AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - September 2019 - 6

PRESIDENT'S POSITION

Bit by the bug

BY MARK BAKER
President and CEO

Enthusiasm for flying is contagious
MANY PEOPLE DEFINE the 1920s and 1930s as the
"Golden Age of Flight." Enthusiasm for aviation was
contagious, spreading across the globe. In the decades
following, generation after generation continued to
catch the bug. Like many others, the epidemic struck
me in the early 1970s, and I've been hooked ever since.
And while today's opportunities are immense, the past
few decades have seen a decline in participation. But
flying isn't alone in that regard.
Sports such as golf and adventurous activities
like skiing and sailing are also in somewhat of a rut.
And while I don't have all the answers as to why the
greens are vacant and the lifts are empty, I believe we
can each make small yet significant changes to turn
things around-at least when it comes to the cockpit.
Boeing's pilot and technician outlook shows a need
for 804,000 new civil pilots, 769,000 new maintenance

It's nearly impossible not to have a smile on your
face watching the behemoth Draco perform
against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada.

AOPA President
MARK BAKER

bought his first
airplane-a 1968
Cessna 150-while
still in college, selling his van to raise
the money.

technicians, and more than 900,000 new cabin crew
to maintain and fly the world's fleet of aircraft over the
next 20 years. Combine that with the several thousand
pilots who are hitting retirement age, and we've either
got ourselves a perfect storm or a huge opportunity.
One of the daunting challenges of attracting more
pilots is competing with daily life in the twenty-first
century. Digital screens have consumed our lives,
with fewer and fewer people turning to hobbies.
Our entertainment no longer consists of doing something, but rather, watching something. As pilots and
those who want to see our industry thrive, it's time
we shed some light on the fun and opportunities that
exist in our community.
Many YouTube stars and aviation influencers are
already doing a great job of that. Visually stunning
drone shots of backcountry flying have captured a
whole new audience of young aviators-as have short
takeoff and landing (STOL) competitions. Airshows
and fly-ins have also made it easier for us to connect
with likeminded aviators. Bringing back excitement
for aviation is one of the keys to ensuring its vitality.
AOPA's Livermore Fly-In was the perfect example of how pilots can bring nonpilots into our world.

6 | AOPA PILOT September 2019

A crowd of nearly 10,000 flocked to the local airport,
many of whom had probably never set foot on a ramp
before. And pilot or not, everyone enjoyed watching
the ultimate bush plane Draco compete in a STOL invitational. It's nearly impossible not to have a smile on
your face watching that behemoth of an aircraft perform against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada.
Many might argue that the reason for the decline in
these types of activities is cost. And although it's true
that aviation will never be cheap-and never has been
cheap-there are ways for pilots to cut the costs, and
for nonaviators to join our ranks.
Flight training scholarships are one way to
achieve this dream. The AOPA You Can Fly initiative was pleased this year to administer a scholarship
program for the James Ray Foundation, providing
some $1 million for 100 scholarships for students
and teachers The Ray Foundation grant gives high
school students and teachers the resources they need
to be successful. Many of the students enrolled in the
program do not come from aviation backgrounds,
allowing us to reach new audiences and leading to a
more diverse pilot community.
AOPA also works with flight schools around the
country to ensure that students are getting the most
out of their flight training dollar. Our annual Flight
Training Experience Survey recognizes flight training providers who personify leadership, passion, and
dedication within the industry while also helping flight
schools create an optimal flight training experience
through a combination of technology and training.
Flying clubs are another great way to share the cost
of ownership and find some wonderful camaraderie as
well. AOPA has a cadre of resources for flying clubs and
has helped to start 117 new clubs in the past few years.
We need to continue growing the pilot community
so we can rely on the next generation to promote, advocate for, and fly the newest machines being introduced
in our world. Vertical takeoff and landing aircraft,
supersonic travel, and an exciting world of technology
are just getting started. Sure, people were fascinated
with flight a hundred years ago, but I'm sure they are
just as fascinated with it today. So before gassing up for
Sunday's afternoon flight, invite a friend-after all, one
bite is all it takes.
AOPA
EMAIL mark@aopa.org

AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - September 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - September 2019