AOPA Project Pilot

www.AOPAProjectPilot.org

AOPA's Project Pilot provides members with the tools to find viable flight training candidates and support them as student pilots with the wisdom and encouragement of experienced pilots through mentoring. A student with a Project Pilot Mentor is three times more likely to successfully complete his or her training. This exciting program is available free to all AOPA members. You don't have to be a CFI to participate. All it takes is someone who wants to share the joy of general aviation and a few minutes a week to help them along.

A message from Erik Lindbergh
What's important

What is truly important in this long strange journey of life? What has the most meaningful impact? People! I would submit that the biggest pot of gold at the end of the rainbow of life is not the stuff that we own or the money we've banked, but the connections made and experiences shared with people during extraordinary times. Often these experiences are shared with mentors, who provide their expertise to less experienced individuals in order to help them advance their careers, enhance their education, and build their networks. Some of the world's most successful people have benefited from a mentor relationship. Richard Branson, Alexander the Great, actor Heath Ledger, and cyclist Lance Armstrong all had mentors supporting their success.

The best mentor relationships are the ones that flow in both directions. Over the past seven or eight years, my pilot friend Gregg Maryniak has shared with me a tremendous amount of his expertise on aviation history, business acumen, jokes (although I can't seem to remember most of these), electronics, and public speaking. Occasionally, he even launches into orbital mechanics. The cool thing is that he takes the time to explain it in a way that makes sense — even to me!

There's not a lot of gratification on Earth that can equal the times when I too have been able to impart some of my knowledge and experience to a friend — especially when that someone is as bright as Gregg. A few years back on a flight to Frasca Field in Illinois we experienced some mechanical difficulties, and I used my flight instructor skills to assess the situation, make some rational decisions, and successfully continue the flight home. Afterward, Gregg thanked me for my skills and poise! This meant a lot coming from a guy who learned to fly when he was 17, and who has run some very prestigious institutions.

The bottom line is this: The most successful people I know have a variety of mentor/mentee relationships. That is why we want you to become an AOPA Project Pilot Mentor and experience the richness of passing along some of that precious knowledge that really is the best that life has to offer. Who knows? You might even learn something along the way.

Meet Erik Lindbergh in person at Expo!
AOPA Project Pilot's Invitation to Fly

Bring someone you know who has always dreamed of flying but has yet to take that first step, or first flight. Both of you will enjoy this fun and informative session with AOPA Project Pilot spokesman Erik Lindbergh and AOPA Air Safety Foundation Safety Instructor Mark Grady. Hear how Lindbergh, grandson of Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh, didn't actually start flying until a friend encouraged him to start. And learn how — and why — you can do the very same thing for a friend to help him earn his wings. You'll have a great time and the future pilot you bring will get hooked on general aviation as he hears about the excitement, benefits, and conveniences of GA. 

Thursday 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Saturday 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
San Jacinto Room

For more information or to nominate someone for AOPA Project Pilot, please go to the Web site.