I thought about buying an aircraft for a long time before I made that first purchase. Like most people, I spent a lot of time considering the pros and cons before I made the investment. I asked myself a lot of questions. What kind of airplane should I buy? How would I use it? How often would I be able to fly? And, also like most people, I worried whether or not I would be able to afford not only the airplane but also the tiedown fee, maintenance, insurance, and other costs that come with ownership.
At the same time, I knew I wanted the freedom that comes with owning an air plane—the freedom to travel when and where I wanted. I loved the idea of being able to fly on my schedule, whether I wanted to go for the afternoon or the weekend, or even longer. Too often, my go/no-go decision had more to do with the availability of rental airplanes than it did with the weather.
In the end, I took a leap of faith and bought my first airplane. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Owning an airplane really opened new worlds for me.
Still, I wish the AOPA Aircraft Partnership Program had been around back then. By having just one partner, I would have cut my ownership costs in half. I had thought about co-ownership, but the right combination of partner and aircraft just didn't surface. Had this program been available, it could have removed some of the uncertainty and made that first foray into ownership a much simpler decision.
The AOPA Aircraft Partnership Program is actually a brand-new way for AOPA members to share the cost of ownership by helping them find partners whose interests and needs match their own. It uses a secure database management system to help pilots find just the right airplane and partners.
When you register, you can post a comprehensive personal profile that includes key factors for compatibility, such as the type of aircraft desired, budget, nearby airports to serve as a base, flying experience, and more. Pilots who are looking for a partnership can then search for and connect with others who have matching interests. Whether you want to find one, two, or more partners to buy an airplane, or you want to share ownership in an airplane you already have, you can use the system to find the right people. You can even choose to receive email alerts when someone who meets your compatibility requirements joins the program.
We've already got about 10,000 registered users at the website and the number is growing fast. I hope you'll consider joining them and taking that first step toward affordable aircraft ownership. Owning an airplane is the very best way to get the most from your pilot certificate, and it can change your life.
