AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 31

AOPA’S VISION STATEMENT
AOPA is the beacon for those who cherish the freedom to fly. It demonstrates what is possible when a determined organization listens to its members, collaborates with its colleagues, finds solutions with its partners in government, and focuses its resources—all to secure the future of general aviation. AOPA’s success is proof that the public good can be served while individual freedoms are preserved.

beltway when it comes to keeping flying accessible. New regional managers located around the country and a team of state advocates in our Maryland headquarters make strategic plans every day regarding state and local issues. As a result of our diligence, no new aviation taxes have been implemented in any state in the past two years, and in some cases, existing taxes have been rolled back. These efforts will save owners and pilots some $100 million a year in state taxes and fees. Much of our success must be measured this way—by noting what didn’t happen. Our dedicated staff frequently quashes potentially onerous regulations and burdensome fees before they ever make it to the Federal Register or into state tax codes—and well before most pilots even learn of the threat. While the majority of pilots may never hear about the threats brewing behind the scenes in state houses, pilots are acutely aware of the challenges facing their own airports. That’s why we rely on you, our fellow pilots, to keep us informed so we can help protect individual airports. Advocating for airports has been at the core of AOPA’s existence for nearly 75 years, and now with our 2,300 Airport Support Network volunteers at local airports, we’re more effective than ever at nipping local problems in the bud. In 2012, we helped keep many airports open, from remote strips to thriving reliever fields. At Hay Springs, a grass strip in Nebraska, an ASN volunteer based at an airport 30 miles away worked with AOPA and local pilots to make the case that the airport, although small, provides real benefits to the community. Faced with so much support for the airport, the local city council backed away from plans to close the field. Meanwhile at the much larger Venice, Florida, airport, Venice city council members launched a series of actions designed to decrease or restrict airport operations. AOPA worked closely with local pilots, the Venice Aviation Society Inc., the Venice Aviation Business Association, and area ASN volunteers to win approval for the airport’s master plan and associated improvements at the field. The collaborative effort led to the election of new city council members and new investment in the airport.
TAKING ON LONG-TERM CHALLENGES

In addition to the traditional advocacy that forms a core focus

for AOPA, other types of issues are causing us to take a close look at what it really means to preserve the freedom to fly. The same members who tell me they worry about the potential impact of user fees are urging us to take direct aim at the biggest threats to general aviation—threats such as the declining pilot population— that transcend the traditional boundaries of legislation, taxation, and infrastructure. We’re committed to addressing these complex issues, but even with nearly 400,000 members; aviation’s largest media operation; and the most influential aviation advocates in Washington, D.C., and throughout the country, AOPA can’t change the future of GA on our own. Even when we’re solo in the cockpit, a team has made it possible. We depend on the weather briefers who provide detailed forecasts, the air traffic controllers who help guide us on our way, and the many other folks from mechanics to fuelers who help us complete each journey safely. Similarly, AOPA needs the support of its members, the counsel and resources of industry partners, and the wisdom of forward-looking legislators and FAA leaders to advance general aviation and stem the decline. The key to reversing the 30-year decline in pilot numbers is a multifaceted approach that will bring in new pilots, help today’s pilots stay active longer, and return lapsed pilots to the skies. In 2010 we conducted what has become a landmark research project that highlighted the primary reasons students drop out of training, sometimes at the rate of 80 percent. Those findings have guided us over the past two years as we developed best practices to help flight schools and instructors create success for their students. We’ve shared what we’ve learned in a range of formats, including a new set of Flight Training Field Guides designed to help students, instructors, and schools collaborate to create the best possible training experience. We further bolstered the program this year with the introduction of the Flight Training Excellence Awards, which recognize flight schools and instructors who are doing it right. Some 2,400 nominations poured in for these awards in our first year. It’s too soon to tell how effective these techniques will be in stemming the dropout rate, but we believe we’re on the right path and will continue to expand our efforts on this front. continued
www.aopa.org/pilot AOPA PILOT | 31

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AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013