AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2021 - 15

Action in the states
REGIONAL NEWS /
BY MIKE GINTER, / AOPA vice president,
airports and state advocacy
MANY P I L OTS remember
big advocacy wins
such as third class medical
reform (BasicMed)
and beating ATC privatization;
however, AOPA
champions issues affecting
general aviation
every day in Washington, D.C.
AOPA has a dedicated team of seven regional
managers who are registered state lobbyists and
represent the interests of GA in all 50 state capitals.
This has been a very busy year in state
legislatures: As of June 1, a total of 157,766 bills
were introduced and 28,535 bills were enacted
in the 50 states, and 647 of these bills had potential
direct or indirect impacts to GA (yes, we use
sophisticated software to help us). Your state
advocacy team actively tracked more than 100 of
these bills and directly advocated for or against
more than 40 of them.
We vigorously supported bills intended to
benefit GA or save our members money, like
those that increased airport funding or " rightsized "
an aviation-related tax. We vigorously
opposed many other bills that signaled serious
risk to GA, such as those that proposed a $1,000
landing fee to fund climate change mitigation,
imposed restrictions on certain types of helicopter
tour operations, or eliminated statutory
airspace protection near airports.
AOPA is GA's voice in state houses, and our
voice has been heard. So far this year, we helped
pass eight bills in West Virginia, Arkansas,
Indiana, Kentucky, Washington, Montana, and
South Carolina, and we helped block at least
four detrimental bills in Hawaii and California.
The fight goes on, but 2021 is shaping up to be a
good year for GA in the states.
The most powerful advocacy tool we have
is your direct communication with state legislators;
when you call your elected representatives,
they listen. mike.ginter@aopa.org aopa.org/
advocacy
1.2 million
Jobs generated by general
aviation in the United States
ON THE FRONT LINES /
Master plans
DOES YOUR AIRPORT have a master
plan? A master plan is a blueprint
for an airport's long-term development
and is approved locally by
the airport sponsor. Most plans are
updated every five to seven years.
They identify areas for future
development, specify permitted
land usage, identify future funding
needs, and create a forum for public
involvement. And when it's time
to update the master plan, local
pilots and airport businesses need
a seat at the table.
An airport support group is a
great way for airport stakeholders
to provide input and ensure
general aviation interests are represented
in the master planning
process. Recently, airport support
groups have made significant
contributions to master plans that
otherwise might have resulted in
fewer hangars, tiedowns, and aviation
businesses. And a well-run
airport support group can do so
much more than participate in the
master planning process. Many
groups publish newsletters, utilize
social media, host airport open
houses, assist the airport in dealing
with noise complaints, or attend
local government meetings. -Josh
Pruzek, AOPA Northwest regional
manager
Learn more about creating
an effective airport support
group at aopa.org/asn or contact
your AOPA regional manager at
800-USA-AOPA.
NORTHWEST MOUNTA IN REGION
The Washington governor signed legislation
authorizing $5 million in additional
funding for the Community Aviation
Revitalization Board Loan Program,
which provides low-interest loans for
the state's public-use GA airports.
AOPA supported Montana House Bill
20 allowing third parties to apply for a
courtesy car grant from the state
Department of Transportation.
SOUTHERN
The South Carolina governor signed a
bill increasing GA funding for the state
by boosting the percentage of revenue
generated from airports, aircraft fuel,
and airline property taxes that must be
paid into the state aviation fund.
GREAT LAKES
AOPA is engaged at Ohio's Clermont
County Airport (I69), which has been
under pressure from residential
developers. AOPA and local airport
stakeholders are working with township
zoning and county planners on a solution
that will benefit the airport and allow for
reasonable development near the airport.
ALASKA
The Alaska Historical Commission
adopted a National Park Service
proposal to name an uncharted
mountain pass in the Brooks Range
in Alaska, which will pave the way for
adding this pass to the VFR sectional
and improving GA safety in the region.
aopa.org/advocacy/state-advocacy
AOPA PILOT / August 2021
15
http://www.aopa.org/advocacy http://www.aopa.org/advocacy http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/state-advocacy http://www.aopa.org/asn
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2021

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