AOPA And Sporty's Pilot Shop Strike Sponsorship Agreement

Contact: Steve Hedges
               301-695-2159
               [email protected]

Frederick, MD – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and Sporty’s Pilot Shop, the well-known provider of pilot supplies and flight training materials, today announced a new sponsorship arrangement that continues their long-standing efforts to support general aviation.

Under the agreement, Sporty’s has pledged to support AOPA’s Flying Club Initiative, a nation-wide effort to promote existing flying clubs and launch new ones. In particular, Sporty’s will be a co-sponsor of AOPA’s Flying Club Connector e-newsletter, which offers reports on flying club activities and tips for club administration, finances and insurance.

"At Sporty's, we're passionate about the next generation of aviators, which is why we've worked together with AOPA for nearly 50 years,” said Michael Wolf, Sporty’s president and CEO.  “We're proud to continue this partnership, because a strong AOPA is good for aviation." 

As part of the new agreement, Sporty’s will also serve as a co-sponsor of the annual AOPA Summit, which will be held this year from Oct. 10-12 in Fort Worth, Texas.

“Sporty’s has supported AOPA and our members for decades,” said Ed Thompson, AOPA’s vice president of corporate partnerships. “Through this enhanced relationship, they are strengthening that commitment by supporting programs and services that AOPA members and pilots benefit from every day.”

Sporty’s is a catalog, online, and retail provider of pilot supplies and aviation educational materials. Each year Sporty’s stages an annual Fly-In at its Batavia, Ohio headquarters and each Saturday hosts a hotdog cook-out to show appreciation to customers and to give pilots an opportunity to gather and share aviation stories.

“It’s great to have Sporty’s in our court as we work to expand the pilot community and bolster the popularity of flying clubs,” said Adam Smith, senior vice president of AOPA’s Center to Advance the Pilot Community. “Everyone in the pilot community knows Sporty’s, and at AOPA, we’re thrilled that our work with them will continue.”

With this new agreement, Sporty’s becomes AOPA’s third Supporting Sponsor in AOPA’s Corporate Partnership Program, joining DTC Duat and Life Line Screening. Strategic Partners in the program include Enterprise Holdings (Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental, Alamo Rent A Car), Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co., Aero-Space Reports and Bank of America. The AOPA Corporate Partnership program includes three tiers of support: Strategic Partners, Premier Partners and Supporting Sponsors.

About AOPA
Since 1939, AOPA has protected the freedom to fly for thousands of pilots, aircraft owners and aviation enthusiasts. With a membership base of nearly 400,000, AOPA is the largest aviation association in the world. With representatives based in Frederick, M.D., Washington, D.C., and seven regions across the United States, AOPA provides member services that range from advocacy at the federal, state, and local levels to legal services, flight planning products, safety programs and award-winning media products. To learn more, visit www.aopa.org.  

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