aopa

protecting the freedom to fly still includes: advocating with federal and state governments and agencies on behalf of itsmembers; educating pilots,non-pilots,and policymakers,alike; supporting activities that ensure the long-termhealth of general aviation; and fighting to keep general aviation accessible to all. Membership inAOPAhasmanybenefits.One is its Pilot Information Center,where people can get expert information froma group of skilled pilots,medical certification specialists,and flight instructors,on such topics as: international flight guidance,pilot and avi- ation-related topics,aircraft ownership and insurance, and legal andmedical issues.Everyyear,the specialists at the Pilot Information Center respond tomore than 200,000member questions via phone calls,emails, online chat,and letters. Another benefit isAOPA’s Pilot Protection Services, which is comprised of a Legal Services Plan and Medical Certification Services.“We offer legal services in case somebodyhas a legal issue,”says Baker.“We have about 4,500 calls coming in,everyyear,related to Pilot Protection Services.Someone going astray and violating some airspace is a typical one.Theycan call here and get referred to an attorneywhowill give themseveral hours of consultation that will help them navigate through that process.”The Legal Services Plan also advises on aircraft sales and titlematters,as well as aircraft accidents.Medical Certification Services includes advice about medical exams,and reviews of members’FAA(Federal AviationAdministration) med- ical applications and documents before submission to help avoid problems and delays. Government advocacy,according to Baker,is also “a very significant part of member value; it’s the best representation on general aviation advocacy issues as they relate to the state and federal levels,”he declares. THE AIRCRAFT OWNERS & PILOTS ASSOCIATION “We have an office inD.C.and regional managers around the country.The advocacygroup inD.C.is about a dozen folks whoworkon government affairs.We have seven regional offices that workwith the state houses on sales tax issues,and regulatory issues that are pertinent by state.” According to Baker,a recent exercise in federal advocacyproved successful whenAOPAturned out its members in force to oppose congressional attempts to privatize the nation’s air traffic control system. “ATCprivatization has been on the radar screen for a number of years and it popped up last summer,led by HouseTransportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman,Bill Shuster,”Baker recounts.“We rallied our members and fought hard against what we sawas a grab bya part of the airlines tomanage air traffic control.We had over 200,000 of our members write or call their representatives and senators.And it worked. In late February,Shuster pulled the bill fromconsider- ation because of lackof support in theHouse.” “Another bigwin is called BasicMed,”Baker contin- ues,“whichwas implemented last May.It expedites theway inwhich private pilots can get their medical compliance done.It’smuch simpler and it lowers the cost for folks whomayhave had a special issuance-a medication or surgery in the past.That was very suc- cessful–we’ve nowgot 29,000 pilots using that.” Of course,AOPAis not always in an adversarial po- sition vis à vis the federal government.In fact,it works closelywith a number of federal agencies,the FAA being number one.“Weworkwith themon regulatory issues,licensing issues,on standards as they relate to newequipment on older aircraft,air space issues.We have a veryproductive relationship,there,”Baker re- lates.“Weworkwith theNTSB (National Transportation SafetyBoard) on howwe canmake general aviation