Birth an AOPA Member

[JeffSKDTW]

This is a challenge to everyone here. Period.

As many of you know, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) works diligently to promote general aviation and, more recently, to combat the onslaught of political knee-jerk reactions that are becoming so prevalent in today's hypersensitive climate.

Many here have personally experienced the difficulties associated with new flight restrictions over New York, Chicago, Presidential retreats locations, and even Disney World. Although some of these restrictions have good intent, they are often over-reaching and/or ineffective. That is when AOPA steps in. Not only does AOPA battle companies like TIME magazine which recently ran ads showing a Cessna parked with a Nuclear Powerplant in the background suggesting what a terrorist could do to a powerplant with a small plane, but they continuously work to stave off politicians that run amuck--Daley-cide.

However, now more than ever, they are required to fight battles on many fronts, such as against Chicago's Mayor Daley, New Jersey's Congressman Steven Rothman's (D-N.J.) proposal to ban GA aircraft within 15 miles of NYC, or Michigan's current law requiring criminal background check of all flight students.

There is an easy way to help promote AOPA, which won't cost you anything and may actually save you the cost of one year of annual dues (if you get three friends to become members (just have them give the rep your name and AOPA number.))

So, here is the challenge: I challenge each of you to either become a member of AOPA yourself or find at least one other person to join. It's that simple.

There are so many benefits to becoming a member, plus the help in funding these fights that help us all! For specifics on member benefits, see the AOPA website here: http://www.aopa.org/

Regards,

 

[Palerider957]

Many of the pilots on this board are AOPA members. I am a strong supporter of GA and this whole Meigs castastrophe just reinforces my support.

 

[ShawnC]

Or EAA members.

 

[avbug]

I quit AOPA after being a long-time member. I came back, and quit again. Probably the one single thing that did it for me was sitting through days of hearings on the SFAR Grand Canyon airspace some years ago. It was the very poor and weak presentation and showing put up by AOPA...perhaps the weakest of any presented.

Perhaps it was the insurance programs offered to pilots...that don't cover pilots when flying an airplane. Or the constant expensive glitzy ads trying to gain membership, or repeatedly sent to members in error...which could have been spent on better uses.

I am an aircraft builder, and was an EAA flight counselor, but I let that lapse, too. I was disgusted at the high prices charged for Oshkosh, and the requirement put out to make everyone through the gate an EAA member in order to boost numbers for a better PAC showing in congress. Not at all what Paul Poberezney set out to do at the outset.

I'm not saying they don't do any good: they do. However, they've become too big and bloated, and ineffectual for their intent. Too much talk, not enough do.

 

[AirSeattle]

Avbug,

Are you saying that the 39-bucks a year could be spent better somewhere else to support our aviation endeavours?

joel

 

[Vladimir Lenin]

I thought that blatant commercial solicitation was banned on this forum?

 

[JeffSKDTW]

Blatant commercial solicitation??? Blah.

I am not soliciting anything for myself, just supporting a group that I believe in. There is no difference between my recitation of accolades above and saying that I just bought a cool, new GPS by XXX, you guys should also consider buying it because it provides these feature. No difference.

Call this a product endorsement if you'd like.

 

[fulcrum]

Aopa

Aopa is the best service avaliable for general aviation, i am a proud memeber and i urge every single student of mine to do the same.
thanks Aopa for everything.
fulcrum

 

[Vladimir Lenin]

Call this a product endorsement if you'd like.

mmk, Mr. Boyer, no harm no foul

 

[CaptainRon]

I'm not saying they don't do any good: they do. However, they've become too big and bloated, and ineffectual for their intent. Too much talk, not enough do.

I do believe they have plenty to do right now.

 

[Pilotadjuster]

AOPA

Best $39.00 I spend every year. They do more to help GA than any other organization, and are the largest so they have the loudest voice where it counts.

---also think NAFI is worth the bucks myself, as they help a bit too (through EAA) and I'd pay about 1/2 the membership amount for Flying Mag anyway...

 

[dmspilot00]

I have been an AOPA member since 2000, however I have to agree with AvBug to a certain extent.

I think the vast of mail I received before joining could have paid for the membership.

It also seems that AOPA ruins everything it touches (Flight Training magazine, BeAPilot commercials).

 

[Flying Illini]

Ok, so AOPA has stumbled here and there but all GA pilots must admit that since 9/11/01 AOPA has been the only thing keeping politicians from removing all GA aircraft from the skies (ok, slight exageration ). But we all must admit that it is a **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** good thing to have an organization dedicated to the furthering of GA working for you and getting issues taken care of in DC. Hey, if it weren't for AOPA we may still be avoiding Nuclear plants by 10nm and 3000' (and let me tell you, when your airport is right on the fringe of that 10nm ring, it makes it tough on flight training). Overall, AOPA has been incredibly good to me and GA IMHO.

oh yeah, and since I have an AOPA credit card (5% off at FBO's) i only pay $37 a year.

 

[Flying Illini]

I'm not sure why all the CENSORED appeared in my above post...I'm pretty sure I didn't swear. Oh well.

 

[Birdstrike]

but you were thinking it.

 

[bobbysamd]

AOPA

Lemme clue you in on two important AOPA benies:

1. The medical counselors. As an AOPA member you can obtain confidential advice about concerns or problems with your medical. About a year and a half ago I decided to get back my First after not having a medical for eight years. I had some concerns and the counselor addressed each one. It gave me great peace of mind.

2. The legal counselors. From time to time people write posts about FAA scrapes in which they find themselves. Invariably, the advice given is to seek legal counseling. AOPA provides such counseling, again, confidentially. It's hard to give precise legal advice over the phone and it is inadvisable to try, but the AOPA counselors know when to quit and when to refer you to an aviation attorney.

Notwithstanding the voice AOPA provides for general aviation, I feel these two benefits are reason enough to join AOPA.

 

[350DRIVER]

posted by avbug

I quit AOPA after being a long-time member.

I let my membership expire as well...

Perhaps it was the insurance programs offered to pilots...that don't cover pilots when flying an airplane. Or the constant expensive glitzy ads trying to gain membership, or repeatedly sent to members in error...which could have been spent on better uses.

I agree completely, especially when they (AOPA) continue to send mailings and ads almost weekly to "attempt" to get me to rejoin- I don't think these marketing techniques are in the best interest of GA and that money should be spent elsewhere....

3 5 0

wishful thinking is one thing but "reality" is an another...

 

[T-Gates]

I checked into AOPA's car insurance. I figured mabye they wouldn't be so harsh when I put PILOT as my current occupation. They quoted me 3x times more than what I currently pay. When I called to ask why, they told me that it was because I was a pilot. They said I was at high risk for a moving violation. All this from a company that gives a special offer to pilots. I laughed at them and hung up.

--03M

 

[LAZYB]

Ditto bobbysamd

I don't agree with everything they do and say, but like bobbysamd posted, they have some great resources, AND they are strong represenatives for aviation! - which we need!

 

[flyhi]

AOPA is worth every penny!

Been a member since 1996 and i don't think there is another organization out their that protects and fights for GA as AOPA does.

Their legal services plan is also well worth the money. If you get in a jam, you call and talk to a lawyer for 30 minutes FREE, then, if by chance you go to trial, ALL of your representation is FREE unless you decide to appeal the decision. Well worth it!

flyhi

 

[Prop Trash]

All GA pilots should be AOPA members. All airline pilots should be ALPA members (or other recognized labor union). Being a member of both would be great, but since the benefits overlap so much, AOPA dues seem like a waste of money to me.

 

[LearLove]

I'm both a 10+ year AOPA and EAA member. Although I'm not familiar with the Grand Canyon situation being an east coast guy I agree with Avbug in both his views on EAA and AOPA. However, both the EAA and AOPA are the best out there (looking at what we have to work with) for the reasons Bobbysamd stated and more. Either way both do a much better job than ALPA in their respective areas.

 

[LearLove]

Prop Trash are you nuts? ALPA $ucks donkey balls.

 

[uavchaser]

ya the AOPA car insurance thing is a total joke. I insure my airplane through them and they are supposed to give some sort of discount. I couldn't even qualify for the car insurance but my airplane with an $80k hull value is nooooo problem.

 

[BoxFlyr]

I agree with Avbug on this one. I do believe that AOPA does some good, but I'm not sure how well it is managed. I got tired of getting renewal notices starting 6mos before my membership expired and the constant solicitations for my money to help fight aviation causes. I wrote Mr. Boyer a letter telling him that he would have alot more money to fight his causes with if he would just send out ONE renewal notice a month before expiration. Mr. Boyer sent me a full page letter saying that many members felt the same as I did, and I would be put on a list that would only get one renewal letter.(More wasted money!) The next year it was the same as usual, about 6mos. before my membership expiration, the renewal notices would start. I DID NOT RENEW! I'm still getting notices wanting me to reactivate my membership, and that's been FOUR YEARS AGO! Boxflyr

 

[Gulfstream 200]

I agree, I left AOPA due to the 4000 F'n pieces of junk mail in my box daily. That was just a little TOO much for me!!

 

[Joseph II]

Me 2

My membership expires at the end of July and I am going to let it expire.

A few reasons:

I would rather spend $40 on renting an airplane.

I only called the AOPA phone number asking them a question once and they didn't know the answer.

I am sick of the renewal notices.

The magazine... I subscribe to Flying and AOPA and I think discovered what pilot magazines are really about... First they write about an airplane that you probably won't ever fly because you are too poor. Then you get an important person writing about 9/11 and it's detrimental affects. Throw in some, "Regionals are hiring right now!!! Come to our school to get in on the hiring!". Finally... they rotate the stories through every year.. Winter Ice, Spring T-storms, Summer BIG T-Storms, Fall wind and ice, throw in a few X-wind and density altitude stories, stories about flying VFR into the clouds, and finish with tips on Garmin GPS navigation tips. Repeat same stories with new graphics next year.

Maybe I'm just tired of post 9/11 small airplane this, terrorist that... I don't know.