Midwest Flyer Magazine

GREAT REGIONAL LAKES REGIONAL REPORTS REPORTAOPA In Your Backyardby Bryan Budds, Regional ManagerAOPA Great Lakes RegionAOPA Regional Heading 2012.indd 1Since AOPArenewed itscommitmentto an even strongerregional presenceearlier this year,the association hasgreatly increased itsactivity across theBryan BuddsGreat Lakes andother regions. Withthe midpoint of the year now only afew weeks behind us, and most statelegislative sessions complete, AOPAnow turns its attention to strengtheningby Yasmina Platt, ManagerAOPA Central Southwest RegionHave youbeen flyingmuch thissummer? I have andI even flew aroundSydney, Australia oneday – a dream cometrue! What a hootthat was! I hope you Yasmina Plattsubmitted your Keep‘Em Flying notice of completion for achance to win some more flying money.Since my last report, I have nowvisited all four states covered by thismagazine: Kansas, Missouri, Nebraskaand Iowa. I was missing Kansas, but Iwas happy to be there in June speakingat the Kansas Association of Airportsconference in Lawrence on Thursday,June 21 and then held a fun Pilot Mix09""#$%$&'(&)*')+,)-"./0.""+123)&'"456)-"+#%#718)"""the aviation community across the areaand increasing our presence at localairport events, some of which may beright in your backyard.In June, AOPA visited AnokaCounty Airport – Blaine Field to helpsupport “Discover Aviation Days.”With an estimated attendance of over10,000 area residents, the AmericanVeterans Traveling Tribute, and multipleaircraft museums opening up theirhangar doors 3/29/12 to the 8:38 public, PM the eventwas a perfect opportunity for potentialaviation enthusiasts to get acquaintedwith general aviation, their airport,and AOPA. One lucky visitor to theAOPA tent won an introductory flight,courtesy of AOPA.AOPA will also be exhibiting at theIndianapolis Air Show, the MilwaukeeAir and Water Show, Thunder OverMichigan, and many other aviationevents across the area. If you have theopportunity to attend one of theseevents, please stop by the booth, sayhello, and perhaps receive a specialgift or two. And, if you have anyNews & Information You’ll Want To Know InKansas, Missouri, Nebraska & Iowaand Mingle social and networking eventin Kansas City on Friday, June 22 withfellow AOPA staffer Bill Dunn. In June,I also spent time in Nebraska helpingwith the Nebraska Airfest and 2012Nebraska State Fly-In, June 16-17.My highlight was teaching our futuregeneration about aviation and the joy offlying.2012 has been a good year forgeneral aviation in Missouri in terms ofcollaboration with local organizationsand cooperation with the state’slegislature. Missouri’s SB769, HB1504,and SB485 were all signed into law byGovernor Nixon on July 10th. UnderSB769, any anemometer tower that isat least 50 feet AGL and located outsidecity limits will be marked, painted,flagged, or otherwise constructed to berecognizable during the day. HB1504extends the Aviation Trust Fund andjet fuel state and local sales and usesuggestions on where you would like tosee AOPA, please let me know!To further support the aviationcommunity, AOPA’s Airport SupportNetwork has launched a new initiativeto recognize public officials who arestrong aviation advocates for their localairports. As we all know, local politicsdrives so much of what happens atour local airports, and maintainingpositive relationships with thosedecision-makers is key. So, if youhave a proactive, supportive localofficial, visit aopa.org/asn and submittheir information so they can receiverecognition for their efforts.Also in an effort to communicatedirectly with AOPA members in theregion, we have activated the AOPAGreat Lakes Region “Twitter” accountto provide you with up-to-the-minuteand behind-the-scenes information onall things AOPA is involved with inthe Great Lakes. You can follow me @AOPAGreatLakes. Hope to see you atan upcoming event!bryan.budds@aopa.org. tax exemption to December 31, 2023from 2013, and SB485 modifies thelaw governing liens on aircraft. AOPAsupported the legislation in SB769 fromthe beginning and played a key role inits passage. Requiring the marking ofthese towers will significantly improvethe safety of rural aircraft operations inMissouri at a minimal additional cost totower owners.I want to send a special thank youto Nebraska Governor Heineman forrecognizing the benefits of generalaviation by declaring May Nebraska’sGeneral Aviation Appreciation Month.I hope to see you at the upcomingAOPA Summit in Palm Springs,California from October 11 to 13. Formore information and to register, visit:http://www.aopa.org/summit/. Forthose in Iowa… I also plan on beingat Atlantic Municipal Airport (KAIO)on Saturday, September 15 for the FlyIowa 2012 fly-in. Come find me and Iwill give you an exclusive and limitedmembership offer.yasmina.platt@aopa.org