Member Guide

March 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/

2012 Tougher Than a Tornado Husky Sweepstakes

ASI offers a new way to increase your chance of winning

Taking an Air Safety Institute online safety course rewards you in a multitude of ways, from helping you become a safer, more-informed pilot to FAA Wings credit and even an insurance discount with the AOPA Accident Forgiveness program.

Now, ASI adds another reward to that list—an additional entry into AOPA’s 2012 Tougher Than a Tornado Husky Sweepstakes. Each time you complete an online safety course you will receive an entry into the sweepstakes.

Courses are available on a wide array of topics, so whether you have just started flight training or are a seasoned pilot, you’re sure to find courses relevant to your level of flying.

Visit us online to explore course topics and start reaping your rewards today.

Member’s dream comes true

First-time buyer guided through purchase process

“Every kid’s dream is to fly an airplane,” says AOPA member Tom Johnson. It wasn’t until his mid-40s, though, that he was able to act on his dream. After earning his private pilot certificate and renting airplanes, he decided that the time was right to buy his own airplane.

“I found an airplane I wanted, a great Cessna 172,” said Johnson. As a first-time airplane buyer, he had many questions and needed guidance. His call to AOPA Aircraft Financing was answered by Debbie Edwards at Bank of America, who made the whole buying process easier. Of all the help Edwards gave, the thing that sticks out in Johnson’s memory is that Edwards always called when she said she would and always did what she promised. Her guidance continued to the day of the closing, which was the Friday before Memorial Day 2011. The morning of the closing, Edwards called Johnson so he would know she was there when needed. With Edward’s support and knowledge of aircraft sales, Johnson went from nervous to confident. So confident, in fact, that his attitude impressed the seller who saw that Johnson had everything under control.

To find out more about AOPA Aircraft Financing, or to speak with a loan specialist, call 1-800-62-PLANE Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time. Or visit the website.

Answers for pilots

Flying south to Mexico?

Dreaming of the beaches of Cozumel? The night life of Acapulco? The luxurious resorts of La Paz? Many pilots have discovered the beauty and charm of Mexico, and now it’s easier than ever to fly there. The requirement for private aircraft to be equipped with 406 MHz ELTs has been delayed until June 30, 2013. And AOPA’s Mexico representative, Rick Gardner, recently received clarification from Mexico’s Dirección General De Aeronáutica Civil on insurance requirements that may save pilots hundreds of dollars when planning to fly in Mexico. Want more information? Read this month’s Answers for Pilots. If you have more questions, give us a call Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time, at 800-USA-AOPA (872-2672).