If you’re a student pilot or flight instructor, chances are you spend a lot of time thinking about what you want in the future, and how you’re going to get there. What will it take to complete my certificate, build my hours, move up in my flying career, buy my first airplane? What do I need to do now to make sure I’m ready when the time comes?
I do the same thing in my role as steward of AOPA’s future. What will the next legislative issues be, where will the new challenges emerge, what technology will offer the greatest opportunities, how will we protect our freedom to fly for ourselves and for future generations?
As I look to the future I am dedicated to increasing the value AOPA offers to you, whether you are just entering the world of flying or are many years into your flying career. To do this AOPA needs two things: your continued involvement in aviation, and the funds to pay for the many services and extensive advocacy we provide to the pilot community.
I’ve been talking about getting engaged in aviation all year, and members of the GA community have been responding. Thousands of members have taken action to show their support for GA through participation in events, charitable flying, and much more. Thank you. And now I need to straightforwardly address the second part of the equation: funding.
In order to ensure that AOPA can continue to provide the utmost value to our members we will raise the annual dues to $45 beginning in October. This will not affect free Flight Training subscriptions and other special offers for newcomers to aviation. But, it is my hope that, when you have had the opportunity to experience the value AOPA provides its members, you’ll realize that you don’t want to fly without us by your side.
Many of you reading this magazine are comparatively new to AOPA, so you may not know that this is our first dues increase in 20 years. I can’t think of many other things that cost the same now as they did two decades ago. Not only have AOPA dues held steady, but during those same years AOPA introduced innovative tools such as AOPA Online, AOPA Airports and its mobile apps, the AOPA Internet Flight Planner, online weather, AOPA ePilot and the Flight Training edition of ePilot. We added Flight Training magazine and its website to our roster, created the daily Aviation eBrief newsletter, and much more. The AOPA Air Safety Institute produces and distributes hundreds of seminars, award-winning online courses, safety quizzes, safety advisors, accident reports, and other tools to help keep you flying safely.
Revenues from advertising in our publications, the AOPA credit card, the Legal Services Plan, the AOPA Insurance Agency, and other programs help offset the cost of these new services. AOPA’s new “Lifestyles” program will provide services you need and products you enjoy, all while supporting AOPA. These offerings will come at no cost to the association, but they bring in much-needed revenue.
The future promises new challenges and opportunities, and we must be prepared. Raising our dues will allow us to face whatever the future holds with the security of knowing we can continue to offer the innovative, high-quality services you depend on every time you fly.
Together we will protect our freedom to fly and ensure that general aviation will be here for generations of pilots to come.
Related Articles
