by Dave Weiman Something I look forward to attending each year at EAA AirVenture-Oshkosh in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is the AOPA Foundation supporter appreciation gathering held this year at “The Waters”…
Tag: AOPA
Pilot, Business Leader To Command AOPA Darren Pleasance becomes CEO in new year
by AOPA Communications Staff AOPA announced September 24, 2024, that it has named Darren Pleasance to serve as the association’s sixth president and chief executive. Pleasance, who will assume his…
A big deal
How one man’s story exemplifies AOPA’s great notion by Mark Baker AOPA President & CEO In October 1951, a young congressman from Illinois embarked on an around-the-world flight in a…
Memorial To Manifesto!
In May, Peggy and I planned a flight from Madison, Wisconsin (KMSN) to Sulfur Springs, Texas (KSLR), to attend a family wedding at nearby Emery, Texas. Unlike most of our hops in our Cessna 182, the 645 nm flight would require a fuel stop, and depending on the weather, we built in some alternates, mostly based on distance, but also on the availability of rental cars, restaurants and fuel prices. While I enjoy stopping in at small rural airports, few offer the amenities you need if stranded, so we tried to select mid to executive-size airports. And of course, we don’t leave home without Foreflight which is loaded with good information.
A Big Win For GA!
We fought hard for the important provisions in FAA reauthorization. by Mark Baker AOPA President & CEO Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine August/September 2024 Digital Issue As I write to…
Redefining “Light Sport” & Realizing The Promise of MOSAIC
by Mark Baker AOPA President & CEO Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine June/July 2024 Digital Issue If there is one thing that’s constant in aviation, and in life, it’s change….
Fill ‘er up!
Keeping aviation fuel accessible while finding its alternative by Mark Baker AOPA President & CEO Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine April/May 2024 Digital Issue Flying season is about to heat…
NATA Recognizes AOPA President & CEO Mark Baker
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine April/May 2024 Digital Issue WASHINGTON, DC – The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) issued the following statement in recognition of AOPA President & CEO Mark…
Orderly Succession Plan In Place For AOPA’s Next Leader
by Eric Blinderman Senior Director of Communications, AOPA Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine April/May 2024 Digital Issue After 10 years of growing AOPA, keeping it the world’s largest civil aviation…
A 182 For You! Going Back To Our Roots
by Niki Britton, AOPA Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine April/May 2024 Digital Issue When it came time to choose what the next AOPA sweepstakes aircraft would be, there was no…
“See you soon!” Making the most of our freedom to fly.
by Mark Baker Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine February/March 2024 Digital Issue Right about this time, as I am sure many of you do, I take a step back and…
AOPA’s Richard McSpadden Lived In The Present, But Cherished The Past
by Dave Weiman Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine December 2023 Digital Issue “Where our minds linger is a choice, and I choose the present.” Richard McSpadden Who would have ever…
GA Industry Announces “Climbing. Fast. Campaign”
As reported by Eric Blinderman Senior Director of Communications, AOPA Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine December 2023 Digital Issue Leaders from general aviation associations and entities gathered at the National…
“Passing it On”
by Mark Baker AOPA President & CEO Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine December 2023 Digital Issue The weather may be getting a little nippy in much of the country and…
Midwest LSA Expo 2023
by Jim Bildilli Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine December 2023 Digital Issue MT. VERNON, ILL. – September 7-9, 2023, marked the fifteenth anniversary of the Midwest LSA Expo. The Expo…
The AOPA Air Safety Institute… Creating Safety Programs For You!
by Mark Baker AOPA President & CEO Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine October/November 2023 Digital Issue I can’t think of a worse day than when I get a call telling…
Light Sport Envelope Expansion Proposed At Last
by Jim Moore, AOPA Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine October/November 2023 Digital Issue The FAA released a long-awaited rulemaking proposal to do away with light sport aircraft weight limits and…
Making Dreams Come True
by Mark Baker AOPA President & CEO Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine August/September 2023 Digital Issue Excitement was in the air. At press time, we were only weeks away from…
What You Don’t Know Can Help You!
by Mark Baker AOPA President & CEO Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine June/July 2023 Digital Issue I recently had the pleasure of hosting an all-hands meeting of AOPA staff at…
FAA Basic Med Report To Congress
by Dr. Bill Blank, MD Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine June/July 2023 Digital Issue BasicMed became effective May 1, 2017. Part of the law authorizing it required the FAA in…
Aviation Heroes Honored At Hoover Trophy Reception
Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine June/July 2023 Digital Issue AOPA honored general aviation advocates, safety experts, and industry leaders during the R.A. “Bob” Hoover Trophy…
AOPA Leads GA Groups In Lobbying For Transient Parking At Public-Use Airports
March 9, 2023 Honorable Sam Graves, Chairman House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure 2167 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Honorable Garret Graves, Chairman House Aviation Subcommittee 2167 Rayburn…
The Power of Partnerships
by Mark Baker AOPA President & CEO Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine April/May 2023 Digital Issue We all know there is no tighter-knit community than ours in general aviation. We…
Oh, the places we will fly
Where will aviation take you in 2023? by AOPA President Mark Baker Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine February/March 2023 Digital Issue Leave it to a children’s book to show us…
Check Your Comms!
by Kyle Lewis Regional Manager For Airports and State Advocacy • Great Lakes Region Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine February/March 2023 Digital Issue As pilots,…
AOPA & Others Call For 5G Mitigation Through 2023
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine February/March 2023 Digital Issue The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Experimental Aircraft Association and General Aviation Manufacturers Association are among signatories of an open letter…
AOPA Asks Canada To Accept Pilots Flying Under BasicMed
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine December 2022/January 2023 Digital Issue The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA) have sent a letter to the…
It’s the people… Thank you to everyone who makes our community so special
by AOPA President and CEO Mark Baker Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine December 2022/January 2023 Digital Issue What a fantastic year it has been for our community. We’re enjoying this…
AOPA Launches Alliance Program To Cross-Promote Complementary Aviation Organizations
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine October/November 2022 Digital Issue The Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA) is introducing the AOPA Alliance program with the Antique Airplane Association (AAA). Niche aviation…
Unleaded fuel You’ve got questions
by AOPA President and CEO Mark Baker Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine October/November 2022 Digital Issue Reflecting on a great time at EAA AirVenture 2022, my interactions reinforced how focused…
AOPA 2022 Tiger Sweepstakes Winner Surprised!
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine October/November 2022 Digital Issue PETALUMA, CALIF. – Under the guise of an interview about backcountry flying, avid pilot Alex Browne found himself completely speechless when…
AOPA Reveals 2023 Sweepstakes Cessna 170B
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine October/November 2022 Digital Issue AOPA selected a Cessna 170B as its 2023 sweepstakes aircraft to showcase how select modifications can drastically expand a commonplace taildragger’s…
AOPA among groups requesting DOT action on congestion
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine October/November 2022 Digital Issue General aviation organizations, including the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, National Business Aviation Association and Experimental Aircraft Association, have issued a…
AOPA’s Rusty Pilots Seminars
by Bob Worthington © Copyright 2022. All rights reserved! Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine August/September 2022 Digital Issue As the U.S. pilot population slipped a decade into the 21st century,…
The best of times for general aviation!
by AOPA President Mark Baker Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine August/September 2022 Digital Issue It’s hard to fathom where much of the United States was in 2020, and even just…
DAYS LIKE THESE
Come hang out with us this year! by Mark Baker AOPA President and CEO Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine June/July 2022 Digital Issue I’M WRITING THESE words just having returned…
AOPA’s Airport & State Advocacy Team… A Membership Benefit Like No Other!
by Kyle Lewis Regional Manager Airports & State Advocacy Great Lakes Region Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine June/July 2022 Digital Issue I want to pull…
AOPA Establishes Strategic Relationship With SiriusXM
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine June/July 2022 Digital Issue FREDERICK, MD – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and SiriusXM announced a new agreement in January that will support…
EPA’s 2030 Deadline To Replace 100LL Was Discussed At SNF
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine June/July 2022 Digital Issue LAKELAND, FLA. – Representatives of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) were among those at Sun ‘n Fun 2022 who…
Aviation Groups Commit To Lead-Free Aviation Fuels Transition By 2030
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine April/May 2022 online issue. WASHINGTON, D.C. – Leaders of aviation and petroleum groups have committed to an initiative laying out a clear plan to transition…
A Discussion About 100LL
by Kyle Lewis Regional Manager Airports & State Advocacy • Great Lakes Region Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine April/May 2022 online issue If you have…
Culture of Service
by Mark Baker AOPA President and CEO Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine April/May 2022 online issue I OFTEN TALK about the programs, initiatives, and services we develop to maintain and…
WHO’S THE BEST?
Flight Training Experience Awards Announces Regional Winners! As reported by Julie Summers Walker Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Published In Midwest Flyer Magazine February/March 2022 Online Issue The results of…
Giving of our time. . .
Wishing a happy birthday to the Airport Support Network by Mark Baker AOPA President and CEO Published In Midwest Flyer Magazine February/March 2022 Online Issue MOST OF US were introduced…
Airport User Groups & Crosswind Runway Ineligibility
by Kyle Lewis Regional Manager Airports & State Advocacy • Great Lakes Region Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine – December 2021/January 2022 Online Issue In…
Unusual Attitudes… Playing the cards we’re dealt
by Mark Baker AOPA President and CEO Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine – December 2021/January 2022 Online Issue At some point, we’ve all been told to step outside of our…
EAA CEO & Chairman Jack Pelton Sums Up Success of AirVenture 2021
Published In Midwest Flyer Magazine Online October/November 2021 Issue “This was perhaps the most challenging set of circumstances we’ve ever faced as an organization to make the event happen. I…
GAMI Receives Unleaded Avgas STC
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine Online October/November 2021 Issue The decades long effort to find a suitable replacement for 100-octane leaded avgas, moved one step closer to a solution July…
Pilots Working Together To Promote & Protect Airports
by Kyle Lewis Regional Manager Government Affairs & Airport Advocacy Great Lakes Region Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Published In Midwest Flyer Magazine Online October/November 2021 Issue The price of freedom…
Onward & Upward For aviation professionals, the future is looking good.
by Mark Baker AOPA President and CEO Published In Midwest Flyer Magazine Online October/November 2021 Issue Still grappling with the effects of the pandemic, the U.S. economy and job market…
AOPA & The AOPA Air Safety Institute Honored With Excel Awards
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine August/September 2021 online issue FREDERICK, MD – The Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA), and the AOPA Air Safety Institute, were recognized June 16 for…
Airport Authorities, Commissions, Advisory Councils & You!
by Kyle Lewis Regional Manager Government Affairs & Airport Advocacy / Great Lakes / Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine August/September 2021 online issue How well…
The Show Goes On
by Mark Baker AOPA President and CEO Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine August/September 2021 online issue Over the past year, I think we’ve all learned a simple lesson in appreciation….
AOPA, COPA Urge Canada To Allow Pilots With Basic Med To Fly In Canada
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine August/September 2021 online issue With the BasicMed program now in its fifth year, and more than 60,000 pilots participating, and Mexico and the Bahamas on…
AOPA Flight Training Experience Survey Closes July 15
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine June/July 2021 Online Issue FREDERICK, MD – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has announced the return of the 2021 Flight Training Experience Survey…
Ramping Up Transparency…. AOPA Unites Organizations Urging Standardized GA Parking Labels On Airport Diagrams
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine June/July 2021 Online Issue FREDERICK, MD – Pilots would have an easier time selecting a destination on the airport after landing if the many terms…
Solution To GPS Jamming Impact Overdue
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine June/July 2021 Online Issue WASHINGTON – The military’s jamming of GPS to simulate outages for defense exercises continues to create headaches for general aviation three…
Spring is in the air
by Mark Baker AOPA President and CE Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine June/July 2021 Online Issue Spring, what a wonderful season and metaphor for where we all are in the…
AOPA FLIGHT TRAINING EXPERIENCE SURVEY OPENS MAY 15
FREDERICK, Md., May 12, 2021—The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has announced the return of the 2021 Flight Training Experience Survey on May 15 in an effort to continue seeking…
AOPA Sweepstakes RV-10 Awarded
“I’m sitting in this airplane, and they are telling me it’s mine! Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine – April/May 2021 issue LIVERMORE, CALIF. – Those were the words of AOPA…
Compatible Land Use – Grant Obligations
by Kyle Lewis Regional Manager Airports & State Advocacy, Great Lakes Region Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association www.aopa.org Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine – Print & Online April/May 2021 issue…
R. A. “Bob” Hoover Trophy Virtual Award Presentation… Like The Man The Award Is Named After, This Presentation Was An Event Like None Other!
by Dave Weiman Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine – April/May 2021 issue Most spectators who have seen the late Robert A. “Bob” Hoover perform at airshows at Oshkosh and throughout…
IN THE MARKET FOR AN AIRPLANE? CHECK OUT AOPA’S NEW GUIDE
A comprehensive listing of aircraft and specs to help shoppers FREDERICK, Md., Feb. 16, 2021—The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association recently launched its own Aircraft Guide to provide aviators looking…
NASA ASRS Reports – Practical Considerations
Published online Midwest Flyer Magazine – February/March 2021 Any situation that could affect safety in the National Airspace System (NAS), other than criminal activities and accidents, may be confidentially reported…
Recapping COVID-19 2020
It is nearly mid-December 2020 as I compose this column, and I am sure by the time you read this, the legislative season will be in full swing for…
Aviation Groups Seek Halt To FCC Spectrum Auction
Published online Midwest Flyer Magazine – February/March 2021 AOPA and 14 other aviation associations, urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to suspend a December 8, 2020 auction of spectrum in…
The fear factor… Public perceptions about safety are our business
by Mark Baker AOPA President & CEO Published online Midwest Flyer Magazine – February/March 2021 Pre-Coronavirus, global air travel was at an all-time high. Between 8,000 and 20,000 aircraft could…
Despite Experience, Senior Pilots Are Charged Higher Insurance Premiums
by Victoria Neuville Copyright 2020. All rights reserved! Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine (online) – December 2020/January 2021 issue The saying goes that there are old pilots and bold pilots,…
Boundaries of Airport Profit
by Kyle Lewis Regional Manager Government Affairs & Airport Advocacy / Great Lakes Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine (online) – December 2020/January 2021 Do you…
AOPA, NBAA SEEK FEEDBACK ON PROPOSED PILOT RECORDS DATABASE
AOPA and the National Business Aviation Association are surveying pilots and corporate flight departments regarding the amount of time and resources that would be required to comply with the FAA’s proposed pilot records…
The Birth of America… The Birth of Freedom
by Yasmina Platt Published in Midwest Flyer – October/November 2020 issue During a trip to Boston (to teach a “Rusty Pilots Seminar” for AOPA), I had the chance to travel…
Michigan’s Detroit City Airport To Get Boost by GA
by Kyle Lewis Regional Manager Government Affairs & Airport Advocacy / Great Lakes Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association www.aopa.org Published in Midwest Flyer – October/November 2020 issue …
Cabin fever A prescription to get out and fly
by Mark Baker AOPA President and CEO Published in Midwest Flyer – October/November 2020 issue Smooth air, cooler temperatures and the striking beauty of fall foliage make October one of…
Pilots & Aircraft Owners Take Over Mooney International… Pledge Legacy Support, While Pursuing Advancements
Published in Midwest Flyer – October/November 2020 issue As reported by AOPA’s David Tulis in September, a group of U.S.-based general aviation aircraft owners and pilots have taken majority…
AOPA Cancels September Fly-In In Rochester, New York
Published in Midwest Flyer – August/September 2020 issue As the country anticipated the re-opening of most activities following the early COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, AOPA has worked hard to maintain the…
Isle Airport Receives New Lease On Life
Published in Midwest Flyer – August/September 2020 issue The Isle, Minnesota airport IS NOT closing! On Tuesday, June 9, 2020, the Isle City Council voted to enforce the air-easement to…
FAA To Extend Pandemic SFAR Beyond June 30
Published in Midwest Flyer – August/September 2020 issue The FAA has a rule in the works to extend for a second time airman medical certificates that expired during the coronavirus…
Big Win For GA Despite COVID-19
by Kyle Lewis Regional Manager Government Affairs & Airport Advocacy / Great Lakes Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association www.aopa.org Published in Midwest Flyer – August/September 2020 issue 2020 changed almost overnight….
The more things change
Amid challenges to aviation, resiliency is a constant by Mark Baker AOPA President and CEO Published in Midwest Flyer – August/September 2020 issue The human body is incredibly resilient. With…
Jessica Cox Celebrates 30th Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act With A Flight With Former U.S. Senator Tom Hawkins (D-IA)
On July 24, 2020, Jessica Cox of Tucson, Arizona, the world’s first pilot born without arms, will fly former Senator Tom Harkin (retired, Dem-Iowa) for a flight in her 1946 Ercoupe at…
AOPA Awards More Than $1 Million In Scholarships
Published in Midwest Flyer – August/September 2020 issue FREDERICK, MD – More than 120 high school students and teachers, primary student pilots, and pilots working toward advanced certificates and ratings,…
NEW SFAR KEEPS MOST OF ORIGINAL PANDEMIC RELIEF
INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATES ARE AN EXCEPTION June 25, 2020 Pilot medical certificates expiring between April 30 and September 30, 2020, will now have a three-month extension after their expiration month, under…
AOPA Cancels September Fly-In In Rochester, New York
As the country anticipated the re-opening of most activities following the early COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, AOPA has worked hard to maintain the viability of its Rochester, New York fly-in, September…
AOPA President Livestreams To Members During The Coronavirus Pandemic
Published in Midwest Flyer – June/July 2020 issue FREDERICK, MD – Realizing that his members may be wondering what they can or cannot do during the current Coronavirus Pandemic, and…
An industry rallying together… General Aviation responds to the pandemic
by Mark Baker AOPA President and CEO Published in Midwest Flyer – June/July 2020 issue The last time I cleared TSA, breezed past a sea of travelers, and patiently waited…
Special Rules Established For Flying During Pandemic
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine – May 1, 2020 WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 30, 2020) – The FAA issued a special federal aviation regulation (SFAR) that provides blanket extensions of medical certificates and…
FAA Eases Pilots’ Medical Certificate Policy In Light of Coronavirus
Published in midwestflyer.com – March 27, 2020 WASHINGTON, DC (March 27, 2020) – The FAA took decisive action on March 26 to protect pilots whose livelihoods faced further disruption, in…
Grassroots Advocacy Takes Dedication, Education & Passion
by Kyle Lewis Regional Manager / Government Affairs & Airport Advocacy / Great Lakes Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association www.aopa.org Published in Midwest Flyer – April/May 2020 issue Grassroots advocacy. What…
Giving “George” A Break
Automation is a powerful tool by Mark Baker AOPA President & CEO Published in Midwest Flyer – April/May 2020 issue We all know him, some of us even fly regularly…
AOPA Announces Regional Fly-Ins For 2020
Published in Midwest Flyer – February/March 2020 issue Texas Two-Step San Marcos, Texas, May 29-30, 2020 The Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA) liked San Marcos, Texas, so much the first…
We Must Be Proactive!
by Kyle Lewis Regional Manager for Government Affairs and Airport Advocacy / Great Lakes / AOPA Published in Midwest Flyer – February/March 2020 issue In the Airports and…
Spread Your Wings You earned your pilot certificate — now what?
by Mark Baker AOPA President & CEO Published in Midwest Flyer – February/March 2020 issue AMERICAN AUTHOR MARK TWAIN ONCE SAID, “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed…
Now Is The Time To Plan Summer Flying Trips & A Mountain Destination May Not Be Out of The Question
by Bob Worthington www.BobWorthingtonWriter.com Published in Midwest Flyer – February/March 2020 issue This time of the year, my wife and I – relaxing in front of our cozy fireplace, a…
State Aeronautics Directors Meet For The Betterment of The Industry
88th Annual NASAO Convention & Trade Show Held In St. Paul by Dave Weiman Published in Midwest Flyer – December 2019/January 2020 ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA – The fall season started…
Opening The Door To The Future
Published in Midwest Flyer – August/September 2019 issue Nearly every child has a dream or dreams of what they want to do for their future career. Many have a dream…
How Cool Are You?
by Harold Green Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine – August/September 2019 issue Ever wonder how some folks remain calm when all those around them are in a panic? The old…
AOPA Holds Congressional Meet & Greet At Thunderbird Aviation
Published in Midwest Flyer – October/November 2018 issue EDEN PRAIRIE, MINN. – Longtime GA ally and supporter, Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-Minn.), a member of the House General Aviation Caucus, and…
The Great Lakes Region Gets A New Regional Flight Surgeon While Basic Med Increases In Popularity
by Dr. Bill Blank, M.D. Published in Midwest Flyer – October/November 2018 issue When I last checked, over 35,000 airmen had availed themselves of “Basic Med.” In addition, Mayo Clinic…
AOPA TO HOLD GULF SHORES REGIONAL FLY-IN
FREDERICK, MD – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) will be holding its fourth and final regional fly-in for the 2018 season in Gulf Shores, Alabama, Oct. 26 and…
AOPA Withdraws FAA Complaint Against Waukegan Airport
Published in Midwest Flyer – April/May 2018 issue FREDERICK, MD – In August 2017, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) filed three Part 13 complaints with the Federal Aviation…
Midwest Pilots Baker & Clisham Named Living Legends of Aviation
Published in Midwest Flyer – April/May 2018 issue BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF. – The fifteenth annual Living Legends of Aviation awards ceremony was held January 19, 2018 at the Beverly Hilton…
SiriusXM Supports AOPA “You Can Fly”
Published in Midwest Flyer – April/May 2018 issue FREDERICK, MD –The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and SiriusXM have a new agreement that will support AOPA Air Safety Institute…
Time to Fly
by Mark Baker AOPA President & CEO Published in Midwest Flyer – April/May 2018 issue We made it through the cold months and we’re finally back to my favorite time…
The Important Role AOPA Airport Support Network Volunteers Play
by Kyle Lewis Regional Manager / Government Affairs & Airport Advocacy / Great Lakes Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Published in Midwest Flyer – February/March 2018 issue In my last…
GA Oppose ATC Privatization At Oshkosh 2017
Published in Midwest Flyer – October/November 2017 issue A Congressional proposal to privatize the air traffic control (ATC) system was the hottest topic at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2017, with the…
AOPA 2018 FLY-IN LOCATIONS ANNOUNCED
FREDERICK, MD – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has released its much anticipated 2018 fly-in locations. The popular two-day events will kick off June 15 and 16 in Missoula,…
Ohio Native Named AOPA Great Lakes Regional Manager
Published in Midwest Flyer – August/September 2017 issue Ohio native, and longtime AOPA and EAA member, Kyle Lewis, has been named manager of the AOPA Great Lakes Region. Lewis graduated…
AOPA ISSUES CALL TO ACTION AGAINST ATC PRIVATIZATION
FREDERICK, MD – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is mobilizing its almost 350,000 members and other supporters to write their representatives in Congress asking them to stand up against…
AOPA Urges Canada, Bahamas & Mexico To Recognize “BasicMed”
Published in Midwest Flyer – June/July 2017 The Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA) is urging Canada, the Bahamas and Mexico to recognize the new FAA medical certification rule “BasicMed,”…
AOPA Battles Against Excessive FBO Fees
Published in Midwest Flyer – June/July 2017 FREDERICK. MD – The Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA) is taking on the big airport flight centers against excessive fuel rates and…
AOPA Ready To Help You Fly Under BasicMed
by Mark R. Baker President & CEO Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Published in Midwest Flyer – June/July 2017 issue No matter if you are an active pilot or if…
BasicMed Goes Live…1,354 Pilots Ready To Fly!
Published in Midwest Flyer – June/July 2017 issue FREDERICK, MD – Effective May 1, aviators can fly under the new BasicMed rules, and 1,354 pilots have already successfully completed the…
AOPA President To Be Keynote Speaker At Minnesota Seaplane Pilot Safety Seminar
Published in Midwest Flyer – April/May 2017 BRAINERD, MINN. – AOPA President & CEO Mark R. Baker will be the keynote speaker for the Saturday evening banquet at the Minnesota…
Bob Hoover Trophy Presented To Sean D. Tucker
Published in Midwest Flyer – April/May 2017 ARLINGTON, VA. – By unanimous agreement of the selection team, and as per the wish of the late Bob Hoover himself, the Aircraft…
Moving The Fight For Santa Monica Forward
by Mark R. Baker President & CEO Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Published in Midwest Flyer – April/May 2017 Santa Monica Municipal Airport’s (KSMO) history and location have made it…
Playing To Type
by Mark R. Baker President & CEO Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Published in Midwest Flyer – February/March 2017 I hope you’re already an AOPA member. I believe AOPA is…
AOPA Statement On FAA’s Release Of Final Rule On Small Aircraft Certification
Published in Midwest Flyer – February/March 2017 issue FREDERICK, MD – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) issued the following statement after the FAA’s release of the final Part…
FAA Releases Final Rule & Effective Date For Third Class Medical Reform
Published in Midwest Flyer – February/March 2017 WASHINGTON, DC – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) have reacted favorably to the FAA release of…
AOPA Honors Flight Instructors & Flight Schools
FREDERICK, MD – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has announced the recipients of its “AOPA Flight Training Excellence Awards.” The awards are based on the results of the…
More Than 1900 Turn Out For AOPA Great Lakes Regional Fly-In
Published in Midwest Flyer – Dec 2016/Jan 2017 BATTLE CREEK, MICH. – The AOPA Great Lakes Regional Fly-In held Sept. 16-17, 2016 at W. K. Kellogg Airport, Battle Creek, Mich.,…
Another great year to go flying!
by Mark R. Baker President & CEO Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Published in Midwest Flyer – Dec 2016/Jan 2017 It’s a little hard for me to believe that our…
Ohio Moves To Open Waters For Seaplanes
Published in Midwest Flyer – Oct/Nov 2016 After working with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and the Seaplane Pilots Association (SPA), Ohio officials have announced that the state…
AOPA & Garmin Team Up To Lower The Cost of Avionics For Certified Aircraft
Published in Midwest Flyer – Oct/Nov 2016 OSHKOSH, WIS. – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and Garmin announced July 25, 2016, the availability of an FAA Supplemental Type…
Wisconsin Aeronautics Director & AOPA President Selected For National Drone Advisory Committee
Published in Midwest Flyer – Oct/Nov 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Members of the newly established Drone Advisory Committee (DAC) were announced August 31, 2016, by the Radio Technical Commission for…
Illinois Congressman Hosts Roundtable On GA
PEORIA, ILL. – Illinois Congressman Darin LaHood hosted a General Aviation Roundtable, August 23, 2016, at Mount Hawley Auxiliary Airport in Peoria, Illinois, to bring together general aviation stakeholders and…
REP. DARIN LAHOOD FOCUSES ON FACILITATING ECONOMIC GROWTH THROUGH AVIATION
Rep. LaHood Hosts General Aviation Roundtable PEORIA, IL— Today Congressman Darin LaHood hosted a General Aviation Round Table at Mount Hawley Auxiliary Airport to bring together general aviation stakeholders and…
AOPA & EAA Statement On Third Class Medical Reform & The Proposed FAA Extension
Published in Midwest Flyer – Aug/Sept 2016 The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) released the following statements after the announcement that Congress will…
Time To Modernize!
by Mark R. Baker President & CEO Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine Aug/Sept 2016 We all know the general aviation fleet is getting older. In…
AOPA Calls UAS Task Force Recommendations, “A Good Start”
FREDERICK, MD – The FAA announced, November 23, 2015, that it has accepted the final recommendations of its Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Registration Task Force Aviation Rulemaking Committee, and has…
Why Mentorship Is Important & Easier Today Than Ever Before!
by Dave Weiman I don’t think very many of us would be in aviation today if it were not for the selflessness of a “mentor.” For myself, I always had…
Volk Field Proposes Airspace Changes
The Volk Airspace Initiative Draft Environmental Assessment and Draft FONSI will be posted for public comment beginning January 15, 2016. Information will be available at this website: http://dma.wi.gov/DMA/vfsaa/main. The public…
Doolittle Raider, Lt. Col. Dick Cole, Pays Visit To AOPA
FREDERICK, MD. – Lt. Col. Dick Cole, one of the two surviving Doolittle Raiders from World War II, visited the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s (AOPA) National Aviation Community Center…
AOPA Launches Pro Pilot
FREDERICK, MD – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has launched “Pro Pilot,” a new level of membership available exclusively to professional pilots. For $21.99 per month, Pro Pilot…
AOPA Announces 2015 Flight Training Award Recipients
FREDERICK, MD – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has selected its fourth annual Flight Training Excellence Award recipients including top flight schools and flight instructors ranked by more…
AOPA Applauds Announced Senate Markup of Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2
FREDERICK, MD – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has set Nov. 18 as the date to move S. 571, better known as the Pilot’s Bill of Rights…
MEDICAL REFORM CLOSER THAN EVER BEFORE, SAYS AOPA
FREDERICK, MD – As support for the Pilots Bill of Rights 2 (PBR2) continues to grow, Sen. James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma) has taken to the Senate floor to explain key provisions…
AirVenture 2015… New Challenges & Technology For General Aviation
by Jim LaMalfa I have attended EAA’s annual fly-in with my family since 1972. It was then, and is now, a showcase for everything old, new and yet to come…
An ADS-B Update
by Woody Minar As AOPA President Mark Baker recently wrote, “If you’re confused by the ADS-B Out mandate, you’re not alone. Most aircraft owners know that the FAA has set…
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh – Better With Age
by Dave Weiman The way an event like EAA AirVenture Oshkosh keeps getting better and better each year is with a lot of behind-the-scenes hard work and creative thinking on…
Why ADS-B Needs To Be Revisited By FAA
by Michael J. “Mick” Kaufman It has been more than five years since we first started hearing about Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS–B) and I published my first article…
Good Wins For General Aviation
News & Information You’ll Want To Know In Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska & Iowa by Yasmina Platt Manager, AOPA Central Southwest Region All four of the legislatures in the Central Region…
AOPA – Working For You In Each & Every State
News & Information You’ll Want To Know In Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska & Iowa by Yasmina Platt Manager, AOPA Central Southwest Region We are approaching the end of most of the…
State Legislative Issues Continue As Summer Takes Off For GA
News & Information You’ll Want To Know In Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota & South Dakota by Bryan Budds Manager, AOPA Great Lakes Region Can you believe…
Lowering The Cost of ADS-B
by Mark R. Baker, President & CEO Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association If you’ve been following the discussions around the FAA’s 2020 mandate for aircraft to equip with ADS-B Out,…
Getting & Staying Engaged With Our Elected Officials
by Dave Weiman In this issue, you will read about the president of the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA), Mark Baker, who met with our elected officials on Capitol…
Airport Funding Front & Center At Statehouses Across The Region
News & Information You’ll Want To Know In Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota & South Dakota by Bryan Budds Manager, AOPA Great Lakes Region I think it’s…
A New Pilot’s Bill of Rights
by Mark R. Baker, President & CEO Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Legislators in both the House and Senate recently introduced bills known as the Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2…
State Legislative Sessions & AOPA Off & Running!
News & Information You’ll Want To Know In Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota & South Dakota by Bryan Budds Manager, AOPA Great Lakes Region The 2015 legislative…
AOPA’s Mark Baker Receives Legacy Award At Living Legends of Aviation Ceremony
FREDERICK, MD – Mark Baker, president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), was awarded the ‘Harrison Ford Legacy in Aviation Award’ Friday during the 12th annual Living Legends…
AOPA Announces 2015 Fly-In Plans
New locations, activities will highlight grassroots gatherings celebrating general aviation FREDERICK, MD. – Building on the popularity and success of its inaugural events, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)…
Learn & Earn Your Way To Becoming A Better Pilot
AOPA’s Air Safety Institute Offers Valuable Rewards With The Fun of Learning FREDERICK, Md. – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Foundation’s (AOPA) Air Safety Institute (ASI) today launched the…
Showcasing “Kansas Aviation Is For Everybody”… The 2014 Fly Kansas Air Tour
News & Information You’ll Want To Know In Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska & Iowa by Yasmina Platt Manager, AOPA Central Southwest Region Have you ever flown on an air tour? I…
AOPA Announces Exit From Electronic Flight Bag Market
Frederick, Md. – Over the past several years, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) partnered with Seattle Avionics to create “FlyQ EFB,” an electronic flight bag (EFB) iPad application,…
The Future of the FAA
by Mark R. Baker President & CEO Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association The FAA’s funding is set to expire on Sept. 30, 2015, and crafting a new long-term funding package,…
AOPA CALLS ON FAA TO ADDRESS SERIOUS CONCERNS WITH ADS-B MANDATE
FREDERICK, Md. – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA ) must address the serious concerns of the general aviation industry before pushing ahead with a mandate to install ADS-B Out equipment…
AOPA Works To End Border Crossing Frustrations
FREDERICK, Md. – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is bringing together U.S. and Canadian officials in an effort to make crossing the border a simpler, less cumbersome and…
Minnesota Pilot Wins AOPA Sweepstakes Debonair…. AOPA President Stages Air-To-Air Delivery
LITCHFIELD, MINN. – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Sunday awarded its 2014 Sweepstakes Airplane, a fully-restored 1963 Beechcraft 35-B33 Debonair, to Steve Lagergren, an AOPA member from Litchfield,…
Personnel Changes At AOPA
Frederick, Md. – Bruce Landsberg, President of the AOPA Foundation and Executive Director of the AOPA Air Safety Institute for the past 22 years, has moved into a new “Senior…
My First Year
by Mark R. Baker President & CEO Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association I’ve just finished my first year as AOPA president. And what a year it’s been. I arrived with…
GA Groups Oppose U.S. Senate Bill That Would Close Missouri’s St. Clair Regional Airport
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), and National Air Transportation Association (NATA) have urged key members of the…
“Launch Your Career In Aerospace”
by Jon Beck We live in exciting times with amazing possibilities in the aerospace industry. With new innovations every day, the expanding field is evolving at a rapid pace. Being…
Michigan House Passes Recreational-Use Bill For Private Airports… Measure Now Goes On To Senate
LANSING, MICH. – The Michigan House of Representatives has passed a bill (House Bill 5178), which if approved by the Senate, would amend the state’s recreational use statute to include…
2014 Legislative Sessions Are Over… Now It’s Time To Fly & Mingle!
News & Information You’ll Want To Know In Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska & Iowa by Yasmina Platt Manager, AOPA Central Southwest Region The 2014 legislative sessions in the Central Region (Kansas,…
Have You Noticed Those Signs Everywhere? And, Will I See You Here?
News & Information You’ll Want To Know In Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota & South Dakota by Bryan Budds Manager, AOPA Great Lakes Region Campaign signs. Yes,…
AOPA Welcomes Movement Towards Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2
Frederick, MD – A draft outline for a new Pilot’s Bill of Rights unveiled today calls for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to act on third class medical reform within…
AOPA Regional Fly-Ins Off To A Good Start
SAN MARCOS, TEXAS – More than 2,500 people participated in the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) regional fly-in, April 26, in San Marcos, Texas. This was the first of…
Wisconsin Governor Signs Bill That Expands Liability Protection For Private Airport Owners
MADISON, WIS. – Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signed Senate Bill 321, April 16, 2014, to expand the existing Recreational Use Statute (RUS 895.52) to include liability protection for non-commercial aviation…
AOPA & NATA Presidents Address Aviation Business Leaders At Minnesota Aviation Trades Conference
BLOOMINGTON, MINN. – Mark Baker, President of the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA), and Tom Hendricks, President of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), were featured speakers at the Minnesota…
Minnesota Aviation Stakeholders Meet On Capitol Hill
ST. PAUL, MINN. – Anyone actively involved in aviation in Minnesota, and who believes in the importance of their local airport, showed up at the Minnesota State Capitol, March 5,…
Baker, Cooper, Mortvedt & Borling Headline Michigan’s Great Lakes International Aviation Conference
by Dave Weiman LANSING, MICH. – The Great Lakes Aviation Conference at the Lansing Center in Lansing, Michigan, February 14-15, 2014, included seminars for aircraft technicians for inspection authorization (IA)…
AOPA Applauds Senate Bill To Expand Third-Class Medical Exemption To More Pilots
FREDERICK, MD. – A new bill introduced in the U.S. Senate would expand the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) third-class medical exemption, reserved for sport pilots for the past decade, to…
AOPA & NBAA File Amicus Brief In Support of Santa Monica Municipal Airport
The Aviation Associations Warn That Closing the Airport Will Impact Air Safety In Southern California Frederick, MD – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and the National Business Aviation…
Regional Fly-In Dates Announced by AOPA
FREDERICK, MD – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has announced the dates and locations of its first-ever regional fly-ins to be held nationwide throughout 2014. The association will…
EAA & AOPA Leaders Meet In Oshkosh
OSHKOSH, WIS. – EAA Chairman Jack Pelton and AOPA President & CEO Mark Baker led discussions between their respective senior staffs on December 16, 2013 at the EAA Aviation Center…
President Obama Signs Small Airplane Revitalization Act Into Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA), and Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) hailed President Obama’s signing of the Small Airplane Revitalization Act…
AOPA Insists FAA Withdraw Sleep Disorder Policy or Initiate Rulemaking
FREDERICK, MD – In a letter to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is insisting that the FAA withdraw its new policy on obstructive sleep…
Making Flying Easier
by Mark R. Baker President & CEO, Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Something good is happening in Congress right now. (I know some of you may find that hard to…
Legislation To Require FAA To Revise Third Class Medical Requirements
FREDERICK, MD – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has expressed enthusiastic support for a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, December 11, 2013, that would give…
Wisconsin Senate Passes Amendment To Recreational Use Statute To Include Private Airports…. Amendment Now Goes To State Assembly
MADISON, WIS. – The Wisconsin Senate approved a measure November 12, 2013 that will provide liability protection for owners of private airports, which are used for recreational purposes. Senate Bill…
President Obama Signs Small Airplane Revitalization Act Into Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA), and Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) hailed President Obama’s signing of the Small Airplane Revitalization Act…
One On One With AOPA’s New President & CEO, Mark Baker
by Dave Weiman I had the opportunity to interview newly appointed AOPA President Mark Baker at his request. He wanted Midwest Flyer Magazine readers to get to know him, and he…
Can you afford not to?
by Mark R. Baker President & CEO Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association This week I received a letter from a pilot who told me that he was joining AOPA because…
More Regional & Grassroots Interaction In 2014
News & Information You’ll Want To Know In Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska & Iowa by Yasmina Platt Manager, AOPA Central Southwest Region It was great seeing many of you at the…
Off & Running!
News & Information You’ll Want To Know In Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota & South Dakota by Bryan Budds Manager, AOPA Great Lakes Region With the new…
Coming Together, Right Now, For You!
by Dave Weiman Listening to the Beatles’ hit song of the ‘60s, “Come Together,” made me think of what is happening in the aviation community right now. But instead of…
AOPA’s Flying Club Network Surpasses 400 Mark
FREDERICK, MD – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s (AOPA) campaign to grow the number of flying clubs in the United States reached a new milestone recently when the 400th…
General Observations of AirVenture 2013
“Oh my gosh, how’d they do that?” by Harold Green This year EAA AirVenture, July 29 thru August 4, 2013, provided an opportunity to consider the impact of this event…
AOPA Announces New Focus On Grassroots Events In 2014
FREDERICK, MD – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has decided to suspend holding its annual Aviation Summit in favor of reaching more members “where they fly.” The AOPA…
Minnesota Native Named AOPA President & CEO
FREDERICK, MD – Mark R. Baker, a longtime general aviation (GA) pilot, has been named president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the…
Allow Me To Introduce Myself!
by Mark Baker President & CEO Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association I am excited to be AOPA’s new president, only the fifth in our association’s nearly 75-year history. I may be…
Big Win Fuels Future Reforms…
by Bryan Budds Manager, AOPA Great Lakes Region As we approach the end of the year, AOPA’s state advocacy team is reflecting on its successes around the country and is…
AOPA Announces New Focus On Grassroots Events In 2014
FREDERICK, MD – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has decided to suspend holding its annual Aviation Summit in favor of reaching more members “where they fly.” The AOPA Aviation…
AOPA’s Flying Club Network Surpasses 400 Mark
FREDERICK, MD – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s (AOPA) campaign to grow the number of flying clubs in the United States reached a new milestone recently when the 400th…
Minnesota Native Named President & CEO Of AOPA
Frederick, MD – Mark R. Baker, a longtime general aviation (GA) pilot, has been named president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the…
Surviving A Water Landing
The first way to survive a water landing is not to land on water in the first place, but there are times that flying over water cannot be avoided, such…
AOPA, NATA & GAMA Welcome Confirmation of Foxx As U.S. DOT Secretary
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 27, 2013) – The presidents and CEOs of at least three general aviation organizations – Craig Fuller of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA); Thomas L. Hendricks of…
Aircraft Ramp Check Guide Now Available!
It has been reported that law enforcement has been “ramping up” ramp checks of general aviation aircraft, lately. The Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA) has published the following guide…
Surviving A Water Landing
The first way to survive a water landing is not to land on water in the first place, but there are times that flying over water cannot be avoided, such…
Winning A Reprieve
by Craig Fuller President & CEO Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association A few weeks ago, in a moment of exceptional cross-party accord, both the House and Senate passed legislation giving the…
Letter – Katie Pribyl
Hi, Dave! I just wanted to send you a note regarding your editorial in the April/May 2013 issue. Specifically, I really appreciated your feelings about the critical importance of members…
Contract Towers To Remain Open
Alexandria, VA, May 10, 2013 – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that it will keep open the 149 contract towers the agency slated for closure on June 15th….
Today’s Comfortable “Suspender-Type” Life Vests Should Be Standard Equipment In Lake Country
Whether you are a floatplane pilot or not, equipping your aircraft with “suspender-type” life vests should be standard equipment, especially when flying over lake country and especially in the vicinity…
2013 Iowa Aviation Conference Welcomes Pilots!
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA – Pilots are invited to attend a free FAA Pilot Safety Seminar as part of the 2013 Iowa Aviation Conference from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.,…
Letter From Gayle Small & Response From Jim Hanson
Dear Dave: These days, in GA conversations and publications, there are few topics that can encourage more heated discussions than that of recruiting and retaining pilots. I have just read…
When Two Organizations Are Better Than One!
by Dave Weiman On October 22, 2012, Rod Hightower – who had been appointed president of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) on September 7, 2010 – announced that he was…
Fuller To Leave AOPA
FREDERICK, MD – AOPA President Craig Fuller has notified AOPA’s Board of Trustees of his intent to step down from his position and from the board. He plans to remain in…
AOPA Launches FlyQ Electronic Flight Bag
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has released the FlyQ Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) for the iPad, the latest addition to its family of digital flight planning products. The…
Our Mission!
by Craig L. Fuller President & CEO Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association As we enter 2013, we face a great deal of uncertainty. But even in the face of the…
Starting The New Year
News & Information You’ll Want To Know In Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska & Iowa by Yasmina Platt Regional Manager, AOPA Central Southwest Region Well, I guess the Mayans were, in fact,…
A Flurry of Activity
by Bryan Budds, Manager AOPA Great Lakes Region As we approach warmer flying weather and hopefully putting the flurries behind us, I wanted to update you on some of the…
Pilot Shortage Creates Opportunity To Work With The Airlines
by Dave Weiman As general aviation pilots, you and I know that student pilot starts are down, and aviation organizations and others are addressing this issue through special programs and…
Hightower Resigns As EAA President/CEO… Pelton Elected Chairman of The Board
OSHKOSH, WIS. – The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Board of Directors accepted the resignation of President and CEO Rod Hightower, October 22, 2012. Hightower stated that he wanted to spend…
Iowa & Minnesota Flight Instructors Nationally Recognized
PALM SPRINGS, CALIF. – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) announced October 10, 2012, the winners of the inaugural “Flight Training Excellence Awards” at the AOPA Aviation Summit in…
AOPA Awards Flight Training Scholarships
PALM SPRINGS, CALIF. – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) awarded four $5,000 flight-training scholarships October 11, 2012 during the AOPA Aviation Summit in Palm Springs. The scholarship money…
Nick Carlucci Named Winner of AOPA’s Laurence P. Sharples Perpetual Award
PALM SPRINGS, CALIF. – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) named Nicholas F. Carlucci, Jr., the 2012 winner of the prestigious Laurence P. Sharples Perpetual Award – one of…
Pilot, City Commissioner Honored With AOPA’s Let’s Go Flying Award
PALM SPRINGS, CALIF. – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has named Jamie Beckett of Winter Haven, Fla., the recipient of its 2012 “Let’s Go Flying Award,” for his…
Stars Do Shine At AOPA Aviation Summit
by Dave Weiman PALM SPRINGS, CALIF. – The AOPA Aviation Summit, October 11-13, 2012, showed signs of stardom from both Hollywood and the GA community. Regardless of wealth, fame or…
We Have Winners!
by Craig L. Fuller President & CEO Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association If you’re a pilot, you owe a debt of gratitude to at least one flight instructor. For some…
Wrapping 2012 And Looking Forward To 2013
News & Information You’ll Want To Know In Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska & Iowa by Yasmina Platt Regional Manager, AOPA Central Southwest Region Believe it or not, we are almost in…
$100 Million & Much More!
by Bryan Budds, Manager AOPA Great Lakes Region As 2012 came to a close, all seven AOPA Regional Managers came together at the AOPA Aviation Summit held this year in…
AOPA Launches FlyQ Electronic Flight Bag
Frederick, MD – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has released the FlyQ Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) for the iPad, the latest addition to its family of digital flight…
Former EAA VP Named VP At AOPA
FREDERICK, MD – Adam Smith, former vice president of membership at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), has been named senior vice president of the newly created Center to Advance the…
What’s next for NextGen?
by Craig L. Fuller President & CEO Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of testifying before Congress about the state of NextGen. Members of…
News & Information You’ll Want To Know In Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska & Iowa
by Yasmina Platt, Manager AOPA Central Southwest Region Even as the last piece of state legislation for 2012 in the Central Region was signed in July, AOPA started working on…
AOPA’s Frontline Advocates – Airport Support Network Volunteers
by Bryan Budds, Manager AOPA Great Lakes Region As promised in an earlier Great Lakes Regional Report, I mentioned my desire to help general aviation pilots and others in the…
GA Tenants Almost Forgotten In Airport Land-Swap Proposal
MILWAUKEE, WIS. – In April 2012, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors signed a resolution proposing a land swap to accommodate future operations of the Air National Guard’s 128th Air…
A Storm Is Brewing
by Craig L. Fuller President & CEO Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Sometimes, even on a beautiful summer day, you can tell there’s a storm coming. In the world of…
News & Information You’ll Want To Know In Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska & Iowa
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…
AOPA In Your Backyard
by Bryan Budds, Regional Manager AOPA Great Lakes Region Since AOPA renewed its commitment to an even stronger regional presence earlier this year, the association has greatly increased its activity…
Aviation Is Non-Partisan, Says State Senator
by Dave Weiman On July 14, 2012, I had the privilege of attending an AOPA “Pilot Mix & Mingle Social Networking Event” at Wisconsin Aviation in Madison, Wisconsin, hosted by…
AOPA To Hold Regional Meeting In Madison, Wisconsin
MADISON, WIS. – AOPA Great Lakes Region Manager, Bryan Budds, is holding a “Pilot Mix & Mingle” social and networking event, Saturday, July 14, 2012 from 11:00 AM to 1:00…
AOPA & EAA Need Your Help As They Seek Medical Exemption….
Register Your Comments Today! WASHINGTON, DC – Current FAA regulations requires all pilots to hold at least a third-class medical certificate to exercise the privileges of a private or recreational certificate….
Building Skills
by Craig L. Fuller President & CEO Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association For the past year I’ve been getting comfortable flying my Husky. When I bought the airplane it was…
Special Events & Legislative Issues You Really Ought To Know About In Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska & Iowa
by Yasmina Platt, Manager AOPA Central Southwest Region Since my last report, I have attended Missouri’s State Aviation Day at the Capitol in Jefferson City, spoke at the state aviation…
Keep ‘Em Flying… Across The Midwest
by Bryan Budds, Manager AOPA Great Lakes Region Recently, AOPA kicked off the Keep ‘Em Flying campaign aimed at getting pilots up in the air. With summer upon us, and…
Illinois Bill Would Raise Aviation Fees
SPRINGFIELD, ILL. – A proposed hike in aviation registration fees would only “further depress” a tax-burdened aviation economy in Illinois, AOPA said, urging officials to reject the plan. Illinois House…
At Work Outside D.C.
by Craig L. Fuller President & CEO Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Everyone I meet all across the country seems to know that AOPA is hard at work representing general…
News & Information You’ll Want To Know In Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska & Iowa
by Yasmina Platt, Manager AOPA Central Southwest Region As you may have already read in previous editions of Midwest Flyer Magazine and AOPA Pilot magazine, AOPA has started a new…
Strengthening The Aviation Community
by Bryan Budds, Manager AOPA Great Lakes Region We all know some of the realities facing general aviation today. Unfortunately, we hear with relative frequency discussions of looming user fees,…
An Aviation Day At Your State Capitol!
by Dave Weiman We predict that what occurred on February 9th, 2012, at the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota, in holding an “Aviation Day At The Capitol,” will be…
MATA Conference Focused On Fuel, Flight & Future of GA
BROOKLYN CENTER, MINN. – Concerned with rising fuel prices, fuel fees and taxes, fuel supplies, and the future of general aviation, business owners and their employees came together for a…
Major Change To Affect Businesses On Twin Cities Airports
Al Lange, President of the Minnesota Aviation Trades Association (MATA), has confirmed that Gary Schmidt of the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), will meet with members during MATA’s annual conference on Monday, March 19,…
Coming Up! Missouri State Aviation Day
JEFFERSON CITY, MO. – The Missouri Pilots Association (MPA) has taken the lead in putting together “Missouri State Aviation Day,” on Tuesday, March 27, 2012, in Missouri’s State Capitol in Jefferson City, but the…
SP/LSA Movement At The Crossroads: Assessing The Impact of The EAA/AOPA Joint Petition For 3rd Class Medical Certificate Exemption
by Ed Leineweber It seems like the Sport Pilot/Light Sport Aircraft movement just can’t catch a break. The Federal Aviation Regulations, creating the new pilot certificate and new category of…
Bryan Budds Named Manager of AOPA Great Lakes Region
FREDERICK, MD – The Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA) created seven (7) new, full-time regional manager positions to better build strong local GA communities and strengthen the organization’s relationships…
North Dakota Airspace Plan Raises Concern At AOPA
A proposal to create new restricted airspace in North Dakota for training of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) raises more questions than it answers, undermines safety, and would set a dangerous precedent…
Taking Local To The Next Level
by Craig L. Fuller President & CEO Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association When people think of AOPA, they most often think of Washington, D.C. That’s not too surprising. After all,…
AOPA – More Engaged At Grassroots Level Than Ever Before
As announced at the AOPA Summit in September 2011, AOPA will be committing more resources to working at the regional, state, and local levels to address issues facing the aviation…
Consulting Dr. Google…
by Dr. John Beasley, M.D. Aviation Medical Examiner Professor Emeritus and Clinical Professor Department of Family Medicine University of Wisconsin – Madison …at least that’s what we call it in…
General Aviation Industry Prepares For An Unleaded Future
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has formally begun the regulatory process required by the Clean Air Act that may ultimately result in standards mandating the industry’s transition…
Blackhawk Tech A&P Program Suspended!
JANESVILLE, WIS. – The Blackhawk Technical College (BTC) Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Technician Program has been suspended for at least one year following the 2012 summer semester. Approximately 70 supporters…
10 Planes To Miminiska
by Dave Weiman Seven years ago when my neighbor and I started flying to Canada, we were hopeful that such a trip would interest others. To be successful, we felt…
Appreciating What We’ve Got
by Craig Fuller President & CEO Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association It’s that time of the year when we take stock of the things we’re grateful for, consider the achievements…
Blackhawk Tech A&P Program Suspended!
JANESVILLE, WIS. – The Blackhawk Technical College (BTC) Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Aircraft Technician Program has been suspended for at least one year following the 2012 summer semester. Approximately 70…
GA Rally In South Dakota
PIERRE, SD – Over 100 workers, state and local officials and aviation enthusiasts gathered August 31, 2011, in Pierre, South Dakota for a general aviation (GA) rally. The event, held…
Creator of International Women’s Aviation Event Honored With AOPA’s “Let’s Go Flying Award”
HARTFORD, CONN. – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association honored Mireille Goyer of Delta, B.C., Canada, with the 2011 Let’s Go Flying Award at ceremonies September 24 during the AOPA…
FAA Administrator Not Pleased With GA Accident Rate…. Has Ordered Study To Change Testing Standards
by Dave Weiman HARTFORD, CONN. – FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt told pilots and aircraft owners at the AOPA Summit, September 23, 2011, that he is concerned with the rising accident…
AOPA Summit 2011… Learning From The Past, Looking To The Future
by Jack Elliott Schapiro HARTFORD, CONN. – Those who believe the old adage that you can’t mix business and pleasure are obviously not AOPA members, who have attended one of…
AOPA Upgrades Legal Services Plan
by Gregory J. Reigel Attorney At Law As you may know, one of the benefits you can add onto your AOPA membership is membership in the Legal Services Plan (LSP)….
FAA Administrator Not Pleased With GA Accident Rate…. Has Ordered Study To Change Testing Standards
by Dave Weiman HARTFORD, CT – FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt told pilots and aircraft owners at the general session at the AOPA Summit, September 23, 2011, that he is concerned…
GA Rallies In South Dakota With Senator Thune & Governor Daugaard
PIERRE, SD, August 31, 2011 – Over 100 workers, state and local officials and aviation enthusiasts gathered today in Pierre, South Dakota for a general aviation (GA) rally. The event,…
AOPA’s John Baker Grew Up In Midwest Aviation Family
John Lee Baker, the president of the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA) from 1977 through 1990, died March 11 at his home in Angier, N.C. Baker, a Nebraska native…
Dusting Off The Cobwebs
by Craig Fuller President & CEO Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association The weather is warming up, at last, and that means flying season is upon us. Because I am fortunate…
Part III What Can We Do Nationally To Recruit & Retain Pilots?
In previous issues of Midwest Flyer Magazine, CFII Jim Hanson began a discussion on “Student Starts & Pilot Retention,” which he wrote prior to the release of findings from research…
A Gathering Of Aviators
by Craig Fuller – President & CEO Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association There are few things more rewarding than trading stories and sharing experiences with people who really understand. So…
Michigan Governor Appoints GA Pilots To Aeronautics Commission
by Bill Blake, AOPA Great Lakes Regional Representative Peter Kamaranien of Grand Ledge, Michigan, owner of GrandAir Aviation, Inc. at Abrams Municipal Airport, and J. David VanderVeen of Clarkston, Michigan,…
EAA Supporting GA Operator Groups Going to Court to Protect BARR
Responding to industry’s request, legal fund offers avenue for supporting the battle WASHINGTON, DC, JUNE 22, 2011 – Leading organizations representing general aviation (GA) operators today moved ahead with a…
AOPA’s Political Action Committee… How it works & why it is important.
by Craig Fuller President & CEO Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Like most multifaceted organizations, AOPA is made up of a number of divisions that specialize in serving our members…
Signs GA Is Getting Stronger!
I attended the “Michigan Legislative Aviation Day” in early March hosted by the Michigan Business Aviation Association (MBAA), and the Michigan Association of Airport Executives (MAAE). The day started with representatives…
Elections Matter!
by Craig Fuller – President & CEO Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association As a friend of mine likes to say, “Elections matter.” Even when our own political representatives aren’t on…
News From AOPA Summit!
by Dave Weiman LONG BEACH, CALIF. – If you are not one of the more than 10,000 pilots expected to attend the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA) Summit at…
Great Lakes Regional Representative For AOPA Receives Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award
GALENA, ILL. – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has presented AOPA Great Lakes Regional Representative Bill Blake with the “Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award” for completing 50 consecutive years of…