AOPA Airport Support Network

What Is the AOPA Airport Support Network?

Promote, Protect, and Defend America's Community Airports

AOPA's goal is to have an Airport Support Network (ASN) volunteer at every public-use airport in the United States.

• Why the AOPA Airport Support Network program?
• What does it take to volunteer?
• Volunteer in a click
• What should volunteers do?
• What do I get for being a volunteer?
• The other stuff

Why the AOPA Airport Support Network program?

Pressure on public and privately owned airports continues to mount. This pressure takes many forms, including curfews, noise restrictions, lack of improvements, residential encroachment, and even calls to close the airport.

Often, the general aviation community is totally unaware of what's boiling in the pot concerning their airport—until it is too late to turn the tide. Knowing what's happening in the political environment surrounding a local airport is of the utmost importance if we are going to preserve our general aviation infrastructure into the foreseeable future. The more time available in which to counter negatives about a local airport, the higher the possibility for preserving the airport or avoiding restrictions.

The AOPA Airport Support Network provides the vehicle for AOPA members to work in concert with AOPA to establish that early warning system.

What does it take to volunteer?

AOPA will appoint one member who will act as a volunteer and be our "eyes and ears" at every public-use airport across the United States.

See if your airport needs a volunteer.

Volunteer in a click

Sign up to be the AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer at your community airport.

To sign up, you'll need:

• To be a current AOPA member.
• Internet and e-mail access.
• To nominate yourself or someone else via the online nomination form.
• Letters of recommendation (click here for more information on submitting letters).
• To agree to our Conditions of Appointment (it's a written agreement, which will be sent to you once you have filled out the nomination form. It's just a few guidelines, mostly describing what volunteers do.

AOPA Airport Support Network staff relies heavily on electronic communications. E-mail offers rapid communication, in an efficient and timely manner, as well as an ideal outlet to help distribute relevant information quickly within both the association and the network. Therefore, electronic mail, through Internet access, is an important component of being an AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer.

What should volunteers do?

• Be a liaison to local pilots and/or local pilot groups to help educate them on AOPA's airport advocacy efforts and resources (like those found at www.aopa.org/asn/).
• Monitor and report to AOPA on city and county (sponsor) meetings and notify AOPA of pending problems that may arise.
• Notify AOPA of any questionable operational restrictions (curfews, noise abatement procedures).
• Deliver AOPA correspondence locally as needed.
• Promote AOPA events and AOPA Air Safety Foundation seminars.
• Establish communication channel for AOPA with airport management, advisory committees/commissions, and FBOs on the field.
• Assist in direct/indirect promotion of local airport activity to enhance favorable image of airport (i.e., open houses, airport support groups, and more).
• Help educate local officials and community neighbors about the value of their airport.
• Provide local newspaper clips and media alerts on airport issues to AOPA Airport Support Network staff.
• Be model aviation citizens in their contacts and flying.

What do I get for being a volunteer?

• Certificate of Appointment—suitable for framing/display.
• Invitations to special AOPA Airport Support Network-only dinners, meetings, and events in your area.
• Special logo hat, polo shirt, and pin.
• Access to the AOPA Airport Support Network Volunteers-Only Area of the AOPA Web site.
• Access to AOPA Airport Support Network-only message boards to share stories, ideas, and questions with fellow volunteers.
• Listing on AOPA Web site.
• E-mail alerts on important issues.
• AOPA Airport Support Network technical resources (printed and video).

The other stuff

Becoming appointed by AOPA as the volunteer at a specific airport is not automatic based on one's interest. The appointment as a volunteer in the AOPA Airport Support Network is terminable at any time upon written notice by either the volunteer or AOPA.

AOPA Airport Support Network volunteers are not paid by the association; they do not represent or speak for the association unless specifically granted such authority on a case-by-case basis.

AOPA Airport Support Network volunteers are AOPA's local "eyes" and "ears" — we may call upon you to deliver messages at times but also will rely on you to help us keep our public-use airports open and viable for future generations to enjoy the gift of flight.

Updated Wednesday, July 19, 2006 1:38:11 PM