From user fees to local airport closures, your direct personal input can affect the political decisions that impact you as a pilot — AVweb has collected links and information to help you drive your message home. First, obviously you’ll need to know who your government representatives are. If you don’t, find your zip code’s “plus-four” extension here and write it down. With that information, find a link to your U.S. Representative’s (Congressman/woman’s) contact information and web site by clicking here, for Representatives. (An alternate source allows you to search a clickable map and lists of representatives, by state.) The process for finding Senators is easier, just select your state from the pulldown menu (upper right) on this page, for Senators. You’ll be provided with contact information and web site links. For a starting point to find Senators, U.S. Representatives, governors and state legislators, or to contact the White House click here, for one stop shopping. Next, the content of your letter will matter.
When contacting your representatives, AOPA suggests that, aside from your opinion, a persuasive letter should include statistics like the number of pilots in your district and state; the number of airports; and the jobs/economic impact generated locally by general aviation. AOPA members are encouraged to contact AOPA for help with that. For non-members, Scripps Howard New Service recently organized statistics that include the total pilots, total GA aircraft and total public/private airports, listed by state. The information was collected from the FAA, AOPA and the TSA. Find the data, here and make your voice heard.
