AOPA helps hopeful pilots learn to fly for FREE

[GeorgePerry]

 AOPA ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $156,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS

https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2016/june/07/aopa-announces-more-than-156000-in-scholarships

AOPA is offering more than 40 scholarships this year worth more than $156,000 through three different programs: AOPA AV8RS teen membership, the AOPA You Can Fly High School Flight Training Scholarship, and the AOPA Foundation Scholarship.

 

In case anyone is wondering - All of these flight training scholarships are funded by donations from members who want to see General Aviation grow and have new pilots fill the ranks.  No funds from member dues were used.  

[GeorgePerry]

I'm going to pontificate for a moment and pose a question.  Why is it that one persons mixed opinions on AOPA and their decision on whether or not to renew membership gets almost 3000 views and a post detailing what the same organization is doing to help young people with free money for flight training gets less than 70 views? (at the time of writing)

It's a rhetorical question, but it would be great if we (the larger GA community) could lend our collective voices and efforts to positive initiatives and concern ourselves less on personal, inwardly focused gripes.  Just an observation.  Have a great weekend all...!

[Marauder]

I'm going to pontificate for a moment and pose a question.  Why is it that one persons mixed opinions on AOPA and their decision on whether or not to renew membership gets almost 3000 views and a post detailing what the same organization is doing to help young people with free money for flight training gets less than 70 views? (at the time of writing)

It's a rhetorical question, but it would be great if we (the larger GA community) could lend our collective voices and efforts to positive initiatives and concern ourselves less on personal, inwardly focused gripes.  Just an observation.  Have a great weekend all...!

We're a bunch of grumpy old men and like to complain.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Bennett]

I'm going to pontificate for a moment and pose a question.  Why is it that one persons mixed opinions on AOPA and their decision on whether or not to renew membership gets almost 3000 views and a post detailing what the same organization is doing to help young people with free money for flight training gets less than 70 views? (at the time of writing)

It's a rhetorical question, but it would be great if we (the larger GA community) could lend our collective voices and efforts to positive initiatives and concern ourselves less on personal, inwardly focused gripes.  Just an observation.  Have a great weekend all...!

George, AOPA is not the only entity to encourage young people to share in our aviation world. Relatively quietly the San Carlos Flight Center, as the leader of the Upwind Scholarship project, provides full free pilot training right up to the PPL. This year four young aspiring pilots will receive this training. The costs are paid by local pilots and businesses. The program has been in place for at least three years now. San Carlos's pilot population is tiny compared to the AOPA membership numbers, which is not to disparage AOPA's scholarship program, but just imagine what would be possible if your program was proportional to the relative memberships.

[bonal]

I think there is some truth to the grumpy old thing,  my local field has an association of pilots and they like to have their meetings and such but in truth I think they want to keep things from growing / changing.  I think there are a lot of folks in the flying community that say they want to see new blood but really want to have things kind of the same ie exclusive like a little club.  Exposure is the only thing that will save GA, yes the costs need to be more accessible but lets face it this has been covered you can fly an OK 150 for under 20K easy the thing is people have to want to learn and fly.  When I met the former AOPA guy Craig Fuller (I think) I said what the GA businesses need to do and By that I mean companies that sell products to pilots and owners from the smallest accessories to full on airplanes like Mooney and Cessna etc. is have an add campaign pool resources and reach out to the non flying public to get them thinking about flight.  Stop preaching to the choir run some adds during a ball game or even a prime time sit com.  Fuller kind of shrugged and went on to the next comment most people don't even think its something they can do.

[Tom]

9 hours ago, GeorgePerry said:

Why is it that one persons mixed opinions on AOPA and their decision on whether or not to renew membership gets almost 3000 views and a post detailing what the same organization is doing to help young people with free money for flight training gets less than 70 views? (at the time of writing)

Most people do whatever is necessary to avoid cognitive dissonance.  

Want to skip out of a $60 annual fee but feel guilty?  Seek out an echo chamber that will make you feel less guilty.

A story comes out that reminds you that you're not paying it forward?  Look the other way.

[co2bruce]

AOPA picked 2 celebrities to champion their cause. Morgan Freeman and Harrison Ford, both pilots and friends of aviation. They were also huge democratic supporters at the time. This was back when President Obama was waging his war against GA. ( remember the automakers and their private jet controversies). This past administration has done more to hurt GA then any before it. This is what turned me off to AOPA. I will do what I can to support GA at the local level, but as with most huge organizations, job one is the survival of the organization, everything else is a distant second. Just my two cents.

[Tom]

13 minutes ago, co2bruce said:

 I will do what I can to support GA at the local level...

What does this mean?  What do you do?

[Tom]

We simply have a lot of freeloaders who don't see themselves as freeloaders. 

"Wealthy people overwhelmingly attribute their own success to hard work rather than to factors like luck or being in the right place at the right time.  That’s troubling, because a growing body of evidence suggests that seeing ourselves as self-made—rather than as talented, hardworking, and lucky—leads us to be less generous and public-spirited...Surely it’s a short hop from overlooking luck’s role in success to feeling entitled to keep the lion’s share of your income—and to being reluctant to sustain the public investments that let you succeed in the first place."

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/05/why-luck-matters-more-than-you-might-think/476394/

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/08/business/are-ceos-that-talented-or-just-lucky.html?_r=0

[Tom]

32 minutes ago, daver328 said:

 Not like us "bad people" who don't bow to PC and hold to our convictions.

My people have been contributing a little extra since at least as early as 1861 to your people.  In 1865 most of your people got the message.

[Tom]

2 minutes ago, daver328 said:

What do you mean by "your people?"

By "your people" I mean to refer to secessionists who did not (or, more rarely, who do not) appreciate the goods and services granted to them by being a member of the common union.

[GeorgePerry]

56 minutes ago, daver328 said:

I'm done with AOPA. (After 25 years!)

Oh ... Tom, present your radically biased, unproven, tainted portraits of your fellow pilots. You're so ready to condemn anyone who doesn't cater to your views.

But you're a "good person!" Not like us "bad people" who don't bow to PC and hold to our convictions.

You don't know what a guy does at his local airport. Or pilots n paws, or angel flight. So quick to judge and condemn. Funny, you are what you hate and accuse others of being!! Lol!

GEORGE, 

Dont tell me you guys didn't know what you were doing? You (AOPA) knew you were going to alienate and offend those who hold to sound moral values. But you said to heck with us and went ahead with your PC crap. Now ... you (AOPA) made your choice, so don't act all huffy when you (AOPA) pay(s) the price. ... Pontificate that.

Congratulations for making my case. Only a grumpy old guy like you could morph a discussion about helping kids learn to fly into a political rant with baseless acusation of racism. Thanks for perpetuating the stereotype! 

[GeorgePerry]

All joking aside, I am interested in your concerns. If you ever get up to the DC / Frederick MD area please let me know. I'm happy to sit down face to face to discuss and see if we can find some common ground to address your concerns.  Or if you prefer I'm happy to call and discuss, just send a PM. 

[bonal]

One thing for sure even though we all love to fly and love our Mooney's there is a wide spectrum of political and ideological thinking on this site. George I appreciate most of what AOPA does as well as other aviation associations and I understand the political requiments that these organizations must involve themselves in since the rules we all have to live with are set by government. What I don't like is when the organization starts to show a bias that is outside of the objectives or goals. I used to make an annual donation to United way until they decided to take objection to the Boy Scouts. End of my donations. I like the story of the learn to fly program especially since most school funding has left the curriculum with little beyond basic knowledge and a lot of social engineering. I will continue to maintain my status with AOPA but let's keep it focused on aviation which I think for the most part they do. Just thought I'd put that in before this thread gets locked.

[Deb]

3 hours ago, co2bruce said:

AOPA picked 2 celebrities to champion their cause. Morgan Freeman and Harrison Ford, both pilots and friends of aviation. They were also huge democratic supporters at the time. This was back when President Obama was waging his war against GA. ( remember the automakers and their private jet controversies). This past administration has done more to hurt GA then any before it. This is what turned me off to AOPA. I will do what I can to support GA at the local level, but as with most huge organizations, job one is the survival of the organization, everything else is a distant second. Just my two cents.

Please note that "the automakers and their private jet controversies" occurred in November of 2008. Although the election was the previous week, Bush was president at the time. http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/WallStreet/story?id=6285739&page=1

Currently, Representative Bill Shuster (R-PA) is the leading proponent of ATC privitization. This is opposed by all the GA groups:

The bill, H.R. 4441, introduced by House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-9-PA), authorizes programs and funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The measure calls for the creation of a new, private ATC entity, removed from congressional oversight and governed by an airline-centric board.

https://www.nbaa.org/news/pr/2016/20160212-013.php

[co2bruce]

30 minutes ago, Deb said:

Please note that "the automakers and their private jet controversies" occurred in November of 2008. Although the election was the previous week, Bush was president at the time. http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/WallStreet/story?id=6285739&page=1

Currently, Representative Bill Shuster (R-PA) is the leading proponent of ATC privitization. This is opposed by all the GA groups:

The bill, H.R. 4441, introduced by House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-9-PA), authorizes programs and funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The measure calls for the creation of a new, private ATC entity, removed from congressional oversight and governed by an airline-centric board.

https://www.nbaa.org/news/pr/2016/20160212-013.php

Ok, I take it back. This administration has done everything possible to help and promote GA and its related industries ( just like it did for the coal industry). I'm not going to argue the issues, anyone who has followed GA knows the truth. 

Locally I do my best to provide rides, and or information to any and all prospective pilots ( when I see them at the airport or at open houses). By being an aircraft owner since 1989 and hangering my plane at the field, I am supporting the FBO, local mechanics, avionics shops, banks willing to make aviation loans, fuel suppliers, parts suppliers and countless others all who employ local workers. I'm doing my part, but I don't need to prove anything to you. 

 

Sorry for the rant, " I'm going flying"...................

[Danb]

George I applaud the Aopa and there efforts to promote flying to our youth. It appears that general aviation will die if somehow we don't get kids flying, I apparently don't know how to do it nor is it my responsibility. My contribution is that I do donate to the Aopa, EAA and others who do have the wherewithal and ability to get kids in the air. Its a damn shame what happens to these threads when one points out an accomplishment of an organization then those that dislike the organization should just choose to contribute to whatever charity or purpose they desire. The rude people that exhibit there ignorance on this blog will clearly have many of us stop utilizing blogs such as Mooneyspace which is a damn shame for vast knowledge expressed across the board. 

[Danb]

So do I., I got involved with a small school and last year took about 5 families, kids flying and the teacher had the students do papers on the event before and after. Every one was overjoyed , only the elders almost got sick.

[Hector]

I have a teacher friend who works at a local aviation magnet school. She can spot those kids who really love aviation and flying. This morning I met with the Florida Mooney Group at X60 for lunch. I brought one of these kids with me (Austin) who wants to be an air traffic controller. He did most of the flying and he could hardly contain himself from the excitement. Did a heck of a job flying too! The kid is a natural. All he can think about now is getting his PPL and getting a Mooney. Job done!! I will continue doing this because I enjoy it as much as they do. I do support AOPA and EAA because someone has to speak for us on the hill. I don't know how good of a job they do, but the membership is peanuts and I get a magazine to read.

[co2bruce]

http://aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&ID=568942B1-3B6B-4E35-9549-F23580A4E205

Keep up the good work at the local level. Help keep those airports and flight schools open.

[Bennett]

For those who would like to help young people learn to fly by contributing any small amount of money, you could support the Upwind Scholarship program sponsored by the San Carlos Flight Center. Three persons last year, and four for 2016. This a "grassroots" program, and it is amazingly successful. If other airport organizations did this all over the country we would be seeing a new interest in general aviation.

[gsxrpilot]

I flew 10 Young Eagles today as one way of contributing to the advancement of GA. Of course the AOPA doesn't have anything to do with this, but rather EAA sponsors the program.  I maintain my EAA membership just so I can participate and fly kids at these events.  I'm also thankful for what AOPA does for all of us and maintain a membership there as well.

BTW there is a nice Ignore User option on this forum that makes it easy to avoid certain users political rants. You might guess the few users on my ignore list ;-)

[Bennett]

I have been talking about our single strip airport that is almost always under attack to shut it down or severely restrict its operations. We (The San Carlos Airport Pilots Association, the local EAA chapter, the San Carlos Flight Center, the Hiller museum on field) are all fighting back hard. Not just politically. You would not believe the number of pilots who took off work to appear at a recent Board of Supervisors meeting in morning hours), but through continuous involvement with community. The EAA Young Eagle program is very active, Airport Days are well attended and quite a few pilots take time visit schools to talk about flying. The Hiller museum has about a dozen simulators set up on the second floor for kids to "fly" with pilots, some CFIIs as instructors. I already mentioned the upwind scholarships One of my favorites: a through the fence walkway to a covered shelter where their kids and their parents can watch aircraft take off and land while listening to Tower and Ground via speakers in the shelter. Many of us stop to talk to kids and adults who stand at the mandated fences around the airport. Many a kid has had their first flight this way. We are just a bunch of enthusiastic pilots who want to see kids ultimately join our ranks. Just about every one is purely a volunteer. i guess other airports do much the same and are equally unpublicized. I hardly ever hear of all these efforts. Perhaps AOPA could help by featuring these activities in their magazine, but more importantly though their vast contacts with media. Not for KSQL, but for all of us who want to expand the pilot population.>

[Danb]

1 hour ago, gsxrpilot said:

I flew 10 Young Eagles today as one way of contributing to the advancement of GA. Of course the AOPA doesn't have anything to do with this, but rather EAA sponsors the program.  I maintain my EAA membership just so I can participate and fly kids at these events.  I'm also thankful for what AOPA does for all of us and maintain a membership there as well.

BTW there is a nice Ignore User option on this forum that makes it easy to avoid certain users political rants. You might guess the few users on my ignore list ;-)

Paul awesome, thanx for the tip on the users , some of this is getting old.

[Andy95W]

How do you do that?  I couldn't find it.