President's Perspective

Staying Informed About Airports

Managing a business and flying an airplane have much in common. Both require knowledge, experience, judgment, and finesse. In both business and flying, situations can change from moment to moment. Having the knowledge (preflight planning) and experience (flight hours, ratings) allows good judgment (in-flight decisions) to be executed, usually without flaws (making the passengers or customers think it's easy). In both roles, surprises are very rarely welcome.

Since 1991, when I first sat in the left seat at AOPA, I've tried to avoid surprises for our members by doing as thorough a "preflight" as possible on each management decision for the association. After collecting every possible bit of information, often with the assistance of a very capable staff, I ask myself, "What's in the best long-term interest of the typical AOPA member?"

One such management decision in 1998 brought AOPA's Airport Directory to the Web ( www.aopa.org ). Member feedback on that decision has been both overwhelming and favorable, but one recurring theme was a surprise: Many features I'd thought would be valuable only to already-certificated pilots have turned out to be immensely beneficial to student pilots and their flight instructors.

One of the biggest advantages of an online directory is the ability to keep information current. AOPA's Airport Directory Online is tied directly to the massive database, so when a change occurs the updated information is available instantly. One AOPA staff member who instructs on weekends told me that the online directory saved him embarrassment on a recent night dual cross-country. He and his student were reviewing the online listing for their destination when he saw that the runway light activation frequency had changed just the day before. Just the thought of a no-light night landing was enough to make the student appreciate the value of current information, too.

Just this year, AOPA's Airport Directory Online added enhancements that make it even better for all pilots, especially student pilots.

Fuel prices, which are kept current by AOPA Airport Support Network volunteers, are now available with FBO and facility information for many airports. In these days of astronomical fuel prices, many pilots flying on a budget find that kind of "no surprises" preflight information invaluable when planning fuel stops. In addition, listings note which FBOs qualify for the 5 percent rebate on purchases made with an AOPA credit card.

Kneeboard format lets you print directory listings on a standard 8.5 by 11-inch sheet of paper that, when folded in half, fits neatly on an aviation kneeboard - helpful for avoiding clutter.

Taxiway diagrams for many airports make it easier to study the airport layout in advance, minimizing the chance for confusion when the tower barks, "Left on Charlie, right on X-ray, hold on the outer parallel short of Sierra for a Boeing 747, expedite!" CFIs tell me those large, easy-to-read diagrams are ideal for teaching runway incursion avoidance, a current hot topic.

Member comments can point out good restaurants near an airport, highlight particularly good (or bad) FBOs, or provide helpful transportation information. One AOPA member reported picking a particular Atlanta-area GA airport for a business trip because a member comment pointed to the availability of rapid rail transit within walking distance of one of the FBOs.

U.S. terminal procedures include downloadable instrument approach charts. Instrument-rated pilots obviously benefit from this free AOPA service, but many CFIs also use them to help beginning pilots understand the flow of traffic around an airport.

AOPA's Handbook for Pilots, out of print for over a decade, has been updated and is now available online. Among other things, this unique reference includes hundreds of contact phone numbers and addresses. Among them: FAA offices, ATC facilities, aviation organizations, navigation and communications frequencies, and information on high density traffic airports and general airport operations.

Soon AOPA's Airport Directory Online will allow you to download directory information to your personal computer or PDA. Also planned is a special use airspace database that will provide never-before-available scheduling information on restricted areas, MOAs, and the like, updated every six minutes.

These improvements should come as no surprise to long-time AOPA members, who expect AOPA to help make their flying safer, more fun, and as affordable as possible.

A good pilot is always learning, and we'll continue to do our best to make your learning experience one with few unpleasant surprises.