Thinking Freedom -- On The Ground And In The Sky

(We read with great interest AOPA President Phil Boyer's Fourth of July remarks and thought you'd want to do so as well. -- ed.)

As we wind up a long weekend and celebrate our country's independence, I'd like to ask each of you to take a minute to think about our freedoms and what it takes to keep them alive.

As pilots in the United States we enjoy a freedom not found almost anywhere else in the world. Only here can just about anyone with passion and determination learn to fly and obtain a pilot certificate. And once you have that certificate, you can fly in many areas of this great country without government permission or intervention.

But with that freedom comes the responsibility to fly safely, to use common sense, and to abide by all the safety and security regulations. Sadly, a very few have not, and that is giving cause to some in Congress and the federal government to want to take away some of our freedoms. The rights of the majority are being threatened by the careless actions of a very few.

Please, enjoy your freedom to fly, but fly responsibly, and encourage every pilot you meet to do the same.

Happy 4th!

Phil

FMI: www.aopa.org