The pilot being mentored needs AOPA Bronze Wings, which AIUI means joining AOPA plus another £30 to purchase the Bronze Wings.
Bronze wings are free on joining the scheme. We decided when the wings scheme was re-launched that everyone who joined the scheme would get bronze. Each level after that has an admin.
Okay, I'm cynical, but it increasingly sounds very much more like an AOPA recruitment and retention scheme than a scheme to keep people in flying.
It is a combination of both actually. It gives people a chance to see and understand what AOPA does and then helps to keep AOPA members flying, if they keep flying they hopefully stay as AOPA members. I see no reason to be cynical about it as hopefully it gives everyone a win-win situation?