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.

Weather, weather everywhere

Have you ever heard the cliche, "When a forecaster talks about yesterday's weather, he's an historian; when he talks about tomorrow's, he's reading tea leaves"? It suggests that, among other things, the weather is always changing and any attempt to make a forecast is tantamount to fortune telling.

Pilots don't have the luxury of fortune telling. They must be knowledgeable about the weather so that they can make informed decisions about whether or not to make a flight. And student pilots have to build their weather knowledge in preparation for the checkride and safe skies beyond.

At AOPA Online, aviation neophytes will find a complete list of National Weather Service acronyms and abbreviations, articles from AOPA Flight Training columnist Jack Williams that delve into the specifics of weather and flight; and aviation subject reports on winter flying, thunderstorms, winds, and other meteorological topics.

As you begin to apply your weather knowledge to flight planning, AOPA's free aviation weather service, powered by Jeppesen, provides current and forecast radar and textual reports to help you "see" the conditions that await you en route and at your destination.

Weather Strategies and Weather Tactics, two Safety Advisor publications from the AOPA Air Safety Foundation, give you valuable insights on how to adjust your planning to suit the weather conditions you might encounter (or might want to avoid). ASF also offers safety quizzes on weather topics, and free online interactive courses such as Weather Wise: Precipitation and Icing, as well as two other installments in the Weather Wise series: Ceiling and Visibility, and Thunderstorms and ATC.

If you have other questions about weather, don't forget that our knowledgeable Pilot Information Center staff are available to take your telephone calls weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time. Or, send an e-mail [email protected].

INTERESTED IN LEARNING TO FLY?
Visit AOPA's engaging Web site for people who want to know more about what's involved in learning to fly--and what it's like	www.LetsGoFlying.com
RESOURCES FOR STUDENT PILOTS
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
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
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
ONLINE GUIDE TO AOPA MEMBER SERVICES To join or renew, or for information about AOPA membership, e-mail [email protected] or visit the Web site.
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