AOPA News: 'You Can Fly' special issue lands at flight schools

'Flight Training' initiative encourages future pilots

May 1, 2020

Flight Training, AOPA’s multimedia brand dedicated to inspiring and educating student pilots, recently produced a special issue, sponsored by Sporty's Pilot Shop, titled You Can Fly: Your Path to Become a Pilot. In February, custom You Can Fly countertop displays filled with special issues were distributed to 875 flight schools in the United States.

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Web: aopa.org

For those arriving at their local flight school dreaming about becoming a pilot, the publication sheds light on what to expect—from the first introductory flight in a general aviation airplane through initial training. Flight Training’s editors detailed the steps to become a pilot, different paths to the sky, medical certification options, training airplanes they’ll fly, gear they’ll need, modern technology used in flight training, paying for training, and more.

Additionally, the You Can Fly issue contains an offer for a free 6-month trial membership to AOPA for student pilots. The free membership includes a subscription to Flight Training magazine (print or digital), Flight Training's weekly newsletter, enhanced members-only website with premium aviation training content, and a student pilot helpline for one-on-one support.

“The Flight Training team had a lot of fun putting this special issue together. We tried to think of all the questions someone interested in learning to fly might ask, and provided straightforward answers with plenty of colorful illustrations and amazing photography,” said Kollin Stagnito, editor of the magazine. “Based on the positive feedback we’ve received from flight schools so far, we’re confident this issue will achieve its goal of encouraging future pilots.”

If you know of someone who might be interested in learning to fly, encourage them to access a digital version of the You Can Fly issue at ft.aopa.org/youcanfly. Flight schools that did not receive a countertop display can request one, while supplies last, from [email protected].

AOPA NEWS

AOPA’s McSpadden honored

AOPA Air Safety Institute Executive Director Richard McSpadden was recognized at a recent Aero Club of New England event. McSpadden had been invited to present the recently released Air Safety Institute’s Just a Short Flight Accident Case Study to the thirtieth edition of the Crash Course, a safety seminar organized by the Aero Club of New England billed as the largest single, in-person pilot safety seminar in the country.

Aero Club of New England board member Dr. Gary Kearney surprised McSpadden with the group’s Presidential Award before an audience of about 300 safety-minded pilots at the Doubletree Hotel in Bedford, Massachusetts, noting the honor was created to recognize significant contributions to aviation, and that this year’s selection of McSpadden was as much a recognition for AOPA as it was an honor for McSpadden personally.

“They have been our partners in Crash Course for over 20 years, and they materially have made this, the quality of this course, what it is today,” Kearney said.

AOPA has a longstanding relationship with the Aero Club of New England and has frequently provided content and staff for past Crash Course events over the years, though not always the executive director of the Air Safety Institute in person. Kearney is also a member of the AOPA Foundation’s Hat in the Ring Society and worked with AOPA staff to orchestrate the surprise.

The You Can Fly program and the Air Safety Institute are funded by charitable donations to the AOPA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. To be a part of the solution, visit www.aopafoundation.org/donate.