AOPA regional fly-ins

By: Yasmina Platt
AOPA’s Central Southwest Regional Manager

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) held its very first (of seven) Regional Fly-in in San Marcos on April 26, 2014. The goal of an AOPA Regional Fly-In is to create a positive, grassroots relational experience for our members and the local aviation community, to promote the value of general aviation, and to draw positive attention to the local airport and its value to the community. We want to meet our members in their own backyards and hear firsthand what is on their minds.

A whopping 700 airplanes had RSVPed to attend but IFR conditions the morning of the event kept some aircraft away. Still, over 2,500 pilots and aviation enthusiasts attended and 350 aircraft flew in despite the overcast layer to check out the aircraft displays and exhibitor tent, attend seminars, and enjoy great food and camaraderie.

The event got underway with a traditional fly-in breakfast: yummy pancakes and sausages prepared by AOPA staff members and volunteers. Lunch was also served and free for all AOPA members: brisket, sausage, and several side dishes.

Aircraft ranged from light sport aircraft to biplanes, jet trainers and helicopters. The Experimental Aircraft of America’s (EAA’s) B-17 Aluminum Overcast gave a few rides also. A couple of Bell Boeing V-22 Ospreys entertained the crowd as well with their helicopter and airplane capabilities.

Several seminars were held throughout the event, including topics like owner-performed maintenance, flying with iPads, stick-and-rudder flying, and improving radio communications. The Pilot Town Hall meeting in the afternoon was standing room only where AOPA President Mark Baker and I gave an update on state and federal issues and initiatives as well as answered questions from the audience.  EAA President Jack Pelton also joined Mark Baker on the stage to talk about the partnership between the two organizations.

A large number of the attendees also signed a traveling petition on display in support of the third class medical reform. This was a popular stop for most pilots.

I also cannot forget to mention the Rusty Pilots seminar conducted on Friday night where approximately 90 people received a great ground school in preparation for their FAA flight review after many years (as many as 28 years) of inactiveness.

But, none of this could have happened without the great help of 185 volunteers, who helped set up, parked cars and aircraft, served meals, cleaned, etc.

Thank you to all of you who came, volunteered, and spent a wonderful day with us. The event was widely successful and we look forward to many more. Unfortunately though, we will have to wait until 2015 to have another one in our Central Southwest Region.

You can read more about these and other developments in our region and specifically in Texas by visiting http://www.aopa.org/Advocacy/Airports-and-State-Advocacy.aspx or following me on Twitter (https://twitter.com/AOPACentralSWor @AOPACentralSW).

By Yasmina Platt
AOPA’s Central Southwest Regional Manager

It was great seeing some of you at the AOPA Aviation Summit in Fort Worth in early October. Thank you for making it a great event! While it is our last AOPA Summit — for now, at least — I am excited that AOPA is going to hold six “Regional Fly-ins” around the U.S. in 2014 in addition to interacting more at other grassroots events. It means I will get to see more of you, more often.

The goal of an AOPA Regional Fly-In is to create a positive, grassroots relational experience for our members and the local aviation community, to promote the value of general aviation and to draw positive attention to the local airport and its value to the local community. The events will be free to all attendees and the public. They will be held on Saturdays and we hope most of you will fly in and bring friends and family along. Exact locations and dates are expected to be announced in January. Watch for our announcement in January, which will also appear in your February issue of AOPA Pilot Magazine to learn the details of the regional events.

While all seven of us Regional Managers have been very involved since the program started in 2012, this new direction is going to give us an even better opportunity to help fulfill President Baker’s vision. To learn more about the Regional Manager program, read Southern Regional Manager Bob Minter’s blog here: blog.aopa.org/advocacy/meet-the-aopa-regional-managers/.

While meeting our members is one of our key objectives, advocacy is still at the heart of what AOPA does. Therefore, in late October, AOPA voiced its opposition to a City of Galveston proposal to hold a Grand-Prix-style race on part of Scholes International Airport. The race could compromise flight safety and it would not be a good or proper use of airport facilities because it would negatively affect normal general aviation operations for several weeks prior to the race and about a week after the event. Initial race plans included closing Runway 18/36, a large portion of the ramp and parallel taxiway, as well as using an old runway/taxiway on the north end of the airport as part of the course. Grandstands, visitor areas, and racecar staging areas would be located in front of the hangar area and the Lone Star Flight Museum, which would restrict access to those areas of the airport.

Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment on the Nov. 5 ballot that will have significant implications for aviation manufacturers, repair stations and other businesses that maintain an aircraft parts or equipment inventory. After getting approval from the Texas Legislature and Governor Perry, Proposition 3 required voter approval to take effect. Beginning Jan. 1, 2014, this amendment will extend the length of time aircraft parts and machinery can be stored in Texas from 175 days to two years without being subjected to an ad valorem (according to value) tax.

You can read more about these and other developments in our region and specifically in Texas by visiting www.aopa.org/Advocacy/Airports-and-State-Advocacy.aspx or following me on Twitter (https://twitter.com/AOPACentralSW or @AOPACentralSW).