by Yasmina Platt, Manager
AOPA Central Southwest Region
Have you been flying much this summer? I have and I even flew around Sydney, Australia one day – a dream come true! What a hoot that was! I hope you submitted your Keep ‘Em Flying notice of completion for a chance to win some more flying money.
Since my last report, I have now visited all four states covered by this magazine: Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa. I was missing Kansas, but I was happy to be there in June speaking at the Kansas Association of Airports conference in Lawrence on Thursday, June 21 and then held a fun Pilot Mix and Mingle social and networking event in Kansas City on Friday, June 22 with fellow AOPA staffer Bill Dunn. In June, I also spent time in Nebraska helping with the Nebraska Airfest and 2012 Nebraska State Fly-In, June 16-17. My highlight was teaching our future generation about aviation and the joy of flying.
2012 has been a good year for general aviation in Missouri in terms of collaboration with local organizations and cooperation with the state’s legislature. Missouri’s SB769, HB1504, and SB485 were all signed into law by Governor Nixon on July 10th. Under SB769, any anemometer tower that is at least 50 feet AGL and located outside city limits will be marked, painted, flagged, or otherwise constructed to be recognizable during the day. HB1504 extends the Aviation Trust Fund and jet fuel state and local sales and use tax exemption to December 31, 2023 from 2013, and SB485 modifies the law governing liens on aircraft. AOPA supported the legislation in SB769 from the beginning and played a key role in its passage. Requiring the marking of these towers will significantly improve the safety of rural aircraft operations in Missouri at a minimal additional cost to tower owners.
I want to send a special thank you to Nebraska Governor Heineman for recognizing the benefits of general aviation by declaring May Nebraska’s General Aviation Appreciation Month.
I hope to see you at the upcoming AOPA Summit in Palm Springs, California from October 11 to 13. For more information and to register, visit: http://www.aopa.org/summit/. For those in Iowa… I also plan on being at Atlantic Municipal Airport (KAIO) on Saturday, September 15 for the Fly Iowa 2012 fly-in. Come find me and I will give you an exclusive and limited membership offer.
