AOPA's top 5 advocacy accomplishments of 2019

The Senate passed a resolution for AOPA’s eightieth anniversary in May, recognizing the association’s leadership in advocating for GA. AOPA’s advocacy arm continued working hard during this anniversary year. Here’s a look at the top advocacy wins of 2019:

1. AOPA led efforts urging Mexico’s Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics to officially recognize and accept pilots flying with BasicMed to travel to and from Mexico. Pilots were permitted to begin flying between the United States and Mexico under the authorization starting December 10.
2. In February, President Donald Trump signed a bill securing $3.5 million in reimbursement funding for three non-gateway airports—New Jersey’s Solberg and Somerset airports, and Florida’s Palm Beach County Park Airport, also known as Lantana—and businesses closed by temporary flight restrictions associated with his VIP travel. AOPA has been the leading advocate in Washington, D.C., to find a solution for presidential TFR impacts on airports.
3. The FAA published revised standards for airline transport pilot certification and type rating issuance that more closely align with the knowledge pilots must have to fly safely. AOPA chaired the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee’s Airman Certification System Working Group that worked with the FAA to develop new holistic and integrated certification standards that ensure pilots are trained and tested on all of the elements needed to operate safely in the National Airspace System. The new standards went into effect June 28.
4. AOPA collaborated with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to include deployment of CBP’s plane-side Mobile Primary program and testing of eAPIS Quickclear app program to expedite cross-border experience. The association’s ongoing efforts include working toward more innovation and risk-based solutions for GA.
5. A government-funding package signed by Trump in December included $3.35 billion for the Airport Improvement Program and $10 million for workforce grant programs, a huge win for AOPA and the aviation industry, particularly as the industry works to introduce high school students to aviation through STEM-based aviation curriculum, grow the pilot population, and address aviation maintenance technician shortages.