In the almost 20 years I have been with AOPA, I have had the pleasure of meeting and talking with many of our members. Consistently, I hear how
passionate our members are about flying, and that we share a common concern about the future of general aviation as we know it today.
With negative portrayals of GA in the media, concerns over safety, threats to airports, and a declining pilot population, it is clear that the need to address these concerns goes way beyond what AOPA membership dues alone can cover. That is why we launched the AOPA Foundation almost three years ago. The AOPA Foundation’s mission is to provide funding to four areas of focus: preservation of airports, improving the image of GA, pilot safety and education, and growing the pilot population.
Many initiatives to address these four key areas are in the research and development phases. But we need your help. I hope you will consider engaging this year by lending your financial support to the AOPA Foundation. With your financial support we can implement programs that will help us move these important agendas forward. To learn more about how you can support the AOPA Foundation, visit the Web site or call 800-872-2672 today.
Pilots have unique needs when it comes to purchasing insurance. Will it cover you when you’re flying? Do you need to be pilot in command? Is a medical exam required? AOPA Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance has the answers to these questions. It offers coverage while you are flying as a pilot or passenger in a general aviation aircraft or on a commercial flight. No health questions are asked, and as an AOPA member your acceptance is guaranteed. And AOPA AD&D coverage is now available up to $300,000—so even if you’re already taking advantage of this crucial coverage, now is the perfect time to upgrade. Visit the Web site to enroll or upgrade.
Trees budding, temperatures rising, sunshine stretching into the evening—the promise of spring. While it’s good to be outdoors again, especially if you can do some flying after work, all the new growth blooming around us brings many pilots headaches, sinus pressure, or other allergic reactions.
Retailers enjoy rocketing sales of popular allergy medications, and pilots may browse pharmacy shelves looking for relief from their symptoms. The FAA is definitive as to which allergy medications are allowed and which are not. The good news is that the majority of allergy medications are allowed, although some have waiting periods before flight and others, if reported on the FAA medical application, require a physician’s status report affirming the medication causes no adverse side effects.
Which meds are OK to take and fly? AOPA maintains a database of medications searchable by trade name, generic name, medical condition, or type of medication. Find out more about it, and the most popular allergy medications, in AOPA’s online Answers for Pilots ( www.aopa.org/members/answers0410) or by calling the AOPA Pilot Information Center at 800-USA-AOPA (872-2672).
TOLL-FREE PILOT INFORMATION CENTER
Call 800/USA-AOPA (872-2672)
Click www.aopa.org
NEW ADDRESS?
Send your new address and AOPA membership number to AOPA, 421 Aviation Way, Frederick, Maryland 21701-4798
Fax 301/695-2375
Click www.aopa.org/coa-form.html
AOPA FOUNDATION
Call 800/955-9115
Click www.aopa.org/asf/
AOPA AIR SAFETY FOUNDATION
Call 800/638-3101
Click www.aopa.org/foundation/
AOPA CREDIT CARD PROGRAM
Call 800/523-7666
Click www.aopa.org/info/cc/
AOPA AIRCRAFT FINANCING
Call 800/627-5263
Click www.aopa.org/loans/
AOPA AIRCRAFT INSURANCE
Call 800/622-AOPA (622-2672)
Click www.aopa.org/aircraftinsurance.html
AOPA LEGAL SERVICES PLAN
Call 800/USA-AOPA (872-2672)
Click www.aopa.org/legalservices.html
AOPA MEDICAL SERVICES PLAN
Call 800/USA-AOPA (872-2672)
Click www.aopa.org/medicalservices.html
AOPA ONLINE TRAVEL
Click www.aopa.org/travel/
OTHER AOPA MEMBER PRODUCTS
Call 800/USA-AOPA (872-2672)
Click www.aopa.org/memberproducts/