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Experience more

Successful regional fly-ins to offer pilot-skill enhancements in 2017

What do you do with an event that has proven so popular that it exceeds expectations by more than 45 percent? Make it even better. That’s the plan for AOPA’s three-year-old regional fly-ins as they move into a new phase.

AOPA Fly-Ins

  • AOPA Fly-Ins
    Review of 2016 AOPA Fly-Ins. Photo courtesy of Paul Gernhardt.
  • AOPA Fly-Ins
    Review of 2016 AOPA Fly-Ins. Photography by AOPA staff.
  • AOPA Fly-Ins
    Review of 2016 AOPA Fly-Ins. Photography by AOPA staff.
  • AOPA Fly-Ins
    Review of 2016 AOPA Fly-Ins. Photography by AOPA staff.
  • AOPA Fly-Ins
    Review of 2016 AOPA Fly-Ins. Photography by AOPA staff.

“The original format won’t change,” said Chris Eads, AOPA director of outreach and events. “But in addition to our Saturday fly-in, we’re creating opportunities for people to be exposed to more experiences by adding workshops and clinics, and expanding options on the day before the fly-in.”

The 2017 AOPA Fly-In schedule includes four events kicking off April 28 and 29 in Camarillo, California; followed by Norman, Oklahoma (September 8 and 9); Groton, Connecticut (October 6 and 7); and Tampa, Florida (October 27 and 28). Each event will feature two full days of activities, including an expanded roster of learning opportunities and workshops beginning on the Friday of each event at 9 a.m. These reasonably priced workshops will cover a range of topics such as mountain flying or owner-performed maintenance meant to help make flying more fun, affordable, safe, and accessible.

While AOPA’s regional fly-ins are designed to bring the association to members where they live, they are also an opportunity to enhance the aviation experience. Research and attendee responses told the AOPA event team that many members wished they could get more out of attending a fly-in: sharing the event with friends and family, meeting and connecting with others who share the passion for flying, and deeper experiences to help them become better pilots.

“Let’s create opportunities for people to be exposed to new skill sets,” Eads and his group suggested. “Let’s let them know ‘you belong.’”

Members told the association they enjoy the camaraderie, food, aviation fun, and learning opportunities the fly-ins provide. By expanding the event to include opportunities on Fridays, AOPA can further enhance the experience. The highly successful Barnstormers Party will return on Friday nights at all 2017 events, but attendees who arrive in the evening may be surprised to find some of their aviation colleagues winding down from a day full of hands-on workshops and clinics.

Experience learning

The AOPA outreach and events team plans four extensive workshops led by leaders in such areas as aircraft maintenance and pilot proficiency for each fly-in in 2017. Regular Saturday fly-in activities will continue to be open to all and free to attend, but pilots desiring to deepen their knowledge and refine their skills may extend their weekend with one of these small, intimate workshops for a fee. Each will run from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on the Friday of the AOPA Fly-In weekend. That’s seven hours of intense learning.

A program of topics and speakers is being developed, and will include some that are location-specific, taking advantage of each area’s geography. Count on each agenda to “take you to new places in your aviation experience,” Eads said, adding that attendees can look forward to learning about the fine points of mountain flying, over-water flying, or other topics that will sharpen skills or build pilots’ confidence.

The exhibits and vendors will open on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. The food, music, and fun of the Barnstormers Party concludes the day. Aircraft camping services will also be expanded.

“We are expanding the event with two goals in mind,” said Eads. “To deepen pilot skills, enhancing their confidence, and to deepen friendships—both new and old.”

Experience more

Saturday of the fly-in will closely resemble what has taken place—and been so successful—during the past three years. Those hardy campers will wake to coffee brewing and sausage frying as AOPA staff and a cadre of local volunteers prepare a pancake breakfast—for a few hundred of their closest friends. Breakfast is served starting at 8 a.m. and attendees will be entertained and enlightened as they enjoy their food and friends. AOPA President Mark Baker will welcome everyone to start the day right. In another tent, pilots who have been out of the left seat awhile will be enjoying breakfast and AOPA’s new Rusty Pilot 2.0 presentations.

Then it’s off to a day enjoying seminars on myriad aviation-related topics, tours of local aviation facilities if available, taking in the extraordinary goods and products from the industry’s top manufacturers, enjoying the varied aircraft on display, and so much more. At each of the 2017 fly-in locations there will be location-specific opportunities and events, so watch the pages of AOPA Pilot and AOPA.org throughout the year.

Lunch is a highlight of the day, whether from area food trucks on site or prepared by a local vendor. It’s a great opportunity to share the day with others as everyone eats together in and around the main stage. At some locations there may be an aerial demonstration and chances to meet famous aviators—AOPA has featured storied airshow performers such as Patty Wagstaff, Michael Goulian, and Greg Koontz; stars such as the Breitling Jet Team; and new faces such as Yuichi Takagi and Melissa Andrzejewski at past events.

After more seminars, more product demonstrations, an update from AOPA President Mark Baker and staff on industry issues, and an ice cream social, the fly-in will conclude at 3 p.m. Frequent attendees may notice the earlier closing—now it’s time for a fly-out.

2016 Fly-Ins

The Prescott, Arizona, fly-in was so successful, the event staff came within 25 spaces of running out of car parking.

2016 Fly-Ins

In Chino, California, event staff did not offer aircraft camping because they heard there could be tarantulas.

2016 Fly-Ins

In his treks across the country hauling AOPA supplies, event specialist Erick Webb traveled 4,759 miles and ate two pounds, 14 ounces of animal crackers.

Experience something new

In addition to expanded content on Friday, the regional fly-ins will also offer pilots and their families and friends the opportunity to use the new skills obtained during the event. For example, pilots who attend the first 2017 AOPA Fly-In in Camarillo, California, may have the chance to learn about overwater flying on Friday and put those skills to use Saturday afternoon with a fly-out to Catalina Island off the California coast. These plans are still in the beginning stages, but the AOPA team hopes to further expand the learning opportunities at the fly-ins by adding fly-outs to nearby attractions. AOPA will partner with other aviation groups such as type clubs to ensure these opportunities come to fruition—stay tuned as AOPA continues to finalize new fly-outs throughout the year.

The regional fly-in events launched in 2014, shifting from a single annual AOPA convention to this new approach of gathering members together at locations closer to home, and make it possible for more members (and guests, including future pilots) to attend. That proved to be a formula for success: Total attendance grew 15 percent from 2014 to 2015, and 33 percent from 2015 to 2016. More than 6,000 aircraft arrivals have been logged during the 16 regional fly-ins to date, safely handled by a team of AOPA staff backed up by hundreds of enthusiastic volunteers. The fly-ins have also proved to be a venue where friendships are forged—gatherings where the aviation community has grown stronger.

“We’re coming to your neighborhood,” said Eads. “We want you to come and join our club.”

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