"Members are always telling me, 'AOPA is the best,' but really, it's you--the members--who make this organization so strong," Boyer told the crowd. "We have more than two-thirds of the entire pilot population in the United States, and that's why we are so effective on Capitol Hill."
More than 3,700 members celebrated the record along with AOPA Day on April 7. Many just wanted to say "thanks."
"You're doing a great job," one member told Boyer. And that only adds fuel to the association's desire to protect your right to fly.
"We work hard," Boyer said, "just so you can focus on having fun and staying safe in the air."
Visit AOPA's Big Yellow Tent at AirVenture
Visiting EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in July is like a rite of passage for many student pilots. If you're planning to fly in, make sure you stop by AOPA's Big Yellow Tent.
You'll have the chance to talk to AOPA staff and learn about the association's Real-Time Flight Planner, AOPA Air Safety Foundation online courses, and more. Plus, you could win some cool prizes like an AOPA beach towel or mug--that is, if you pick up an AOPA sticker when you're at the tent. AOPA's surPRIZE Squad will be out on the prowl.
Plus AOPA's Win a Six in '06 sweepstakes airplane--a Piper Cherokee Six--will be on display right in front of the tent so you can see how the restoration project is progressing.
Aging aircraft? Not a GA problem
Many students learning to fly under FAR Part 61 are using older aircraft, mainly because they are more economical. And AOPA is working to make sure that their flight training remains affordable.
The FAA is claiming that "aging general aviation aircraft impose an increasing threat to safety," which could lead to more regulations and, in turn, higher costs.
But AOPA has facts from 20 years of AOPA Air Safety Foundation accident records which show that for GA aircraft weighing 12,500 pounds or less, the problem of mechanical or maintenance failure because of age is actually declining.
"We need affordable solutions," said Luis Gutierrez, AOPA director of regulatory and certification policy, "not heavy-handed regulations that would force owners to retire their light GA aircraft."
AOPA's review of the accident data conclusively demonstrated that the number of accidents due to mechanical or maintenance failure has declined since 1983, while the average age of the fleet has grown older. The number of structural failures has remained fairly constant.
"We can find practically no evidence that well-maintained GA aircraft flown within their operational envelopes are failing unexpectedly, regardless of age," Gutierrez said.
AOPA argued that aging aircraft safety can be maintained through owner and pilot education rather than regulation. "Each new level of regulation brings unintended consequences," Gutierrez said, "and it often limits the affordable and safe use of the aircraft."
Get 'Weather Wise'
Gathering and interpreting weather information is one of the most important parts of preflight planning. But you must continue to keep a check of the weather in the air--particularly during the summer when thunderstorms can pop up quickly. The AOPA Air Safety Foundation's online course, Weather Wise: Thunderstorms and ATC, explains how recent changes in ATC equipment and procedures can help you to avoid thunderstorms.
You'll learn from the mistakes of other pilots how not to communicate with air traffic control.
But you'll also learn the recent changes in ATC terminology used to describe precipitation and effective strategies for clear communication with ATC so that you will always know what services are being provided.
Remember, proper planning, current weather information, and proper communication with ATC can help you minimize your chances of being surprised by the weather. The course qualifies for FAA Wings safety seminar credit and is free and available to all pilots.
For the latest on AOPA's advocacy efforts for pilots, visit AOPA Online.
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