Member Services

Nearly every pilot knows of a nice little airstrip that went under a developer's backhoe. The fact is that on average one public-use airport closes every two weeks. The next one to go could be yours - and what good is your hard-earned private pilot certificate if you don't have an airport to fly out of?

This trend, coupled with several lengthy battles like the one to save Chicago's Meigs Field, prompted AOPA to create the AOPA Airport Support Network - a grass-roots effort aimed at protecting public airports. ASN and its corps of dedicated volunteers are an early-warning system to alert the pilot community about illegal curfews, discriminatory restrictions, and closure threats. ASN volunteers are watchdogs in a sense because they keep AOPA informed about potential problems, but they are also advocates who promote their airports to local communities.

ASN volunteers serve as liaisons to local pilots and pilot groups. They monitor city and county meetings and hearings that concern their airports. They collect and report weekly fuel prices for the AOPA database; promote Pilot Town Meetings and Air Safety Foundation seminars; and submit newspaper clippings on GA issues to AOPA's Communications Division - to name a few.

AOPA's goal is to have an ASN volunteer at every public-use airport in the country. To date there are more than 1,325 volunteers - but more are needed. Does your airport have one? You can search the volunteer database on AOPA Online ( www.aopa.org/members/forms/asn/mgetv.html ). If you are an AOPA member, you can contact your home airport's volunteer via e-mail to keep him or her apprised of any developing issues. (Nonmembers can e-mail ASN directly at the same URL.)

Check the listing at www.aopa.org/asn/airportintro.html to find out if your airport needs an ASN volunteer.

Could you be an ASN volunteer? Why not review the nomination criteria at www.aopa.org/asn/whatis.html (you must have e-mail and Internet access to participate, as all communications with ASN volunteers are conducted via e-mail and private-access Web sites). Student pilots will be considered, although the organization does prefer that applicants hold at least private pilot privileges - which provide an appreciation of aircraft and airport operations issues.