General Aviation -- the AOPA Mag

[QDMQDMQDM]

Just read the December edition and I wanted to post here to say how absolutely excellent I found it, with a wide variety of highly interesting and extremely useful articles. Many are from former Pilot contributors.

Philip Whiteman, late of Pilot (see various other threads), is the editor and after what must have started out for him as an annus horribilis, I think he has pulled a rabbit out of a hat.

Well done, Philip. What about getting it on the news stand now? All it needs is some ads and it will give the others a run for their money. It seems a shame to limit it to AOPA members.

QDM

[rustle]

I haven't seen the magazine, but whoever is updating the website is doing a great job recently too :)

Keep it up!!

Seeing and reading about AOPA activities will generate new members and keep existing ones.

2002 and I'm neither.

Keep the website up to date and 2003 I will be.

http://www.aopa.co.uk/newsfromaopa/aopanews.asp

[PFLsAgain]

The mag. was really great this time. I've read the article about flying a Yak over the Alps several times. Brilliant.

And the web site - I just can't shoot down all those pesky helicopters! Any tips anyone? :D

[The Inspector]

A great magazine.. I had to look twice, as I thought it was 'Pilot' magazine (same typeface, similar look etc).. Mind you, the way Pilot mag is going, this could be the new Pilot....

[t'aint natural]

Last months was good, too. It had that pilot survey in it, trying to find out how much general aviation is worth to local communities, for use in planning inquiries. I filled one in. If you haven't, have a look at this website:
http://www.gaac.co.uk/survey/
It's a bit long and it took me about an hour, but if it helps AOPA fight NIMBYs it's the least we can do.

[Stampe]

Got to agree on this the standard of both the AOPA and the PFA house magazines have improved dramatically recently to the point that in their own ways both are challenging the established aviation magazines.Advertisers should consider moving their budgets to these excellent organs and support a worthwhile cause. I,ve been an instructor member of AOPA for more years than I care to remember and am pleased to report that I am very impressed with the level of representation AOPA are achieving with the authorities.I attend meetings representing my own proffessional association and their level of representation is very good.AOPA is fighting the GA corner very well it deserves the support of all pilots so come on aviators join and get the added benefit of a really good and informative read as well as protecting your future flying freedom.;)

[chipjockey]

Must be the best mag available

[chipjockey]

Like we should be surprised? I think not!. Just ask why the AOPA mag is better than the others.
Firstly the people who work for AOPA do it because they love aviation. The people who produce the magazine likewise.
It seems they moved on just at the right time. Never seen a ship sink so fast. The able and credible first must have been the cry.
Leave the rats to drown. So the good guys work for the industry representative body.
The tossers who work for commercial organisations simply don't care. They do what they can to earn profits for their masters.
Greatest income for lowest cost and effort even if this means dumbing down beyond the level of the gutter. But we shouldn't be surprised after all that is what a materialistic society achieves.
Maximum crap for maximum cost and the quality gets hidden. So who is to blame. Well we are.
We have allowed our society to become over commercialised and controlled. Governments lie and control.
Mass media offers us nothing of value. PR and perception is all that counts. Substance is not important.
Just look at the recent Blair Bristol flats debacle and the trite comments and absolute lies from a representative of one of the mags on this forum.
It is only in aforum like this that we can get at the truth. We need to use this to change society and to challenge those who are trying to control us.
It is in our hands to change things and it is about time that we did something.
We can organise, we can discuss, and we can tell the truth. Support the good and destroy the bad.

[bpilatus]

dickjockey,

Reading your last two posts on this thread:

Must be the best mag available
then
Like we should be surprised? I think not!. Just ask why the AOPA mag is better than the others.

Either you forgot to log out between posts and use your other PPRuNe ID to answer your own post;

or

You had a few too many alco-pops at lunchtime. (Hic!)

:( :( :(

Very sad :(

[nonradio]

We are talking about the UK version rather than the US magazine,right?

[chipjockey]

Yes the UK one
BPILATUS
Or just maybe my longer post was thrown out four time so I had to post a shorter one to see whether it was censorship ... and sure enough.
Got it through eventually though and both posts consistent so sad and plastered on alocopops I might be but at least I can work out where two comments are consistent rather than one answering the other.

[nomdepprune]

Hello: Welcome comments, drunk or sober.
I've been alerted to this post and have signed up to the message board.
My company, Circle Publishing, now publishes AOPA UK's General Aviation and we plan to give it the authoritative edge that newsstand magazines seem to lack.
Life being what it is, I'm sure we'll make lots of mistakes, but we have an excellent editorial crew and we intend to make the magazine a useful tool for AOPA.
Any feedback gratefully received.

[QDMQDMQDM]

My company, Circle Publishing, now publishes AOPA UK's General Aviation and we plan to give it the authoritative edge that newsstand magazines seem to lack.

Out of interest, do you plan to get it on the newsstands? It currently represents the best marketing you can hope for for AOPA.

QDM

[Keef]

Just got back, and read it. Excellent! Well done AOPA , and keep it up!

[nomdepprune]

QDM:
The economics of newsstand magazines are massively different from those of controlled circulation titles like General Aviation and we're not in the business of risking AOPA funds on such a venture. Our aim is to contain costs and develop revenue while putting over AOPA's message in an engaging way.
Those who do not want full membership of AOPA can get the magazine as part of an Associate Membership, which is apparently cheaper than the cover price of the magazine.

[Philip Whiteman]

Now, believing that it was for others to judge how good General Aviation is or isn't, I was not going to be drawn into this debate...

A couple of points, arising from the last few postings:

1. as my publisher says, it is not AOPA's funding that would put us on the news-stands, and;

2. AOPA Associate Membership costs just £30 p.a.. For this you get a year's worth of magazines (currently six issues) sent to your home address, as well as enjoying the usual benefit of having AOPA represent your interests, at home and abroad. What you don't get is the aircrew card — with its associated benefits — and free aviation medical and legal advice: these things come only with Pilot or Instructor Membership, to which you may upgrade.