AOPA members keep asking: Have I won the Win a Six in '06 Cherokee Six? Well, the answer is no, not just yet. But don't quit dreaming.
Here's how the process works. Everyone who joins AOPA or renews his or her membership during the sweepstakes period automatically receives an entry. You can also send in an official entry postcard for additional chances to win.
The actual drawing is done by an independent, outside accounting firm. They take all of the entries, assign them a code number, and pop that into their computer. The computer makes a random selection of finalist numbers.
AOPA staff then matches the code numbers to the entries and verifies which of the finalists are eligible to win. Remember, you or an immediate family member must be a current student pilot or certificated pilot to be eligible ( see the official sweepstakes rules).
We create a list of multiple possible winners because, surprisingly, many people who enter don't meet the simple eligibility requirements. But if the first person on that list qualifies, they win the airplane. If they don't, we go to number two and so on.
So that's the process.
And now here's the status: The list of winners was pulled about a week ago. As of today, we're working to verify their eligibility. We do that by asking them to fill out an affidavit that verifies that they qualify to be a winner. Once those forms are returned and we have a confirmed winner, we begin the process of how to make that giveaway a fun and exciting experience. Not that winning a one-of-kind Cherokee Six needs any help!
Stand by for further developments!
And make sure you're entered in this year's AOPA Catch-A-Cardinal Sweepstakes and a chance to win a Cessna 177 Cardinal - fixed up as only AOPA can do it.
More to come!
Updated: January 26, 2007, 12:32 p.m. EST