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.

Welcome to our world

You've just returned from an introductory flying lesson, and it was like nothing you've ever experienced. The view! The noise! The moment of surprise when the certificated flight instructor let you take the control yoke and do the flying yourself! All too soon, you and he were guiding the airplane back to the airport and landing. But that was enough to hook you-you're ready to begin learning to fly.

If you're reading this issue of AOPA Flight Training, you might be ready to take that step, or perhaps you've completed your first lesson and can't wait to fly again. Either way, you should know that AOPA is ready to help you achieve your aviation goals.

We start by offering you a omplimentary six-month membership to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Take advantage of this offer; it's the best way to sample everything we do for pilots. Your membership entitles you to six issues of AOPA Flight Training as well as ePilot Flight Training Edition-the weekly electronic newsletter developed especially for student pilots.

There's much more. Get full access to all of the features on AOPA Online (www.aopa.org) and AOPA Flight Training Online (http://ft.aopa.org). Use our searchable database to locate a flight instructor or flight school. Learn from the experts about proficiency, safety, weather, flight planning, and other topics. Trade ideas with pilots on our members-only forums. Find plain-language guidance for all stages of training, from pre-solo all the way through to your practical test.

Want more? How about a staff of experienced pilots available to take your phone calls each weekday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern? Our Pilot Information Center staff can answer your questions; no question is too small.

Ask your flight instructor to sign you up, or enroll online (http://ft.aopa.org/enroll). We can't wait to get you started on this amazing journey!