Florida Legislators attend AOPA

Florida Legislators Visit AOPA

Tampa, Florida was the backdrop for the AOPA Summit held November 5-7, 2009 and what a perfect backdrop it was. It was a ‘Chamber of Commerce’ trio of days that had sunshine and bright blue skies to welcome aircraft owners and pilots to The Sunshine State.

As FATA members are aware, the Association along with assistance from AOPA and the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) have worked with legislators the past two sessions to have a use tax exemption put into law. The exemption would encourage, not punish, new aircraft owners to come to Florida during the first six months of ownership. It will also allow those seeking flight training in their aircraft or to have repairs and/or modifications done to aircraft during the first 6 months of ownership, to due so for as long as it takes to complete training or work on their aircraft with no threat of a use tax.

Senator Mike Fasano (R-11) introduced Senate Bill 220 and Representative Ralph Poppell (R-29) introduced House Bill 173 that when passed and signed by the Governor, Charlie Crist will remedy the problem that has kept new aircraft owners from coming to Florida. At the AOPA Summit both Representative Poppell and Senator Fasano were in attendance to show they were working diligently to pass this legislation.

Representative Poppell met with attendees on Friday in a session titled, Pilots and Politics where he encouraged everyone to get involved in local, state and federal politics. Senator  Fasano met with AOPA President, Craig Fuller center stage on AOPA Live and talked about the importance of aviation in Florida. FATA lobbyist, Eric Prutsman was with Senator Fasano and will again work with FATA on this legislation. 

We thank AOPA for their assistance with the legislation and look forward to a successful legislative session in Tallahassee in 2010.