It is well known I am not a fan of AOPA, or rather that is what some have concluded! I am not picking yet another "fight" with AOPA, but since the letter has been set out here it deserves comment.
Firstly I am pleased to see that AOPA are involved in this issue and Marin has taken the trouble to write.
However, and as ever, I think it is vital letters such as this should be factually correct.
It is not true to say that AOPA represents the interests of people involved in GA flying. AOPA is one of a number of representative bodies and at that in terms of the number of members by far and away not the largest. On an issue such as this I would have thought a joint response from the major representative bodies would have been useful and more importantly would have carried far greater weight.
Why is it that our representative bodies appear to strive to bat on their own wicket on matters that are of vital interest to everyone involved with private aviation? I cannot imagine why a "select committee" drawn from all the major players could not be established that would be briefed with dealing with issues such as this where I imagine their would be a single common goal.
The letter implies there is a lack of co-ordination between the Customs, police force and security agencies. Whilst I have no idea whether or not that statement is true, it seems a dangerous allegation to lay at the Governments door unless you are able to give some examples, in which case the letter should do so.
I wonder why the letter ends with "I am available for discussions etc". This in itself is defeatists. I would far rather something more positive and pro-active.
I could comment further.
Never the less well done for writing in the first place.