If you’re a student pilot, you’re beginning to discover the wonderful things flying can bring to your life. Whether you started flying just for fun, for transportation, or for a career, you’ve probably discovered new things about yourself and your capabilities along the way. If you’re close to earning your certificate, or you’re a newly certificated pilot—and you’re not on a career track—you may be wondering what’s next.
When primary training is over, how will you use your new skills? Are friends lining up to fly with you, or are you searching for like-minded companions with whom to share stories and $100 hamburgers? Will you have ready access to an airplane? Do you know more experienced pilots who can offer guidance and support? Do you have the confidence to visit new airports, explore new environments, and enjoy the journey?
For a great many new pilots the answer to all of these questions is “no.” But I’d like to see that change, and I’m not alone. We’ve done a lot of research in the past couple of years, and we’ve discovered that being part of a strong community of pilots makes it easier to get the most from your flying.
Pilot communities come in many forms, and I’ve seen successful groups nurturing new pilots nationwide. In San Diego, for example, I met with Plus One Flyers, a flying club with dozens of aircraft, four separate locations, and some 900 members. The club makes it easy to get access to airplanes, offers flight instruction, hosts flying events and social gatherings, helps keep the cost of flying down, and provides learning and networking opportunities for its members. It’s a great community, and it’s not the only one.
There’s no one-size-fits-all model for building a community, and what works in one region may not make sense in another. Fortunately, we’ve got many great examples of successful communities to build on, and build we must.
That’s why, this year, all of us at AOPA will be directing more time, energy, and resources to understanding just what makes different pilot communities work. We’ll be gathering more data and taking a closer look at the trends and patterns we find. Then, as we analyze the research and come to understand the key factors in success, we’ll share what we learn with you.
Along the way, we’ll be celebrating excellence in pilot communities and looking for ways to duplicate it. We’ll share inspirational stories and practical tips to help you create or improve your own community of pilots. And I ask you to share your thoughts with us, as well. If you’re part of a vibrant aviation community, tell us your story. I also encourage you to invite other pilots you meet to become part of your group. The more pilots who can count themselves part of a community, the better. After all, in flying, as in life, being part of a supportive group makes everything a little easier.
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