Membership Services
New members push AOPA past 415,000
New members push AOPA past 415,000
When Bruce Yonehiro of San Francisco and Dan Maggart of Chambersburg, Ill., signed up for AOPA membership last week they had no idea just how significant it would be. They joined within minutes of each other, making them AOPA’s 415,000th and 415,001st members.
Yonehiro learned to fly five years ago at Gnoss Field in nearby Novato, Calif., but admits, “I haven’t been flying much lately.”
With a change in job circumstances; however, he’s looking forward to more time in the air. And that’s where AOPA enters the story. He received a mailing from AOPA and joined because it’s a “good organization with many benefits.”
“I also got suckered in by the hype about having a chance at winning the sweepstakes airplane,” he said with a chuckle.
A new perspective
Maggart, meanwhile, is an active private pilot and an agronomist. Living in a rural area where farmers grow corn and beans, he uses his piloting skills to take the farmers up in the air for a new perspective.
“They get to view the crops in their fields as well as their neighbors’ crops,” said Maggart. “I do a lot of that type of flying during crop-growing season.”
Having firsthand experience in the matter, Maggart also understands the need to protect airports. He learned to fly about four years ago at a grass strip in Taylor, Mo. Unfortunately, that airstrip no longer exists. AOPA’s airport resources are available to assist members in protecting their airports from closure.
Maggart is now a member of a flying club based at Schuy-Rush Airport in Rushville, Ill., which owns a Cessna 172. He plans to begin instrument training in the next couple of years.
Membership benefits
AOPA’s extensive member benefits offer something for everyone. Yonehiro is especially looking forward to receiving AOPA Pilot each month and reading about flying. He says the magazine has “good articles, is informative, and an excellent resource about the aviation community.”
He also anticipates hearing from AOPA about developments in the GA industry and becoming more aware of issues facing other pilots and general aviation overall. As a new member, Yonehiro already feels “connected to other pilots.”
Maggart looks forward to accessing the members-only section of AOPA Online for flight planning information, such as notams, temporary flight restrictions, and weather. A pilot with “borderline high blood pressure,” Maggart also anticipates using AOPA’s medical resources.
“Getting my medical may be an issue in the future, so I will benefit from assistance provided by AOPA’s medical department,” he said.
As AOPA membership grows, your association’s advocacy voice becomes stronger to protect general aviation at the local, state, and national levels. Join us or renew your membership today.
February 4, 2008
February 4, 2008
