General Aviation Serves America

I have just returned from a great General Aviation Serves America event in Charlotte, N.C., and I want to tell you about it because I believe it’s a good indicator of what we have accomplished so far—both on Capitol Hill and within our own GA community.

If you’ve been following the campaign, you know I’ve been traveling around the country, meeting with pilots, aircraft owners and operators, FBO personnel, airport managers, and others to share the General Aviation Serves America message and seek support for our ongoing outreach efforts. When I first began to make these stops, few people had heard much about the campaign. The gatherings were small, and in many ways, I was starting from scratch, educating people about the issues facing GA and focusing on the fundamental principles of the campaign.

But now the momentum is picking up, and I am having a very different experience when I meet with new groups around the country.

In Charlotte, the event was hosted by Bob Wilson, owner of Wilson Air Center at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, and organized by the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), the association that represents FBOs and other GA businesses. NATA is also a critical partner in our General Aviation Serves America outreach efforts.

Some 250 people attended and Bob, well-known for his hospitality and customer service, put on a very impressive event. More than a dozen members of the local EAA chapter volunteered their time to help shepherd guests and provide information, and contributed a beautiful RV-7 to the aircraft display. Naturally, we also brought the AOPA Let’s Go Flying Sweepstakes Cirrus to be displayed alongside such diverse offerings as business jets, trainers, and turboprops of varying sizes and makes.

It was great to see so many different segments of the aviation community coming together in one place for one purpose—to help protect and promote our freedom to fly. The diversity of the audience and the aircraft, and the active involvement of members of NATA and EAA along with AOPA was a great show of strength and unity.

And at this event, many in the audience were already familiar with the campaign and its goals—great evidence that our message is being heard. They listened attentively as NATA President Jim Coyne and I talked about the issues of greatest concern and the importance of spreading the General Aviation Serves America message beyond Capitol Hill.

To me, the audience interest and knowledge, the variety of participants, and involvement of so many groups shows just how far we’ve come since we launched this campaign a few short months ago. We’re building momentum behind our message, now it’s up to all of us to keep it growing.

This campaign is really picking up steam, and I have been traveling across the country in recent weeks, talking to pilots about what we’re doing and how they can help.

In the past couple of weeks, I’ve been to Santa Fe, N.M., and Portsmouth, N.H., to name just a couple of stops on the list. And at each location I’ve had the chance to hold a small gathering and speak informally with pilots who live nearby about the issues that concern them and the progress we’re making with General Aviation Serves America.

I have been deeply impressed by the people I’ve met. They fly all sorts of airplanes from light sport aircraft to jets, and everything in between. And they use their planes for a whole range of functions from business travel to recreation to charitable flights.

Everywhere I go, the pilots I meet are anxious to learn more about how security proposals, budget legislation, urban pressures on airports, and other vital issues will affect their freedom and ability to fly. And, they all recognize the need to protect what we’ve got, whether its airports, access to airspace, or weather briefings—because once it’s gone it won’t come back.

Pilots, as a group, are smart people and high achievers, so these small gatherings have brought together a fascinating cross section of people from a wide range of industries. But, no matter what they fly or why, they’ve had two things in common—a keen understanding of what’s at stake, and a desire to help protect GA.

And we do need their help and yours. In fact, we need everyone who uses general aviation to take up the cause and protect this vital link in our transportation network. Just the fact that you’re here, at www.GAServesAmerica.com, demonstrates your interest.

Now I hope you’ll also demonstrate your commitment. Do your part by continuing to fly, continuing to spread the word about the value of general aviation, and contributing to the General Aviation Serves America Fund today. Together we can protect our freedom to fly!

We’ve kicked off the GA Serves America campaign in Washington, DC and online throughout the country. From pilots to business leaders, and from community leaders to folks who use General Aviation to save lives and keep us safe, we’re reaching out to gather stories about the important role GA plays in our economy and our communities. I hope you’ll share your story too.

Over the next weeks and months, we’ll be recruiting advocates from all across America. We’ll be providing up-to-the-minute updates through this blog and via Twitter and Facebook. After signing up for the campaign here on the site, please join the conversation on Twitter and become a Fan of the campaign on Facebook.

We’re just lifting off on this flight, and while campaigns can be unpredictable, with your help, I’m confident we can prevail in keeping General Aviation serving America. Thanks for coming along on this adventure.