MAPA membership worth it?

[jlunseth]

I went to one of the Pilot Proficiency Programs.  Two actually.  I missed part of the Niagara seminar because of a little problem with the engine enroute, so I was invited to Peoria to catch up.  First, I have to say that these guys are really good.  They know Mooneys inside and out and it is well worth the time and money to attend at least one PPP at year.  Besides which they are just enjoyable people to be with.  On the subject of young Mooney owners, I met several while at the PPP's who were neither gray haired nor balding, particularly one young lady who was still in school and there with her dad, and who impressed the heck out of all of us with her skills and knowledge of Mooneys.

I had one thought about MAPA and the PPP, and I am picking up on the earlier comment about things being somewhat "old" among Mooney groups.  I am "old" by most measures, but I don't think age has a thing to do with how you fly.  What I did notice was that alot of the training at the PPP was the old line stuff that we all get when we go through PP or Instr.  Now, let me say right away, that you need to be very good at that stuff because it is how you keep the greasy side down and the shiny side up, and I am very grateful the PPP instructors make you excellent at those things.  And in addition, they are trying to get you through a BFR and maybe an Instrument Prof. check, and you have to do the FAA stuff for that, and the FAA stuff is definitely "old line."

But flying a GA airplane has gone through a sea change in just the past 5 years.   VOR's and Victor airways are giving way to 430's, 530's, and even to glass cockpits.  HSI's are coming out and EFIS's are going in.   Alot of us fly with onboard sat wx.  The ADDS site has undergone a complete transformation in the past year.  Skew T Log P is a lot more sophisticated than your local TAF or AF, and certainly a mile better than the fax reports you are tested on by the FAA.  When you take one of the "old line" FAA Instrument Knowledge exams, you still get more questions about ADF's than about GPS navigation, but the reality of flying today for most of us, is all GPS all the time.  Mooney's are really good at this, long distance, "direct to" navigation with sophisticated instrumentation with a good AP to do most of the work.

I am not being critical of "old" skills at all (cause I still have an ADF and two VOR Nav Comms in my plane, and I like the shiny side up), but it seems to me that it is time for aviation teaching to catch up to what pilots are actually flying, and maybe to be just a little ahead of the curve.

[HopePilot]

I wish I was young, but it's really the Botox.

[jelswick]

I haven't seen that mentioned in here as a benefit yet unless I missed it, but that $40/yr also entitles you to the best lemonade in the world at Oshkosh at the MAPA tent each year.  And when you're swearing you're melting in the heat that is there most years, that lemonade is just about worth the $40 membership fee in itself! 

[fantom]

Quote: jlunseth

.....it seems to me that it is time for aviation teaching to catch up to what pilots are actually flying...

[Ned Gravel]

Quote: jelswick

I haven't seen that mentioned in here as a benefit yet unless I missed it, but that $40/yr also entitles you to the best lemonade in the world at Oshkosh at the MAPA tent each year.  And when you're swearing you're melting in the heat that is there most years, that lemonade is just about worth the $40 membership fee in itself! 

[N513ZM]

Quote: craigsteffen

Most enthusiast groups and mailing lists, you can join for free.  The MAPA costs $40+ or something? 

[N33GG]

Maybe I am confused, but if you own and operate an aircraft, and a good one at that, do you really want to spend even some of your time debating the value of an annual membership with MAPA?  

I can understand perhaps throwing out some constructive criticism on how it might be better and the needs are changing (and thanks to those that have made such posts), but let's face it, it is the only game in town for our aircraft, and membership is the life blood of any organization.  Everybody that owns a Mooney should be a member.  Period.