Aircraft owners spent $730,000 on lobbying in 2Q

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association spent $730,000 in the second quarter to lobby the federal government on legislation regarding airport infrastructure and on the Federal Aviation Administration's budget, according to a disclosure report.

That's up from the $700,000 the trade group spent a year earlier and the $640,000 it spent in the first quarter of 2011.

The general aviation trade group also lobbied the federal government on bills that would allow more private planes to use Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, create penalties for aiming laser pointers at airplanes and establish a new air traffic control system.

The group also lobbied the Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security, the FAA, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Transportation and the Federal Communications Commission, according to the report the group filed July 20 with the House clerk's office.

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