AOPA Action

Four steps to Summit savings

Registration is open for the AOPA Aviation Summit and it's time to plan your trip to Tampa. There are many new and exciting opportunities for student pilots, CFIs, and even those who are just dreaming about flying (see "Preflight: Fun in the Sun"). AOPA offers a variety of programs that have been designed to help you plan an exciting, budget-friendly experience for the entire family. Just follow our four steps to Summit savings:

1. Pick your package. Visit us online and choose the package that best meets your needs. You'll find that with our reduced package rates and preregistration discounts, valid through October 14, creating a package that suits your budget is easier than ever before.
   
2. Choose your hotel. All AOPA official hotels offer incredible rates and are price-guaranteed if you book through the services of our official AOPA housing organization, The Housing Connection.
   
3. Book your flight. With AOPA's Online Travel program you'll receive great rates on your airfare. Need a rental car while you're in Tampa? AOPA can help with that, too. Save on your car rental from Alamo, Avis, Enterprise, or Hertz with exclusive Summit discounts.
   
4. Register for fun. Start your adventure today; register now for AOPA Aviation Summit, November 5 through 7 in Tampa, Florida.

AOPA, EAA medical staffs meet to keep pilots flying

If two are better than one, then having two aviation groups working to help you get your medical certificate is a good thing. That was the intent behind a meeting between AOPA's Board of Aviation Medical Advisors, EAA's Aeromedical Advisory Council, and each association's medical staff.

The meeting, a first in many years, came shortly after the two general aviation organizations signed a memorandum of understanding to work together on advocacy issues for their members. Aviation medical examiners and the association's dedicated medical teams discussed a broad range of medical certification topics that affect pilots.

New! Runway Safety PSA

The AOPA Air Safety Foundation will go the extra step to get your attention when it comes to safety. Modeled after popular radio and television public service announcements, ASF has produced its own PSAs--several amusing Pilot Safety Announcements, short videos aimed at raising awareness of common general aviation accident causes.

Don't let their humorous approach to potentially catastrophic situations fool you: While you may chuckle at the contents' wit, the serious nature of these accidents-waiting-to-happen cannot be brushed aside lightly. Joining Real Aviation Heroes, School Daze, Would You Fly this Airline? and Hybrid Power is ASF's latest Pilot Safety Announcement: Avoid that Rundown Feeling. Watch what leads a pilot astray on the ground. Can you recall yourself or a friend once being in a similar situation? No matter how safety savvy we think we are, danger in the form of complacency or distractions can lurk when least expected.

Help spread the word and share the PSA link with others. After taking in the short skits, check out the list of resources below each video for tips on avoiding these accidents. The Runway Safety PSA was funded by the FAA.

Sport pilot interpretation renews debate

Regulations do not permit training from a sport pilot instructor to be applied toward the dual-instruction requirements for a private pilot certificate, a recent letter of interpretation from the FAA chief counsel states.

AOPA, EAA, and GAMA continue to object to the rule as it stands and advocate including a change in the FAA's upcoming bundle of modifications to the sport pilot regulations.

"This rule change would prevent student pilots who want to transition from seeking a sport pilot certificate to a private pilot certificate from having to start over again with respect to the flight-training requirement," said AOPA Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs Rob Hackman. "The industry has been working with the FAA's Flight Standards office to bring the rule more in line with the intent of the sport pilot regulations."

AOPA Online Travel offers price assurance

Do you find yourself hesitating before booking your online travel, wondering whether the price will go down if you wait? AOPA Online Travel provided by Orbitz puts an end to the guessing game with the Price Assurance program. The minute you book your flight through AOPA Online Travel, Orbitz immediately starts tracking to see if another customer booked the same flight at a lower price. If that's the case, you'll be issued a refund for the difference. A check ranging anywhere from $5 to $250 per traveler, depending on the difference, will be mailed to you automatically. No forms to fill out, no phone calls to make. In addition, a portion of all the revenue generated is returned to AOPA and reinvested to fund efforts to maintain the freedom, safety, and affordability of general aviation. So go ahead and book that trip with confidence. AOPA Online Travel and the Price Assurance program will ensure that you'll receive the best price possible.

For more information, see AOPA Online.