AOPA, what do YOU want???

[snarek]

AOPA members and prospective members.

From my perspective we have had a decade of people telling you what is best for you. So, if you are a member, tell us what you want AOPA to do.

if you are a non-member, tell us what would make you join.

Do you want

A lobby group (solely or with other things)
Sponsor of aero clubs
Sponsor of AUF type training
Sponsor of safety courses
Fly ins

etc etc etc???

You tell me.

AK

[Mooney Operator]

AK,

I believe primarily and firstly it has to be a “Lobby Group”. If AOPA go ahead and set up areas or state chapters, this will enhance it to being one of the most powerful “Lobby Groups”. Maybe able to start an Aviation party, for Federal politics too?

You may get more of response on a topic like this over @ http://agaf.aimoo.com

[axiom]

Lobby group Andrew, with powerful State Chapters to take to Canberra a geographically diversified point of view, not simply one entrenched power base with narrowly focused views.

[snarek]

Ax

If you would settle down and be one person I'd agree with you. But then, I'm 1/5 of ULM so I cant talk

I have done a lot of thought and talking on state chapters and still support them in proncipal. Go look at the way the AWPA is set up. (try not to insult them though)

That works.

But, we have to attract members, fly-ins??? How about a big Canberra fly in the day parliamentary sittings start (remember that oh Osama-Bin-Axiom)

AK

[compressor stall]

What I want.

A personal musing.

I started learning to fly 10 years ago, and spent a few years getting my commercial and started instructing in 1997. Did that for 2 years, packed up the cruiser and headed north. found work reasonably quickly, worked hard and after 2 years went to FNQ to work for a reputable operator there. Left after 2 years to what must be one of GA's best jobs.

At no time have I seen AOPA as relevant to me as either 1. A pilot learning to fly or 2. A professional pilot.

It seemed not to attract me with the lure of being able to offer me advice, comraderie or even as a representative of my as a pilot.

What would have made me join? Well its hard to say in retrospect, but something along the lines of:

1. A body that effectively represents the interests of the pilot body. Various government and non government entities have been doing their best to kill off aviation. I don't really recall any call to arms at a grass roots level. (it may have happened within AOPA, but with so few people behind it, it's not really considered a force). It might be organising a Keep Essendon Airport Open Campaign in media...anything!

2. An excellent publication with real in depth relevant articles... for example technical discussions the likes of which are seen here, government plans and how they will affect me etc.

3. Flyaways/Social occasions. Organised trips out of large towns that would have been a great opportunity when hours building to join and learn from others and meet other people in the industry.

4. Legal advice if required.

5. Advice on learning to fly. Affliated or approved flying schools...

And the following without prejudice - I have the perception that AOPA is really for private pilots. Weekend warrior drivers with photographers jackets with Oshkosh badges and STS-96 pins on them.

Could it be that AOPA once had the support from the whole spectrum of the aviation community, and has lost the Professionals.

I do not know of a single employed pilot who is an AOPA member. AOPA has never come up in my innumerable pilot drinking sessions in Rourkes Drift, The Gove Yacht Club, The Pier, The Gateway, The Exchange, PJ's, Woolshed...wherever. Not one CPL+ pilot - 90% of them starting since 1993 - has mentioned it, even in passing. Not one.

Now some of the aforementioned things AOPA may do (or have done in the past) but I have not been aware of them. Why? well noone has told me about them. No peers (GA pilots) are members, and advertising..well what advertising? I have never seen anything effective that has made me think of handing over my hard earned GA $$ to it.

If AOPA represents me by
[list=1]
lobbying the govt and media opinion and effecting change in my interests as a professional pilot (standing up to bad CASA NPRMs and supporting the good ones)
providing me with an interesting relevant publication
providing and ability to socialise with a broad cross section of our aviation community
legal advice and or referrals
offering a discount card at pilot shops and accommodation[/list=1]

Then i'd happily join.

CS

[Capcom]

Compressor - Bravo

What he or she said absolutely!!!

[snarek]

Points taken

Compressor.

Thanks heaps for that, points taken and, if I am reelected, will be fed (forcibly) to the new Board.

by the way, I did do a pre-emptive attack some time back on Senator Lyn Allison (Democrats) who was trying to help shut down Essendon. After about 300 e-mails and faxes from members she cried foul

Now what about flying training, you have touched on something I am really interested in. In the dive industry training is standardised and checks on quality made by the individual (non-Government) training agencies (PADI, NAUI, FAUI (SSC) etc). Should AOPA (via qualified experienced instructors) get involved in a sort of AOPA PPL????

Oh, and the woolshed, geez compressor, what were you chasing (heeeeloooo, Frauline Heeelga here) , oh, and that lovely microwave radio system from Nhullunbuy to Jabiru, next time you talk to your GF over it, remember me, I helped build it.

Now, join up and help us get all you 'paid' pilots to help us make AOPA relavent to you.

AK

[compressor stall]

AK..

Yep, my last memory of the Woolshed was dirty dancing on the tables with three Norwegian girls. The corrugated iron roof is so low I had to crouch and place one hand on to balance. Mind you $10 entry including 5 stubbies was not too bad!

Yep, that microwave towers...including the one near that bizarre stone mesa just east of Oenpelli that looks like something out of close encounters?

I don't know whether creatiing an AOPA PPL will be any more beneficial, but maybe advice given to members about what to look for in a flying school, people who they can turn to to ask "I think my instructr is making me fly extra etc" and maybe an AOPA approval for different flying schools that pass certain criteria, over and above CASA requirements. (Particualarly if the AOC requirement for Flying Schools is removed).

I hear what you said re Essendon. I don't doubt it happened, but perception in media (and govt) would have been that it was not coming a body that represented the entire pilot industry, just a small self interested group.

CS

[snarek]

AOPA flyer

A while ago I mooted the publication of the 'AOPA flyer' a newsrag (like the Trader) but tilted towards the training industry.

Those of you that dive would know the Dive Log. Given out free at Dive Shops. I figured we give it out free to flying schools and sell it at newsagencies.

It would outline 'learn to fly' stuff, talk about syllabus etc etc.

It got swamped by egos and incompetence in the previous Board, but I will give it another go in the new one. is this what you mean compressor???

And no crashing into my loverly orange dish antennas

AK

[compressor stall]

That would certainly help people who are learning to fly or thinking about it. Also make it easier to see what its all about. Combine that with some realistic assessments of what you have to do to succeed in aviation (ie how hard you have to work) it wont do any harm.

But what about the likes of me. I dont want to learn to fly. I am paid good money to fly for a living. I don't own an aircraft. What do you have in mind to attract and benefit me?

CS

[paddopat]

How about a fuel discount card

[compressor stall]

Good idea and certainly worth pursuing with Shell, Mobil, BP etc. Would be well worth anyone who owns a plane or is hours building, or rents out occasionally. Even if its 2 cpl...that adds up pretty quickly on an Ayers Rock flyaway. Would soon pay for the membership easily.

But, and I sound like a broken record now, is that of any interest to me, a commercial pilot? I don't pay for the fuel for my aircraft. What is really going to attract ME?

CS

[snarek]

Compressor

You tell me what you want and i'll tell you if i think it is feasible.

I will also talk to Marjorie if we (you and I) agree it is worth chasing and we will get it up.

Talk to your collegues too and find out what they want.

AK

[triadic]

Compressor Stall
Having been in the industry for only about ten years, you unfortunately have been denied the experience of having an AOPA that achieved things in a quite and efficient manner. Probably the only weakness of the "old guard" was that they did not stand on the table top and beat their chests whenever they had a win (and they had many). The just got on with it. It was not until the two "generals" took the show over in the mid '90's did it all go sour. Prior to your day many of the pilots that joined up during their training stayed members when employed in all sectors of the industry. In fact I would go as far as to say that prior to 94, AOPA did most if not all the things you call for. The professional pilot members however left in droves when the "weekend warrior" tribe came to town. They just did not want to be part of it. I must be one of the few exceptions and have stayed a member throughout it all because I believe the cause is greater than those individuals who think they can be everything to everyone, which of course nobody can. It seems your introduction to the industry was about that time, so the vibes would not have been positive. There are a lot of good people in this industry that would give of their time to help in whatever way they can, but not if they are rubbished or spoken down to by self confessed experts with ego's they cannot manage.

What we the members now have to ensure is that AOPA returns to being an organisation that is managed in a sound manner and provides services to the membership that the membership expect. This must be achieved in a professional, responsible and transparent manner. Once it is seen by all that AOPA are now doing business that way, not only will the members return (with a bit of help from a membership drive) but all those with whom we deal will be prepared to sit down and discuss the issues that are the reason we are AOPA.

[awetzel]

Snark you’re on the right track there. I think firstly AOPA has to become a front line lobby group representing the industry as a whole, plus bringing the fun and social aspect back into aviation across all spectrums.

[snarek]

Andrew

How perfectly true but so unlike you to suggest hedonistic beerswilling sessions, ever been to the Woolshed??

Tell him about it Compressor

I know, AOPA could reopen the Cage Bar in Nightcliffe

But seriously, triadic, we need your guidance.

Andrew

[C182 Drover]

I think AOPA have to realise everybody is important in Aviation from your micro light pilots, ultra lights, glider pilots, private pilots right through to your ATPL Career pilots and not just a selected few.

We all need each other and work together to make the aviation industry succeed in whatever fields it maybe LAME, Recreational, Private, Fly School, Business, Commercial or Airlines. You can even tack in CASA, Airservices etc in there too; otherwise they would not have a job.

[compressor stall]

Snarek

You tell me what you want and i'll tell you if i think it is feasible.

I did in general terms in my first post. AOPA has a product to sell. It has to sell it to the likes of me, not necessarily the other way around.

Triadic

Thanks for your observations re the disappearance of the "professionals". You confirm my suspicions.

Now what can the new board do to get me (and my colleagues) to join? What can you offer to benefit ME a happily employed ATPL holder. (sound of stylus wearing down. )

[Bill Pike]

"A happily employed ATPL Holder"
Ever heard the term "fat dumb and happy" son?
CASA proposals, "A pilot is guilty of an offence, (strict liability, he does not have to be aware) if the cabin crew don't stow baggage" "A pilot is guilty of an offence if he doesn't obey an ATC instruction ( including light signals) that he neither heard nor saw"
I could go on. Neither the AFAP nor, I am sad to say, AIPA are awake. AIPA would not have officially objected to the ATSB grab for the right to kick your door down without a search warrant without prodding from AOPA. ("But we wrote to the ATSB, why should we attend the Senate Hearings?" Such naiviety!) Only AOPA is objecting to the CASA power grab for "strict liability"! I also am an ATPL Holder gainfully employed, why is it (said with a note of bitter frustration) that I can see the threat and you guys cannot? Is it the "frog in the gradually increasing water temperature" syndrome? We should not have a single regulation , not one, that is not safety case justified and we are confronted with bloody hundreds. Carrying lifejackets over floodwaters? That is an international first, and AOPA the only objector."Simple and Harmonised" my arse. Why is it that the only voice raised in anger at the ridiculous proposal that the physician should heal himself is AOPA? CASA wrote in the first place the dopey regs they are rewriting, are they likely to solve the problem? Don't join AOPA if you don't wish to, but for chrissake kick AFAP or AIPA into gear!.

[triadic]

Good on ya Bill. But we all have to work together on this... It must be a team and no lone rangers...