Free trial

That’s not for profit motives—AOPA is, after all, a nonprofit organization. Rather, AOPA can more effectively advocate for general aviation—and protect your freedom to fly—when we band together as a community and rally to support all flying interests. From advocacy to safety, education to product and services, and content about every conceivable general aviation topic, AOPA offers something valuable for every pilot—and future pilot.

I recently flew AOPA’s Beechcraft Bonanza from Frederick, Maryland, to West Lafayette, Indiana, to share AOPA’s message at Purdue Aviation Day. I had never been to Purdue Aviation Day but was told to expect more than 8,000 attendees (comprising pro-track pilots, GA pilots, and families) enjoying a fly-in, static aircraft display, exhibits, and a parachute jump demonstration performed by the U.S. Army Golden Knights. My mission was to learn how AOPA could best serve each contingent, and to offer free AOPA trial memberships.

I learned that Purdue University students on a professional pilot track had heard of AOPA through their coursework but were uncertain how we could help further their career aspirations. I explained that since most will build hours toward their airline transport pilot certificate by flight instructing, AOPA could help with significant flight instructor support and advice. And, AOPA’s Pilot Protection Services Plus program offers enhanced legal and medical coverage for pilots operating under ATP, commercial, flight instructor, or UAS Part 107 certificates.

The GA pilots I met who were not AOPA members also had plenty of questions about how AOPA could help them. Some had not flown in many years and needed help getting back in the air—perfect candidates for AOPA’s Rusty Pilots seminars. Some were dealing with medical issues, or were stuck in a rut trying to earn their private or sport pilot certificate—or an advanced rating—and needed advice to help them advance, or had questions about buying an airplane, and did not know AOPA’s Pilot Information Center could answer most of their questions.

Perhaps my favorite conversations were with the families enjoying Purdue Aviation Day. Typically, someone in the family had a connection to aviation. A mom or dad was a pilot and encouraging their child to learn to fly. Or, a child was the pilot and a parent was considering flight training. In one case, a father brought his teenage son to me and said, “My son doesn’t think he could ever be a pilot. Can you please tell him that’s not true?” We hear this a lot—that people think a pilot needs to be exceptional at math, or in other ways, to have the skills to fly. I assured the young man he could learn to fly if he had the desire and kept working at it.

After every one of these hundreds of conversations, I offered the individual an opportunity to join AOPA free for three months—our new trial membership, launched this January. You know the support and advocacy AOPA offers the GA community, but not every pilot (or aspiring pilot) does. The AOPA free trial membership offers anyone who has not previously been a member of AOPA the opportunity to see how we can support their flying needs for three months. They get every benefit of AOPA membership—including a digital subscription to AOPA Pilot or Flight Training; access to iFlightPlanner for AOPA, AOPA Weather, Airport Directory, and other flight planning and travel tools; access to AOPA Air Safety Institute online courses, webinars and safety quizzes; access to the AOPA Pilot Information Center—our skilled group of pilots, medical certification specialists, and flight instructors on standby ready to help; and access to AOPA Flight Training Advantage (AFTA), a game-changing, adaptive flight training system for students and CFIs.

I’d like to encourage you also to suggest a free AOPA trial membership to your friends and acquaintances who may be current or aspiring pilots or aircraft owners. Together, we can reach every pilot in the United States. They can sign up at aopa.org/trial.

My flight home the next morning began in instrument conditions; 800-foot ceiling and light rain. I broke out on top at 5,000 feet and was soon in glorious sunshine above the clouds. My mood was buoyant as I pondered the many great conversations I had at Purdue Aviation Day. The future of general aviation is bright with passionate pilots and aircraft owners taking to the skies and buying and restoring airplanes at a rapid pace.

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