December 31, 1996

The following article appeared in the October 1996 issue of AOPA Pilot, the monthly magazine of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA):

"AOPA President Phil Boyer says that former Secretary of Transportation Federico Pena will not be missed by the general aviation community. `Secretary Pena never demonstrated an understanding of the value of general aviation in the nation's air transport system,' said Boyer. `His focus remained on the air carriers. But even then he seemed more concerned about White House politics and DOT (Department of Transportation) politics than the best interests of the aviation system.' Boyer said that Pena's micromanagement of all federal transportation agencies ignored the expertise of many talented government professionals, needlessly delaying and politicizing key decisions."

According to an article in the December 21 Washington Post, Pena "was also a fast learner who was well liked by most of the people he worked with, although there were complaints that he surrounded himself with an inner circle of friends and political allies and did not always listen to the more senior staff."

Happy New Year one and all!

For more information, contact: Stephen O. Dean