[JYO] AOPA announces General Aviation Restoration Fund

AOPA announces General Aviation Restoration Fund
Member-supported fund established to better inform the American public about 
general aviation

Oct. 28 — The General Aviation Restoration Fund was announced to an 
enthusiastic audience of 500 people during a Wing's Weekend Banquet speech 
given by AOPA President Phil Boyer at the Greenville Downtown Airport. AOPA 
is launching this sweeping education program to inform the public and 
government officials about general aviation's positive contributions and 
significant economic impact that stretches across America.

Following the tragic events of September 11, the dissemination of 
misinformation caused many Americans and high-level government officials to 
needlessly fear and restrict general aviation. As a result, general aviation 
faces a major backlash that not only threatens the freedom of flight, but 
also is harmful to our national economy.

"Educating Americans about the true facts of general aviation is a top 
priority," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "We must tell the American public 
about the importance of GA to the nation's air transportation system and the 
American economy. In addition, there is a positive safety story that should 
be told."

AOPA has toiled day and night to produce viable solutions that help protect 
our country's national security, while also protecting our ability to fly. 
Our goal has been to restore all aspects of general aviation to as close to 
"normal" as feasible. By raising a minimum of $1 million in the next 60 days, 
AOPA will reach out with radio and television commercials, print 
advertisements, public relations and organize a grass-roots campaign among 
pilots to counter misinformation about general aviation. Our message will 
portray the true face of general aviation; the businesses that rely on it, 
the charitable work our pilots perform, and the safety of our aircraft and 
airports.

"The timing of this effort and the message it will carry are vital to the 
future of general aviation," said Boyer. "The tragic events of September 11 
have given us all a "wake-up call, and AOPA is responding to this call by 
taking on a very proactive initiative that has been sorely needed for years. 
To the pilots and owners of small aircraft, general aviation is an 
alternative form of transportation to the personal automobile, used for 
pleasure and business. The average general aviation aircraft gets its pilot 
and passengers to their destination at twice the speed of an automobile and 
in a more direct route. The public needs to be made aware of the 
infrastructure of 5,300 public-use airports available to general aviation 
aircraft, compared to 600 used by the airlines, with 75% of all air carrier 
flights concentrated at less than 30 hub airports."

Members and interested pilots will receive additional information about the 
General Aviation Rest



Charles Flowers, event chairman, and AOPA President Phil Boyer
    

AOPA President Phil Boyer spoke to an audience of more than 500 at the Wing's 
Weekend Banquet.

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