GauleyPilot

I was wondering how many AOPA members are here? If you are, do you have any issues with them?

I belong to them, and appreciate what they do, and the fact that they keep the dues constant. I do not plan on quitting. However, I do not always agree with their policy.

I don't think you could discuss such a thing on an AOPA forum, so that is why I ask.

POPA

Don't agree with policies such as....?

Ottopilot

I haven't been a member in 15 years and don't see a reason to join again. All my money goes to ALPA.

ERJ135

I am a belong to AOPA, always been good to me. What policies to you disagree with, I'll let you know what I think.

ryane946

I am a member and get a newsletter every friday about what my $35 a year is going towards. Usually involves them fighting:
1. Airport closures
2. Harmful airspace changes to GA
3. New FAA rules/regulations that make flying either tougher/more expensive, etc...
Lots more little things that make an impact on GA

Personally, all of the items on their agenda seem favorable for me. I think $35 a year is well worth it.

I also love their website. Anytime I am flying somewhere (CC) I have never flown before, I use the AOPA real-time flight planner on my computer. Then I connect my routes on VOR's/intersections, and flight plan without using a sectional. I really love their accident database. Go there, type in your airport, and read some of the recent accident reports. They usually involve stupid things, and multiple dumb things happening at the same time (landing downwind in an overweight aircraft after not flying for 20 months).

I also enjoy reading their magazine occassionally.
I think $35 is well worth it.

UConnQB14

there policies regarding pilots moving up the ranks to the airlines is a little strange.. i know someone who works there and they say that the reason airlines are rarely discussed in AOPA mags is because of two reasons... first, the AOPA talks about the art of flying, not the art of autopilot (before i get flamed for this one, i am not advocating their side... i think them saying that flying jets with AP armed is not real flying is just an arrogant comment.. i will be flying jets in a week or two here, so AP will be a friend of mine too)... AOPA thinks that the art of flying has gone by the wayside in the airlines because rarely do you need to hand fly to intercept a radial, or find waypoints by conventional nav....
the other thing, which i have seen already in this thread is the ALPA... AOPA i think has a genuine fear that all the "good" services they give to young pilots will go unnoticed when they jump ship and go to the ALPA... in my opinion, they are different entities.. one is a work based union and the other, a place for people with a common interest to call a group...

SkyHigh

AOPA exists to preserve the rights of rich doctors to keep their Bonanzas closer to their home.

AOPA has no interest in airline pilots since they realize that 6 months after they reach the regionals they could care less about GA. In my experience most airline pilots loathe small planes once they get use to a jet. Who wants to go and scare yourself in a tiny tin death trap once you are forced to fly for a living? Why the though of it use to give me a stomach ache. Besides airline pilots are broke and can't own a small plane anyway.

AOPA doesnt care about most of us.

Lately it seems that GA is doomed anyway. The market for small planes is so soft that you almost have to give your plane away. No one it getting a private pilots licence for fun anymore.

SkyHigh

DON*T HATE ERAU

One thing AOPA is good for is fighting against Air Traffic fees which airlines want GA to pay.

POPA

(Note: this info is current as of 2002, per the June '04 FAA Administrator's Fact Book)

72% of active civil aircraft in the US are pistons. 77% of US pilots are non-ATPs. Do you think ALPA cares about them?

GauleyPilot

I think what Sky High was meaning was the pilot who flies for a living. While the magazine features articles by airline pilots on occasion, the fundamental reason AOPA exists is for private pilots and aircraft owners. Therefore, once a pilot starts flying for a living, it may seem that the organization is too "piper cub" for them.

I guess I have felt that way sometimes, except ALPA doesn't care about 91 and 135 pilots. I have often wondered how it would be received if AOPA had a page in the magazine for non-airline professional pilots--pilots that don't fly the Gulfstreams and BBJs of B/CA. A place where things like 135 regs/ops issues were discussed.

HOWEVER-- I just looked at one of my newer AOPA magazines, and it seems AOPA is aware that "GA" is going down the tubes. Fewer and fewer people are learning to fly.

That makes me feel better about AOPA, knowing that they won't just cheer all the time. I have thus decided I really have no valid complaint against AOPA.

BTW-- I bet a high percentage of the 77% of private pilots have not been to the airport in years.