AOPA Services

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is general aviation's advocate and the largest, most influential aviation association in the world. Its membership of more than 414,000 comprises nearly two-thirds of all pilots in the United States. Visit and bookmark our Web site designed especially to serve the information needs of student pilots. All AOPA Flight Training members, including those with free six-month introductory memberships, have full access to AOPA's resources, including the members-only areas of AOPA Flight Training Online and AOPA Online.

Leaving the nest

You've flown the airport traffic pattern so many times that the tower controller recognizes your voice on the frequency. The practice area holds no surprises either; the cows in the pasture are starting to wave when you pass overhead. It's time for you and your flight instructor to sit down and plan a dual cross-country to a new and unfamiliar airport at least 50 nautical miles from your home base.

It's an exciting milestone in your training, and AOPA is happy to help you. Be sure to review the tools and resources in AOPA Flight Training Online's Virtual Flight Bag. We've packed this bag full of neat stuff that you can use to plan and execute your trip. Once you've chosen your destination airport, you'll be able to obtain airport information and print out taxi diagrams from AOPA's Airport Directory Online. Before you call 800/WX-BRIEF for a weather briefing, check AOPA's online weather. Here, you'll find weather maps, radar and satellite images, and METARs and terminal aerodrome forecasts. Then compare what you see with what the briefer is telling you. (This is a good exercise in compiling the "big picture" when planning a flight.) Don't forget to look for any temporary flight restrictions that might lie across your route! These can pop up with very short notice, so it's good to check for them just before you launch.

Your instructor will have you determine your course with an electronic flight computer or E6B and plot it on a sectional chart, and he or she will expect you to calculate whether you will be carrying enough fuel to get to your destination with the required VFR reserves (and back again, if need be). Once you've laid out the route, use AOPA's Real-Time Flight Planner to validate your fuel burn and distance calculations.

Flying to a new airport is another step in your journey of becoming a pilot. And once you've earned your coveted certificate, new destinations are waiting for you to share with a passenger or two. Use the Virtual Flight Bag to get there safely and enjoyably.

PILOT INFORMATION CENTER Members can receive answers to flight training and other aviation questions, and join or renew by telephone, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday
800/USA-AOPA (872-2672)
Via the Internet	ft.aopa.org/ask
24-HOUR ONLINE MEMBER ASSISTANCE To join or renew, or for information about the free six-month AOPA Flight Training membership, e-mail [email protected] or visit the Web site. A wide variety of aviation information is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
AOPA AIR SAFETY FOUNDATION ONLINE SAFETY CENTER Dedicated to providing general aviation pilot education and safety programs online.
Via the Internet	www.asf.org
Dial	800/638-3101
AOPA MEMBER PRODUCTS
AOPA Aircraft Financing Program	800/62-PLANE
AOPA Aircraft Insurance Program	800/622-AOPA
Non-owned aircraft and CFI policies available
AOPA Credit Card Program	800/523-7666
AOPA Legal Services Plan	800/USA-AOPA
Other products	800/USA-AOPA
RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS
Ask an AOPA flight instructor	ft.aopa.org/ask
AOPA Flight Training magazine article archive	ft.aopa.org/archive
Aviation library	ft.aopa.org/library
Supplemental information arranged by stage of training	ft.aopa.org/student
Virtual flight bag, including online weather and airport directory	ft.aopa.org/flightbag
NEW ADDRESS? Send your new address and membership number to AOPA, 421 Aviation Way, Frederick, Maryland 21701
Fax	301/695-2375
Via the Internet	www.aopa.org/coa-form.html
ONLINE GUIDE TO AOPA MEMBER SERVICES
	www.aopa.org/join/