AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2012 - 4

PRESIDENT’SPOSITION

BY CRAIG FULLER
AOPA PRESIDENT

Building our pilot community

hen AOPA’s founders first gathered at Wings Field outside of Philadelphia almost 73 years ago, they were part of a small but growing

We want to make sure that we give those thousands of individuals best chance to become pilots.

interested in learning to fly the very

In order to confront the challenge of a declining pilot population, much more of my focus in 2012 will be on these and other success stories. We simply must build our pilot community to survive. I’d be discouraged if there were no good examples of people doing that today—but the reality is that there are outstanding examples of aviators who are building our pilot community. To the extent that we can both celebrate and help replicate their success, we will be securing our future. general aviation community. As private aviators As I’ve discussed before, in 2009 we began an flying rapidly evolving general aviation aircraft, in-depth, two-year look at the flight training situaAOPA President they recognized the need for an association to tion in America. Upon learning that between 70 and Craig Fuller is the protect their interests, their freedom to fly. 80 percent of student pilots never become private proud owner of a Today, AOPA exists to protect that very same pilots, a number of us were alarmed. Our research Bonanza A36 and freedom from those who would tax and regulate and a year of interacting with the flight training an Aviat Husky. us into the history books. We have always fought community have given us keen insights into what for our freedom to fly, and we will continue to do increases the likelihood of success when it comes to so. With your help, we are very good at winning the battles in flight training. And, one important element is establishing and Washington, D.C., and in the states. However, as we entered building into the process a sense that there is a pilot community this new year, I was struck by the overwhelming evidence that to welcome a new aviator. Flight training programs that hold just fighting the fight will not be enough. evening gatherings, weekend cookouts, and other social events to build a pilot community are more successful. In 2012 we will focus on this and other elements that contribute to successful flight training—indeed, we’ve identified more than 40 factors that help determine success. We want to share what works with the broadest possible audience, and we want to make sure that we give those thousands of individuals interested in learning to fly the very best chance to become pilots. If building a sense of pilot community is important in flight training, it may be even more important when we focus on how to keep people flying! So, as we examine the factors that contribute to a successful flight training experience, we will also focus on how the pilot community can be strengthened to support What concerns me most today is less the threat from a gov- individuals who become private pilots. ernment that is sometimes too domineering, but rather the Whether out in California with Plus One Flyers or in other stark difference between our numbers today and those of the communities across the nation where a few hundred flying past. In 1939, when AOPA was founded, the general aviation clubs exist, we find clear patterns of success. We are working pilot population was small, but it was growing. Today, we are now to analyze recently completed research into what makes seeing a continuing decline in our numbers that has been successful flying clubs. Soon, we will share these findings and going on for two decades! invite you, our members, to share your views and experiences. There is no one issue causing this decline, and thus there As with our flight training effort, the purpose here will be to is no one solution. But, what we have learned during the past recognize and honor programs that build our pilot community. few years is that there is a strong sense of community among Our future depends on the success of many to build the pilots. And where you find a strong pilot community, you find pilot community. At AOPA, we want to do everything possible aviators of all ages and ranges of experience. to advance and accelerate the process. You will read more about During my travels over the past few years, I discovered a this exciting undertaking and I am hopeful that you will join us, successful flight training program in Nashville that seems to for if we do not dedicate ourselves to expanding our numbers be thriving in the toughest of economic climates. I met with and strengthening our community, who will? I honestly believe hundreds of the 900-member Plus One Flyers in San Diego, a we have no option. I also believe we can succeed! flying club that operates dozens of aircraft out of four separate locations. Email AOPA President Craig Fuller at craig@aopa.org. 4 • FEBRUARY 2012

AOPA PILOT •

AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2012

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