AOPA's Real-Time Flight Planner proves worth at Sun 'n Fun

AOPA's Real-Time Flight Planner proves worth at Sun 'n Fun

AOPA staff provided one- on-one attention to visitors.

AOPA showcased its services to more than 6,000 spectators from around the world at Sun 'n Fun in Lakeland, Florida, last week. Those who visited the big yellow tent learned how they could keep their flying safe, fun, and affordable.

AOPA staff assisted more than 4,500 members through Friday - 230 renewed their membership on the spot after learning about AOPA's services, and 75 signed up for new membership. Many started or renewed their membership to have free access to AOPA's Real-Time Flight Planner powered by Jeppesen.

Visitors received personalized demonstrations of the flight planner's capabilities, learning how to plan flights from their home airports, enter and save their aircraft profile, and overlay the weather onto their route. After a tour of the program, one member proclaimed, "This is the best thing since skim milk." The flight planner allows you to file your flight plan online, store up to five aircraft profiles and 10 routes, see graphically depicted temporary flight restrictions, and more. Another member was so impressed with its capabilities that he dubbed the program "silly good."

AOPA helped to keep the "fun" in Sun 'n Fun throughout the week with daily prize drawings, but the association pulled out all the stops on Friday, AOPA Day. AOPA's Surprize Squad set out to give away one Garmin 296 handheld GPS and five AOPA watches from Sporty's. ( See video of the Surprize Squad pulling over the lucky winners.) Another five watches and a second handheld GPS were given away that day through a drawing.

To catch up on all the industry news and AOPA activities during Sun 'n Fun, see " News from Sun 'n Fun 2005."

April 18, 2005