Who's an AOPA member?

[Fast Jet Wannabe]

Who's an AOPA member?. .. .I've decided that I could just about justify the £100+ required for a 2 year AOPA membership with photo ID crew card. The cheque is now in the post.. .. .I'm just interested to hear who here is a current AOPA (UK) member, and what their experiences have been like. Have you used any of the benefits? Are they worth having? How good is the ID card?. .. .Particulary looking forward to going clubbing with my mates now.... .. ."Got any ID mate"... . ."Errr... YES!" <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . .. .Now I'm no longer wound up by the fact that even thought I'm 18 I look so pathetically young and sweet that I can't even get into the pub! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="rolleyes.gif" /> . .. .I'll be grateful to hear any of your AOPA experiences! Thanks.. . . . <small>[ 03 March 2002, 21:44: Message edited by: Fast Jet Wannabe ]</small>

[Bouncy Landing]

I keep meaning to join as they do do a good job, and yes I fancy a nice photo ID too, but sadly I no longer need to prove I'm 18....... .. .Will probably join at Aerofair North Weald in May, like I should have done last year.

[skua]

Been AOPA member for a few years. It needs our support. The ID card has been very useful on several occasions. Saved me $40 in car hire charges 10 days ago.. .. .If in doubt, go for it.

[A and C]

I,m an AOPA member as i think that we all have to have a united voice to speak to the regulators and for me this is the only benifit i have used , but a mate of mine got into a dispute over a group owned aircraft and AOPA advice resolved this without the need for him to pay for leagal advice........that must have saved him the membership fee !.

[Polar_stereographic]

Apart from A and C's comment above, can anybody else bring to my attention what exactly AOPA UK have done to their credit?. .. .I totaly agree that a united voice is needed, and my understanding is that AOPA US do a good job, but I remain to be convinced that the UK branch is up to much. Until I see more examples of this, my money stays in my pocket. Yes I know that does not help them, but rest assured if I thought that they where presenting a united voice on our behald, I'd be the first to join. . .. .PS

[SteveR]

I'm with Polar_stereographic on this. AOPA UK need to be much more 'in my face' about all the other faces that they're in, before I'll feel represented.. .. .Perhaps it's my perspective, (as a Rochester resident I feel very much like an endangered species), but it seems to me that as a group, aviators aren't making enough noise about airfield closures and we need a National voice to shout (not talk) for us. I'll help and support Action for Airfields as much as I can, and I'm on the commitee of the supporters club at Rochester, so my 100 quid is reserved for paying landing fees and buying bacon sarnies at as many threatened fields as possible.. .. .I'm also interested in Inland Waterways. The IWA is a true campaigning organisation which brought the system back from the brink in the 50's. When a canal was disused it frequently retained a right of way status, and often the main structures were left to moulder and as such were recoverable when the powers that be saw sense.. .. .West Malling, Ipswich, and all the others can NEVER, EVER, EVER be airfields again........ .. .Steve R

[sickBocks]

As an 18-year-old AOPA member this will make you eligible to enter the Tour Aerien des Jeunes Pilotes. This is a 10-day Nav competition round France for 18-21-year-olds. One UK member is invited annually to participate. See <a href="http://www.fna.asso.fr/fna" target="_blank">www.fna.asso.fr/fna</a> for details of the competition

[poetpilot]

Who is an AOPA member? Anyone who has already joined the PFA for starters. It's affiliated as far as I'm aware.. .. .Check out <a href="http://www.pfa.org." target="_blank">www.pfa.org.</a>. .. .Don't know if you can get an AOPA card via PFA membership though.

[Polar_stereographic]

Not sure that being an affiliate helps AOPA much. . .If it where up to me, I'd look to merge all the seperate bodies, PFA/AOPA/AFA etc into one. There would be more clout with the Belgrano than having lots of smaller bodies.. .. .But then, if your the Belgrano, it's far better tpo have lots of smaller ones than one powerfull one.. .. .PS

[englishal]

I am an AOPA member (US) and pay about $50. They even send me the mag and stuff to my address in the UK.....I'm sure someone will enlighten me as to why we should pay more over here...(Maybe its because you get a nice picture ID card to make you feel great, goes well with the epaulettes I hear.) <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

[sennadog]

No, not a member but I've thought about it but to be honest the attraction of an ID card sounds a bit lame to me - goes with ordering your white shirt and epaulettes IMO.. .. .If it was an effective NGO that actively lobbied on our behalf then I might be tempted aka PFA but it does not appear to so I'll steer clear until someone persuades me otherwise.....

[Polar_stereographic]

I think the AOPA UK is a bit of a chicken and egg situation. They won't be effective without the membership, but then no one will join unless they become effective.. .. .It's a real shame because all aspects of UK aviation get a real shafting, and it should fall on someone like APOA to put up a stand against it. Clearly they are a failure IMHO in that respect. Time to ring the changes.. .. .PS . .. .ps, I take it from the lack of replies to my question as to what achievements they could be credited with is self explanatory.

[FNG]

The advertising/outreach seems poor. Who wants a poxy aircrew card and money off cheesy motels? The ads should offer more indication of what they do, or might do if more of us joined. The PFA hardly advertises at all, but seems to do well on word of mouth. . .. .This thread re-appears every three to six months. Is anyone who works for or is an officer of AOPA able to give their point of view on this?

[CBG]

I am based in France and I am a member of AOPA UK. All the advice and information I got from Martin Robinson and his team of volunteers when I was wondering if I could fly F regs A/Cs over here on my UK PPL is well worth the 70 odd Quid of annual fees. . .. .As far as I am concerned, AOPA UK delivered where the CAA and the french DGAC failed.. .. .If you fly in the UK, join AOPA UK. You never know when you might need them and they do need your support.

[DB6]

I joined AOPA in order to give them some support. Never used the card; if I did I would be thrown out of the airport as the photo no longer looks like me. I think I got some money off car hire in the US a few years back, but then again you can probably use a Tesco club card for that <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />

[chrisN]

Just a few facts on the "Belgrano" (CAA?) attitude to GA and representation.. .. .A highly placed CAA official has said several times recently that they would like to see a single voice for "GA" - it would help to achieve things in negotiations. They are not seeking to divide and rule, on the contrary.. .. .They have spoken favourably of the recent Working Group on NPPL, which acted across traditional boudaries for a common cause.. .. .There is one existing all-GA grouping with a wide membership - the GAAC (see <a href="http://www.GAAC.co.uk" target="_blank">www.GAAC.co.uk</a> ). It acts, with the blessing of its member organisations, on airfield planning and related issues. It has no remit to act on a wider GA front.. .. .In the past, it has been difficult to obtain common agreement between typically the air sport enthusiasts who belong to BGA, BMAA, BPA, BHPA etc. and who all come under the airsport governing body the Royal Aero Club (RAeC), on the one hand (for records and awards purposes); and the non-sporting flying of AOPA members etc. on the other.. .. .I am at present working on a study for the GAAC on its future role. If you have views on what a cross-GA body could do, by all means let me know. (If I have too many replies, it may take me some time to respond! I already do voluntary committee work for my own Gliding Club, the BGA, the RAeC, the GAAC, and others so I am a bit busy.)