Alpa & aopa?
 

Is there a benefit to retaining a membership in AOPA if you're at an ALPA carrier and don't do much (really any) GA flying? Would AOPA protection services (legal/medical) be a good supplement to ALPA if you ever needed them or is it just a redundant service at that point? I'm thinking about cancelling my AOPA membership, but if there's a compelling reason to stay a member I won't.

Thanks guys.

Regardless of use, supporting AOPA supports general aviation (which is not always the same as private aviation, sometimes there is a stark difference between the two ie biz jets vs 172's).

Also, there are occasions when ALPA and AOPA are in disagreement with each other. The latest being 3rd class medical reform, ALPA opposed it completely without bothering to take the temperature of the group.

The protective services get you a free one call consultation with a lawyer.

If you do want to support "private aviation" ie 172s etc.., your money would be better spent donating to EAA in my opinion.

As an ALPA member you don't have to buy the protection services from AOPA. Just a regular membership works good. Reasons to be an AOPA member? That's something for you to consider. Personally I took the lifetime membership back when they discounted it at $750. I think AOPA does a good job for GA, I get email/updates on TFR and safety-related issues, information on local flight clubs, local airports, and the AOPA website is very helpful for airport/weather/flight planning. The magazine itself always seems to have interesting articles.

I think it's worth being an AOPA member. GA is how I got into the airlines and supporting GA now more than ever is important for the future generations.

If you do stay, you have a choice of the regular magazine, or the turbine edition which has a few articles on turbine powered planes and such. AOPA's videos and courses are very good and most are free with your membership. As ShyGuy wrote they are advocates for GA and business flying. Write it off on your taxes anyway.

Plus if you maintain your AOPA membership you have a chance to win an airplane every year!

(I keep up my AOPA membership for the reasons the guys list above and I also pay for the pilot protective services...legal/medical advice in addition to ALPA)