Member Guide

February 1, 2012 By Kathleen Dondzila King

About 8 percent of men and one-half percent of women in the United States have problems with color perception. Whether caused by genetics, injury, or disease, color blindness is challenging to live with and presents special hurdles for pilots. The medical standards in FAR Part 67 specify that applicants for all classes of medical certification must have "the ability to perceive those colors necessary for the safe performance of airman duties." Every visit to an AME for renewal of an airman medical certificate involves taking a color vision test. Technically known as a pseudoisochromatic color plate test, it's the one with the pages of different-colored dots.

AOPA Membership Services and Products

AOPA
421 AVIATION WAY
FREDERICK, MARYLAND 21701

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 AIR SAFETY FOUNDATION
Call 800/638-3101
Click www.aopa.org/asf/

AOPA CREDIT CARD PROGRAM
Call 800/523-7666
Click www.aopa.org/info/cc/

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 AIRCRAFT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
Call 800/USA-AOPA (872-2672)
Click www.aopa.org/aircraftpartnership/

AOPA ONLINE TRAVEL
Click www.aopa.org/travel/

OTHER AOPA MEMBER PRODUCTS
Call 800/USA-AOPA (872-2672)
Click www.aopa.org/memberproducts/

AOPA Lifestyles: Five new member discounts

Five more companies have joined the AOPA Lifestyles Member Discounts Program—a new, free membership benefit available to all AOPA members.

“We’re excited that Airspeed Junkie, Ball Watch USA, Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate, Sony Creative Services, and Thunderbolt International have stepped forward to offer AOPA members valuable discounts on their products,” said Ed Thompson, AOPA vice president of planning, products, and corporate partnerships. “Our members can now take advantage of many discounts and special offers from participating companies.”

New offers include a 10-percent discount on a unique line of aviation-themed merchandise at Airspeed Junkie and a 15-percent discount on Ball watches through authorized dealers. Additionally, AOPA members and their families will qualify for free shipping within the United States plus $50 off select handheld storm and lightning detector models at Thunderbolt International. Log in to the Lifestyles website (www.aopa.org/lifestyles) for more information and click on an offer. All you need to do is be an AOPA member.

Upgrade to AOPA Plus membership

Show your commitment to general aviation by upgrading to AOPA Plus—our newest membership option. For just $99 annually, you’ll continue to receive the same great benefits you’ve come to expect from AOPA, plus additional services members have asked for: a dedicated phone line to the Pilot Information Center, invitations to select webinars and regional events, and advance screenings of Air Safety Institute courses. In addition, you will also get a special membership card and certificate, and
10 percent off the AOPA Legal Services Plan or Medical Services Program. Upgrade to AOPA Plus online (www.aopa.org/plus) or call 800-USA-AOPA (872-2672).

Plane

Answers for Pilots

Tax time
It’s that time of year when Americans face filing taxes. If you own or rent an aircraft that you use for business, you may want to review your eligibility for possible deductions for the 2011 tax year. The small business jobs and tax bills of 2010 included provisions that may be advantageous for aircraft purchasers who used their aircraft at least 50 percent for business. Also, for those who upgraded aircraft equipment, the two main provisions of the bills include modified extensions of the bonus depreciation program and the IRS Section 179 expensing option. Find out the details in this month’s Answers for Pilots. As you would expect, even small tax code details are significant. AOPA legally cannot and does not provide individualized tax advice—you’ll need to contact a tax professional for that—but the association can help you find one. Give us a call Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time, 800-USA-AOPA (872-2672).