larkin, working closely with AOPA, assisted local pilots in organizing the Reno-Tahoe Aviation Association and tutored them on how to deal with the airport authority, and facilitated resolutions for continued support of GA facilities at Reno/ Tahoe International by Washoe County and the city of Sparks, Nevada. “Commissioner Larkin’s leadership and advocacy efforts are a perfect example of what can be accomplished when pilots are engaged and committed to making a difference,” said AOPA President Craig Fuller. “It can be hard work, but as we saw in Reno, well worth the effort.”

ASN at Summit
When an issue of concern to general aviation arises, it’s not unusual for a pilot community to find out that their local AOPA Airport Network (ASN) volunteer is already on the case. Keeping that critical network informed and inspired was on the agenda at AOPA Aviation Summit when volunteers had a chance to mingle with colleagues and meet with AOPA President Craig Fuller. The ASN program continues to grow and now includes 2,400 volunteers. With more than 100 in attendance for the meeting, volunteers learned about how AOPA is

last year to reduce and limit GA access at the airport by failing to renew the leases of two FBOs and taking over rental of hangars there (see “Saving

ASN volunteers had a chance to mingle with colleagues and meet with AOPA President Craig Fuller.

4 Idaho5

Solutions at home could save taxpayers money

Faced with steepening odds of moving Friedman Memorial Airport 15 miles away from its current location, Hailey, Idaho, city and airport officials are reconsidering plans to do what local pilots had recommended all along— invest in the airport they have. The airport authority has for six years been looking to relocate the airport because the existing field does not meet FAA design standards for operating Class 3 aircraft such as Bombardier Q400 turboprops used there by Horizon Air. The move could cost a total of more than $300 million, and AOPA and local pilots have urged members of the

“Studying options for the existing airport should have been done years ago rather than just abandoning the existing airport...”
authority to focus on much cheaper solutions that would keep the airport in its current location. “Studying options for the existing airport should have been done years ago rather than just abandoning the existing airport in favor of a new one much farther away from population and tourist centers,” said AOPA Vice President of Airport Advocacy Bill Dunn, who met with members of the airport community in Hailey. One plan to work with the existing airport would shift the runway to the south by 1,800 feet, and the other would shift the runway south by roughly a mile and change the orientation slightly. Both options would be far cheaper than building a new airport.

exploring ways to create opportunities for members to develop and join aviation communities centered around their airports to better support general aviation. Key advocacy staff has worked closely in the field with many ASN volunteers at airports across the country. Staff briefed the attendees on current airport advocacy issues and gave an overview of the many advocacy resources and tools available to all volunteers and AOPA members online (www.aopa. org/asn).
For more information on learning how to volunteer for AOPA, visit AOPA Online (www.aopa.org/asn).
AOPA PILOT • 17 • NOVEMBER 2011
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2011
