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Former Sen. Jim Inhofe dies at 89; championed general aviation

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Former Sen. Jim Inhofe dies at 89; championed general aviation
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Ivy Ericksen Publisher | AVweb

Former Sen. Jim Inhofe, a steadfast supporter of general aviation, passed away early Tuesday at the age of 89. His family announced that he became ill over the holiday weekend and died surrounded by family just before 5 a.m. The New York Times reported that he died of a stroke.

Inhofe served 20 years in the Senate and sponsored numerous bills supporting general aviation, including the Pilot’s Bill of Rights, which reinforced individual rights for pilots within the regulatory framework. An experienced pilot himself, Inhofe had encounters with authorities that his legislation aimed to address. He was sanctioned by the FAA for landing on a closed runway under construction and had several rough landings, including one at age 81 in Ketchum, Oklahoma.

Despite these incidents, Inhofe was a prominent figure in the aviation community, advocating for general aviation throughout his tenure at Capitol Hill. “Sen. Inhofe was a master legislator and general aviation’s great champion,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “His Discharge Petition, General Aviation Revitalization Act, Pilots Bill of Rights, Basic Med and numerous FAA Reauthorization bills that have protected general aviation’s access to airspace and airports represent just a fraction of what Jim Inhofe has done to promote aviation,” Bolen added. “There is no one who has done more to help the United States have the largest, safest, most diverse and most efficient aviation system in the world. We will miss him greatly.”

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EAA Chairman Jack Pelton echoed these sentiments: “Jim Inhofe had a remarkable, positive influence on the growth and preservation of general aviation as a member of Congress. His passion for aviation, as well as his in-depth knowledge on the workings of Congress, provided countless results that benefited those of us who fly.” Pelton noted that EAA awarded Inhofe their highest honor, the Freedom of Flight Award, in 2022.

Outside of aviation, Inhofe was known for his staunch denial of human-caused climate change and was recognized as Washington’s “most conservative politician.” He opposed abortion rights, L.G.B.T.Q. rights, health care legislation, and campaign-finance reforms while supporting capital punishment, gun rights, counterterrorism powers, offshore oil drilling, and constitutional amendments requiring balanced budgets and banning flag desecration.

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