You can find a future pilot
That's the approach that your association used during its annual Fly-In and Open House at our Frederick, Maryland, headquarters on June 4. We gave prospective pilots the chance to talk with a flight instructor, sit in the cockpit of a Cessna 172 trainer, and win free introductory flights. Nearly 250 people -- frankly, we had hoped for 30 -- attended one of three hour-long seminars on how to start learning to fly, and 15 of those prospective pilots won a free first flight.
Most of these prospective aviators were brought to the fly-in by fellow pilots of all skill levels. Take Kathie Burchfield of York, Pennsylvania, as an example. She and her husband, who had just received his private pilot certificate in the mail, attended AOPA's Fly-In for the first time. And now Kathie wants to get a taste of GA. "I want to at least pick up the basics so I can help him with navigation," said Kathie, who has flown with her husband a couple of times already and is excited by the prospect of taking the controls of the aircraft during her introductory flight.
Whether you are a student or a seasoned pilot, you are an ambassador poised to share with the public a better understanding of what it takes to learn how to fly -- and, indeed, of general aviation overall.
The pilots of tomorrow are your friends, family, and coworkers. And if you ask them, there's at least a fair chance they'll admit to having once harbored dreams of being a pilot. Perhaps they still do, and with helpful resources available through AOPA Project Pilot, you can help them turn that dream into reality. Often all it takes to create a new pilot is for someone in aviation to proactively find a person who's always had an interest in learning to fly, answer his questions, and encourage him to take that first step -- going to the local flight school for an introductory lesson.
Are you apprehensive about getting involved because you're a brand-new pilot, or still a student? Don't be -- time and time again we've seen that excited, enthusiastic new aviators often are our most effective advocates.
If those individuals you identify are truly interested in becoming pilots and have the time and financial resources to do so, nominate them for AOPA Project Pilot. Offer to assist them, not as their instructor but as their friend and mentor, through the training process. Answer questions and provide encouragement as the new student pilot goes through the challenging experience of flight lessons. In doing so, you'll help change myopic attitudes about GA. Your nominee, formerly unaware of the excitement, joy, and value of GA, will be able to see the truth from the best possible viewpoint -- the pilot's seat of a GA aircraft.
AOPA Project Pilot has been around since 1994. Tens of thousands of AOPA members have identified an even larger number of potential new pilots -- and then helped them begin the journey, especially the critical initial steps.
Shortly after you nominate a friend or coworker for AOPA Project Pilot, information and welcome packs will arrive for both you and your prospective pilot. The prospective student receives materials valued at more than $45, including an AOPA Flight Training introductory membership for six months, six free issues of this magazine, and AOPA's updated Joy of Flying video that illustrates and answers most newcomer questions.
The full services and support of AOPA will be behind you and the new student pilot, including AOPA's toll-free Pilot Information Center at 800/USA-AOPA (872-2672) and AOPA Flight Training Online.
Being a mentor is easy and fun. Helping friends and coworkers see and understand the joy of general aviation has never been more important -- and could not be more rewarding. To learn more about AOPA Project Pilot, or to nominate a friend or coworker, go to the Web page.
Both my wife and I have mentored several neighbors and friends; all obtained pilot certificates, and several earned advanced ratings. In every case we gained a tremendous sense of personal satisfaction when we helped someone through the process of learning to fly. The next new pilot might live down the street from you, or work in the office next to yours. So take a look around, and strike up the conversation today. Why make somebody wait any longer to share in the joy of flight that you've already discovered?
For more information on AOPA Project Pilot, visit the Web page.
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