Originally Posted by
jayray2
I partly agree with the original post. I realize people in Europe and all over the world have it pretty bad when it comes to fees and regulations. I am grateful to AOPA that we don't have user fees or any of the other regulations that other countries have. However, if the mission of AOPA is to keep flying affordable for the masses, then they have failed. Walk around the your local GA airport and look at the people there. They are not your average middle class American citizen. Most are of the independently wealthy, brain surgeon, lawyer type. The average Joe can not afford to fly for fun like he use to be able to in the late 70's and through the 80's. I have a plane and I can't afford to fly it. Once I am done with the maintenance and the storage fees I am lucky if I can get up for an hour a month. Have you ever looked at the price for an interior plastic piece for a Cessna? Why does a part for an airplane cost 5 times as much as the same part I can go buy at NAPA? (I partly know the answer to this question but it is one example of how GA is pricing itself out of the market). This year I am not renewing my AOPA fees. Maybe it is selfish of me but I feel even without AOPA we'd be in the same situation we are in right now. I'm going to use my money instead to buy 8 gallons of AvGas.
I did not say their mission was to keep it affordable for the masses, since it has never been the at the same level as say, going to the skating rink for an afternoon. Flying has always been an activity with higher costs than most others. My family has owned everything from crop dusters to Baron's; I myself have owned everything from a Beech Sport to an Aztec, and currently own a Skyhawk.... so, yes; I am familiar with the costs of ownership. If you're looking for plastic try
Plane Plastics - interior plastic airplane and helicopter parts they typically have approved plastic replacement parts for most common GA aircraft and are much less expensive than OEM stuff.
In your case it sounds like you'd be better of joining a small club or even renting. If your not flying the plane around 100 hours or more a year then typically renting or joining a club will be much cheaper. That being said, if you look at the costs to own an operate a simple piston single in other parts of the world, then AOPA and the EAA have done an excellent job of keeping the costs at least somewhat reasonable. You can still to this day go out and buy a simple two seater to cart you and the misses around for less than the price of an SUV. The insurance for it will be less than for the SUV, leaving you with the cost of the anual and parking.... not a very bad deal at all.
I'm not sure what airport your based at, but when I walk around my ramp I see mostly late 60's to late 80's vintage aircraft, most owned by middle income folks. There are a few Barons, a few Cirrus, and a newer mooney or two, but the vast majority are certainly not the brain surgeon type. I imagine this would vary greatly depending on the airfield you're at. I wouldn't expect to find too many plumbers walking out to their plane at say Teterboro.
In General AOPA & the EAA do a well above average job. As for the membership fee... heck, their magazine alone is worth the price of at least being kept informed of what's happening in the GA world... and for owners such as yourself, the AOPA member discount on your hull insurance should cover the cost of membership.... if it isn't, change companies.