AOPA and Sporty’s Pilot Shop, the well-known provider of pilot supplies and flight training materials, announced July 26 a new sponsorship arrangement that continues their long-standing efforts to support general aviation.
Under the agreement, Sporty’s has pledged to support AOPA’s Flying Club Initiative, a nationwide effort to promote existing flying clubs and launch new ones. In particular, Sporty’s will be a co-sponsor of AOPA’s Club Connector e-newsletter, which offers reports on flying club activities and tips for club administration, finances, and insurance.
"At Sporty's, we're passionate about the next generation of aviators, which is why we've worked together with AOPA for nearly 50 years,” said Michael Wolf, Sporty’s president and CEO. “We're proud to continue this partnership, because a strong AOPA is good for aviation."
As part of the new agreement, Sporty’s will also serve as a co-sponsor of the annual AOPA Aviation Summit, which will be Oct. 10 through 12 in Fort Worth, Texas.
“Sporty’s has supported AOPA and our members for decades,” said Ed Thompson, AOPA vice president of corporate partnerships. “Through this enhanced relationship, they are strengthening that commitment by supporting programs and services that AOPA members and pilots benefit from every day.”
Sporty’s is a catalog, online, and retail provider of pilot supplies and aviation educational materials. Each year Sporty’s stages an annual fly-in at its Batavia, Ohio, headquarters, and each Saturday hosts a hotdog cook-out to show appreciation to customers and to give pilots an opportunity to gather and share aviation stories.
“It’s great to have Sporty’s in our court as we work to expand the pilot community and bolster the popularity of flying clubs,” said Adam Smith, AOPA senior vice president of the Center to Advance the Pilot Community. “Everyone in the pilot community knows Sporty’s, and at AOPA, we’re thrilled that our work with them will continue.”
With this new agreement, Sporty’s becomes AOPA’s third Supporting Sponsor in AOPA’s Corporate Partnership Program, joining DTC Duat and Life Line Screening. Strategic Partners in the program include Enterprise Holdings (Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental, Alamo Rent A Car), Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co., Aero-Space Reports, and Bank of America. The AOPA Corporate Partnership program includes three tiers of support: Strategic Partners, Premier Partners, and Supporting Sponsors.
