President's Perspective

AOPA helps you avoid surprises

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 (from your preflight planning) and experience (from flight hours and certificates/ratings) allows you to exercise good judgment (in-flight decisions), 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 brought AOPA's Airport Directory to the Web and changed the print edition from an annual to a biennial publication. The hefty printed book -- the 2005-2006 edition, which just went to press in January, has 696 pages -- is available for $39.95 through Sporty's Pilot Shop, but AOPA members can receive a free copy. The book includes listings for more than 5,300 public-use airports; more than 2,000 private-use airports; and more than 5,400 airport businesses, including 2,547 flight schools. There is information on 28,000 restaurants and lodgings, 15,000 taxi services and car rental agencies, and 11,000 local attractions.

The printed directory is a benefit of paid AOPA membership; AOPA Flight Training introductory members who join the association -- and continue to receive the magazine after the six-month trial expires -- can request a copy. However, all members can access AOPA's Airport Directory Online.

Member feedback on the online directory has been both overwhelming and favorable, but there was a surprise: Many features I'd thought would be valuable only to already-certificated pilots have turned out to be immensely beneficial to students and their 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 any data are updated, the new information is available instantly. One AOPA staff member who instructs on weekends told me that the online directory saved him embarrassment on a 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 only the day before. The student learned an important lesson about the value of current information.

Each year, AOPA's Airport Directory Online adds enhancements that make it even better for all pilots, especially student pilots. New in 2005 to both the online and print editions are discrete toll-free telephone numbers for each FAA Automated Flight Service Station. These numbers allow pilots to call a specific facility to request local notams, close a VFR flight plan, or obtain a preflight briefing -- calling the universal 800-WX-BRIEF number, which remains the primary phone number for FAA flight services, by cell phone often routes your call to the facility that serves your home airport.

For many years, the online directory's advanced search capabilities have allowed users to search for airports based on runway lengths, available fuel types, and other characteristics. The online-only kneeboard format lets you print FSS phone numbers and other airport data from 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. Business listings note which FBOs qualify for the 5-percent rebate on purchases made with an AOPA credit card, helping to save you money on flight training, aircraft rental, and fuel purchases.

Taxiway diagrams for towered airports make it easier to study the airport layout in advance, minimizing the chance for confusion. CFIs tell me those large, easy-to-read diagrams are ideal for teaching runway incursion avoidance, a current hot topic. And the directory includes more diagrams for nontowered airports than ever before.

Member comments can point out good restaurants near an airport, highlight particularly good (or bad) FBOs, or provide helpful transportation information. U.S. terminal procedures include downloadable instrument approach charts; many CFIs use them to help beginning pilots understand the flow of traffic around an airport.

Years of enhancements and continuing 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.