AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2015 - 98

NEWS & NOTES

AIRPORT SUPPORT NETWORK

AIRPORT
ADVOCATE

AOPA ACTION

ACTION IN THE STATES

|

members. FLORIDA: AOPA supports legisla-

MASSACHUSETTS: AOPA Regional Manager

tion that would save members money by

Sean Collins served as a guest speaker for the

providing a sales-tax exemption for mainte-

Atlantic Aviators and the Minute Man Air Field

nance on aircraft with a gross takeoff weight

Annual Kickoff party. MICHIGAN: Growing avi-

of less than 2,000 pounds. GEORGIA: AOPA

ation and increasing awareness through STEM

is co-sponsoring a legislative event hosted by

programs in schools were among the topics

Georgia's Department of Economic and

as AOPA participated in a meeting of the

Community Development Center for

Michigan Aeronautics Commission's General

Innovation in Aerospace. HAWAII: AOPA con-

Aviation Subcommittee. MINNESOTA: AOPA

WHEN PORTLAND-HILLSBORO

tacted the leadership of Hawaii's Senate Ways

is working with local pilots, airport support-

(Oregon)Airport Support
Network volunteer Bob
Flansburg (HIO) was encouraged to sign up for the ASN
program, he thought, "Of
course!" That was 14 years
ago and Flansburg is a fierce
advocate for his fellow pilots
and the airport. For many
years it was a quiet role, but
fast-forward to the present
and Flansburg is very busy.
An anti-airport group has
waged numerous attacks
on Hillsboro and Flansburg
is always there to refute its
claims. He works tirelessly
with the airport stakeholders to make sure the airport
remains in a positive light
with the local community.
Eight years ago the airport
sponsor began its long-range
planning and, with the desire
to have community input, created the Hillsboro Aviation
Roundup Exchange (HARE).
HARE is a diverse group of
participants from the local
community, Port of Portland
employees, pilots, government appointees, and local
businesses. Flansburg sits
on the noise reduction and
mogas availability subcommittees. Additionally, he has
helped move along the parallel runway project, which is
set to open soon.

and Means Committee and House Finance

ers, and the Lake in the Woods County board

Committee to express concern over the state

of commissioners to push for the develop-

Department of Transportation's management

ment of a new GA airport in Angle Inlet.

WEB

www.aopa.org/asn

98 | AOPA PILOT March 2015

of airport funding, hangar leases, infrastruc-

MISSISSIPPI: Tupelo Airport Manager Josh

ture, and other GA issues. IDAHO: AOPA and

Abramson is leaving his position to become

ASN volunteer Greg Gfeller will monitor land

the director of Easterwood Airport in College

use discussions at the Coeur d'Alene airport,

Station, Texas. MISSOURI: Two bills to include

where proposed land use plans for property

aviation activities in Missouri's recreational use

surrounding the airport could impact future

statute have been filed and AOPA is working

improvements. ILLINOIS: AOPA met with

with lawmakers to reconcile the two. The leg-

Chicago-area airport advocates to discuss the

islation will help increase recreational aviation

value and importance of GA to the region.

activity, protect the owners of private airstrips

INDIANA: AOPA worked with area pilots to

from liability, and stimulate the economy.

make the case for GA after the pilots

MONTANA: AOPA attended the annual

expressed concern that a local airport author-

Montana Aviation Conference in Missoula. The

ity was trying to eliminate GA hangars. IOWA:

conference brought together airports, pilots,

Regional Manager Yasmina Platt will teach a

aircraft maintenance professionals, and pub-

Pinch-Hitter safety seminar as part of the Iowa

lic officials. NEBRASKA: State Senator Bob

Aviation Conference. KANSAS: AOPA took

Krist was inducted into the Nebraska Aviation

part in Kansas Aviation Day at the state

Hall of Fame. Krist has been a friend to GA in

Capitol in Topeka. KENTUCKY: AOPA Regional

the state, supporting pro-GA legislation.

Manager Bob Minter attended the Kentuckians

NEVADA: AOPA is supporting state Senate Bill

for Better Transportation annual conference

93, which would provide tax abatement for

to bring the GA perspective and meet with

property and sales-and-use taxes relating to

state legislators. LOUISIANA: AOPA is work-

aircraft ownership, maintenance, repair, and

ing with the Louisiana Agriculture Aviation

testing. NEW HAMPSHIRE: AOPA Regional

Association and other GA groups to promote

Manager Sean Collins represented GA inter-

legislation to mark and register meteorologi-

est at the Granite State Airport Management

cal evaluation towers. MAINE: AOPA Regional

Association meeting. NEW JERSEY: City lead-

Manager Sean Collins brought the GA per-

ers are considering changes to hangar leases

spective to state leaders in meetings of the

and land use at Ocean City Municipal Airport.

Maine Aeronautical Advisory Board and the

AOPA is providing guidance and resources.

Maine Aviation Business Association.

NEW MEXICO: AOPA, the state Department

MARYLAND: AOPA opposes a plan to build a
hotel near College Park Airport. The hotel would be 35 feet
taller than the maximum allowable height set by the FAA,
and AOPA is concerned it would represent a collision hazard.
http://www.aopa.org/asn
AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2015
