Flight Training - November 2012 - 4

PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE

By Craig Fuller

AOPA SERVICES
THE AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION is general aviation's advocate and the largest, most influential aviation association in the world.

FOCUSING ON THE SUCCESS STORIES
ver the past couple of years, you’ve frequently seen me write about the Flight Training Student Retention Initiative—a program we created to understand why so many student pilots never complete their training, and then do something about it. We began by conducting extensive research to understand the problem, followed by a nationwide conversation designed to help us identify real-world solutions. During the course of this initiative, we've
seen some very encouraging signs. Yes, there clearly are many reasons why completing training is a major challenge— enough of a challenge that the majority of students just don’t finish. But we’ve also uncovered some incredible success stories—schools with extremely high completion rates, instructors who deliver just what their students need to earn a pilot certificate, and students who overcome all obstacles to live their dreams. It’s the focus on these success stories—finding what works and replicating it—that makes the Student Retention Initiative really different. And now, we are expanding that approach by creating a new division at AOPA dedicated to helping students earn their certificates, helping lapsed pilots get back in the air, and helping to build supportive pilot communities that make flying easier and more affordable. This new division is the Center to Advance the Pilot Community, and we are making it a top priority. The center will be led by aviation advocate Adam Smith and a team of experts on lifelong learning, research, and program development. Like the Student Retention Initiative, which will become a cornerstone of the center’s programs, the center’s efforts will focus on what actually works. In other words, it will build on success. A theme emerged as we were trying to understand why so many students drop out of training. We discovered that many students feel isolated. They may have little contact with other flight students and pilots, even though they routinely go to a bustling flight school for training. They often discover they have no one with whom to share their excitement and experiences. They lack a sense of community. This is just one factor in the dropout rate, but it made us ask some questions. What would a supportive pilot community look like? Does being part of such a community really make a difference in outcomes? The answer to the last question is unequivocally “yes.” And we discovered that we need look no further than the most successful flying clubs to see the idea of a strong community become reality. That led us in a new direction—understanding what makes the most effective flying clubs work so well and re-creating that success so more pilots can find the support and camaraderie they crave. We continue to make new discoveries about what brings pilots to flying and what keeps them flying. At the Center to Advance the Pilot Community, we will continue that research and develop programs and tools designed to support pilots and future pilots. Ultimately we want to reverse the long, slow decline in the number of active pilots and strengthen general aviation for this and future generations of aviators. It’s a big job, and we will need your help and support along the way. But it’s also an opportunity to be part of something truly wonderful—a thriving GA community that helps every pilot live his or her dreams.
Email AOPA President Craig Fuller at craig@aopa. org.

IT BEGINS AT THE CENTER

INTERESTED IN LEARNING TO FLY? Visit AOPA’s engaging website for people who want to know more about what’s involved in learning to fly—and what it’s like. www.LetsGoFlying.com RESOURCES FOR STUDENT PILOTS Ask an AOPA CFI | ft.aopa.org/ask Flight Training article archive | ft.aopa.org/archive Aviation library | ft.aopa.org/library Supplemental training information | ft.aopa.org/student Virtual flight bag, including online weather and airport directory | ft.aopa.org/flightbag PILOT INFORMATION CENTER Members can receive answers to flight training and other aviation questions, and join or renew by telephone, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday | 800-USA-AOPA (872-2672) Via the Internet | ft.aopa.org/ask AOPA AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE ONLINE SAFETY CENTER Dedicated to providing general aviation pilot education and safety programs online. Via the Internet | www.airsafetyinstitute.org Call | 800-638-3101 AOPA MEMBER PRODUCTS AOPA Aircraft Financing Program | 800-62-PLANE AOPA Aircraft Insurance Program | 800-622-AOPA Non-owned aircraft and CFI policies available AOPA Credit Card Program | 800-523-7666 AOPA Legal Services Plan | 800-USA-AOPA AOPA Foundation | 800-955-9115 Other products | 800-USA-AOPA ONLINE GUIDE TO AOPA MEMBER SERVICES To join or renew, or for information about AOPA membership, e-mail inforequest@aopa.org or Visit the website | www.aopa.org/join NEW ADDRESS? Send your new address and membership number to AOPA, 421 Aviation Way, Frederick, Maryland 21701 Fax | 301-695-2375 Via the Internet | www.aopa.org/coa-form.html

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Flight Training - November 2012

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