Flight path
Important topics we are working on for you
Let’s start with the topic of unleaded fuel and why we are working hard to find a solution. Many members ask me why it matters. After all, they say, the amount of lead general aviation aircraft use is so small, and the current administration could dismiss this mandate to change. But these points are a red herring. For one, it is widely acknowledged that no level of lead is safe. Aviation fuel emissions remain the last, albeit small, producer of airborne lead. And there is only one producer in the world of tetraethyl lead (TEL), the lead additive in 100LL, and it is planning to shut down the plant. Being dependent on a single provider of anything is risky, particularly one that plans to cease production as new alternatives emerge. Experience shows that engines ultimately are happier without lead, and there are three compelling unleaded fuels that are on the path to providing a solution. Each has hurdles to overcome, but testing is promising, and the commitment is high to meet this challenge and reap the benefits of engines that run better and longer, while also taking away a talking point for those who view GA negatively.
It was the tragic accident in Washington, D.C., airspace last January that put the spotlight on the need for ATC modernization, and it has fueled a commitment unlike we’ve seen in decades in the U.S. government. The need to update the systems and procedures that support the safest airspace in the world is imperative. AOPA is a core member of the Modern Skies Coalition, working to bring the aviation industry together—GA, airlines, policy makers, labor, and manufacturers—to focus on modernizing the ATC system. This industry unity is unprecedented, and it shows that we are stronger when we work together. The effort has resulted in a $12.5 billion down payment to get our nation’s ATC modernization underway. While on this journey, we must avoid the distraction of privatization—AOPA has beaten back past proposals to privatize the air traffic control system, but it continues to show up in op-eds and forums each week. We must remain vigilant.
It’s been two years since an off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot attempted to sabotage a flight when he suffered a mental breakdown after being sleep-deprived and ingesting drugs days prior to the incident. The event exposed serious concerns about pilot mental health. YouTube creator Xyla Foxlin and others brought this issue before Congress after her medical certificate was denied because she sought mental health care for a hormone imbalance. Hats off to Federal Air Surgeon Susan Northrup and her staff, as the FAA proactively leaned into these issues in thoughtful ways. Because of strong leadership on multiple fronts, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Mental Health in Aviation Act, which is now in the Senate for consideration. Our medical specialists in the AOPA Pilot Information Center tell me that many of their calls reference mental health concerns. I am proud that helping people through this process is one of the core things we do.
Something I am angry about is the use of ADS-B to impose landing fees. We backed the ADS-B system to improve safety. Any other use of ADS-B data is wrong, and it could result in pilots not installing or utilizing this important safety measure. AOPA is 100 percent behind technology that improves safety. If airports believe that charging landing fees is needed for airport viability, I suggest they focus on actions that help and promote aviation activity such as compatible use improvements including hangars, flight schools, maintenance facilities, and light manufacturing. If aviation activity expands, it would preclude the need for landing fees. The last thing we want is to have pilots foregoing the landing practice required for currency and safety or avoiding the use of an important safety tool like ADS-B.
Speaking of fees, we’ve been battling egregious fees charged by large FBOs, and while some groups like Signature Aviation have made thoughtful actions to lower the costs for core GA users, others continue to levy ridiculous fees on small GA aircraft in favor of larger users. GA contributes much to the economic heartbeat of this country, but the fees we’re increasingly seeing at public-use airports across the country are driving activity down and favoring the big jets at the expense of the typical GA user.
These are my top action items for the coming year, but there are many more issues that concern me (insurance cost and availability, for example). Your association is engaged every day to rally our members and influence decision makers in the cause of protecting your freedom to fly. See you in the skies! 
