GA Leader Invokes Hippocratic Oath Before Congress

At a Nov. 17 roundtable, Lorraine Howerton, vice president of legislative affairs for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, harked back to the first lesson medical students learn. "Do no harm," she told leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and aviation subcommittee. "Leaders in Congress and the industry seem to agree that imposing cost or regulatory burdens on aviation would only hurt the industry, especially in a struggling economy," she said. Sitting on the panel were Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), Tom Petri (R-Wis.) and James Oberstar (D-Minn.), all lawmakers with significant experience in general aviation issues. At the forefront of the discussion were user fees, FAA funding and the NextGen air transportation initiative.