Mooney Aircraft Pilots Association (MAPA)

[Beard]

I recently received a membership renewal from MAPA. It says in bold "Back Under New Owner". I called them yesterday and the phone did not ring, then called again today day and got a generic answering machine message.

Can anyone pipe in and tell me if it is worthwhile joining MAPA again?

Thank you

 

[hammdo]

We’re all waiting and watching. I’m holding off for now…

-Don

[Fly Boomer]

7 minutes ago, Beard said:

I recently received a membership renewal from MAPA. It says in bold "Back Under New Owner". I called them yesterday and the phone did not ring, then called again today day and got a generic answering machine message.

Can anyone pipe in and tell me if it is worthwhile joining MAPA again?

Thank you

 

See https://mooneyspace.com/topic/44950-mapa-is-back-new-owner/

 

[Schllc]

I know we are somewhat a vocal bunch, but how many actual members are there to this site?  
it certainly seems significant enough for an owners group, hoping to shore up its ranks, would frequent and engage. 
but maybe there aren’t as many of us as I would like to believe….

[Pinecone]

There are a fairly large number of owners.

There is a much smaller group that reads this forum, and a subset of those that actually actively participate.

There are small numbers that frequent other aviation forums.

And there are a number that would join a type club, especially if it were to provide some value beyond a forum.

Like discounts on products, hosting fly ins, etc.

[Fly Boomer]

1 hour ago, Pinecone said:

There are a fairly large number of owners.

There is a much smaller group that reads this forum, and a subset of those that actually actively participate.

There are small numbers that frequent other aviation forums.

And there are a number that would join a type club, especially if it were to provide some value beyond a forum.

Like discounts on products, hosting fly ins, etc.

I agree with your statistical analysis.  That said, this may be a type club.  Members with products to sell usually offer discounts to other members, and I read about members hosting fly-ins with some regularity.  I get a lot from MooneySpace in exchange for a tiny amount of money.

[Pinecone]

I would say this an adjunct to a proper type club.

A type club, IMO, should be a clearing house for  and offer information about the type.  It should organize and run events such as smaller regional fly ins and a big national one each year.  It should offer a publication with information (I am fine with digital).  It should negotiate and offer discounts on common things, such database subscriptions (if for appropriate use aircraft) and work with suppliers (or the factory) to develop ways to get hard to get parts (but NOT stock and sell them).

On the car side, I am a member of BMWCCA.  I get 10% off parts at any dealer.  I get a rebate if I buy another BMW car.  I get a slick magazine with a professional editor in chief and staff.  They have national event each year the moves around.  They have local clubs that host regional events.  I even get a discount if I visit the BMW Museum in Munich.

[Fly Boomer]

5 minutes ago, Pinecone said:

I would say this an adjunct to a proper type club.

A type club, IMO, should be a clearing house for  and offer information about the type.  It should organize and run events such as smaller regional fly ins and a big national one each year.  It should offer a publication with information (I am fine with digital).  It should negotiate and offer discounts on common things, such database subscriptions (if for appropriate use aircraft) and work with suppliers (or the factory) to develop ways to get hard to get parts (but NOT stock and sell them).

On the car side, I am a member of BMWCCA.  I get 10% off parts at any dealer.  I get a rebate if I buy another BMW car.  I get a slick magazine with a professional editor in chief and staff.  They have national event each year the moves around.  They have local clubs that host regional events.  I even get a discount if I visit the BMW Museum in Munich.

That's pretty cool.  Only thing I can say is that it sounds expensive.  I doubt all the expense is being carried by the members, so that leaves the party that has the most money -- probably BMW and, to a lesser extent, other suppliers of parts and accessories.  At this point, I don't think Mooney could pony up the bucks, and we are such a small segment of the market, other supliers of parts and accessories probably don't see much value in offering discounts.

[1980Mooney]

2 hours ago, Pinecone said:

I would say this an adjunct to a proper type club.

A type club, IMO, should be a clearing house for  and offer information about the type.  It should organize and run events such as smaller regional fly ins and a big national one each year.  It should offer a publication with information (I am fine with digital).  It should negotiate and offer discounts on common things, such database subscriptions (if for appropriate use aircraft) and work with suppliers (or the factory) to develop ways to get hard to get parts (but NOT stock and sell them).

On the car side, I am a member of BMWCCA.  I get 10% off parts at any dealer.  I get a rebate if I buy another BMW car.  I get a slick magazine with a professional editor in chief and staff.  They have national event each year the moves around.  They have local clubs that host regional events.  I even get a discount if I visit the BMW Museum in Munich.

 

1 hour ago, Fly Boomer said:

That's pretty cool.  Only thing I can say is that it sounds expensive.  I doubt all the expense is being carried by the members, so that leaves the party that has the most money -- probably BMW and, to a lesser extent, other suppliers of parts and accessories.  At this point, I don't think Mooney could pony up the bucks, and we are such a small segment of the market, other supliers of parts and accessories probably don't see much value in offering discounts.

There is a big difference between MAPA and the "type clubs" discussed here (BMWCCA) and Cirrus - COPA and Piper - MMOPA (discussed in the other MAPA thread in "Misc Aviation Talk").  Those type clubs are supporting owners of product that is in production.  In addition to new owners of "old product", new owners of "new product" are joining.  Suppliers like Garmin have an incentive to offer discounts - Piper and Cirrus are exclusive Garmin shops.  Owners of older models will be influenced by the latest panels on new aircraft - it helps cement Garmin's dominance.  The "type club" helps drive a synergy between the aircraft manufacturer, Garmin, Jepp, etc and the Owners.  As a result they all invest a little in one form or another (subscription, underwriting, discounts, donations of product or services, etc)

@LANCECASPER said MAPA publications are "just a re-shuffling of what had been printed over and over."  Well of course - with no new production in 4 years or likely in the future Mooney ownership is "just a re-shuffling ... over and over".  Recall 2 1/2 years ago the new Mooney CEO said one of the priorities was "In the works is an upgrade of the Legacy G1000 to the NXi Phase II."  Mooney just needed to do a deal with Garmin.  But it is all "crickets".  I suspect it is hard for Garmin to envision any synergy with Mooney.

 

 

[Pinecone]

4 hours ago, Fly Boomer said:

That's pretty cool.  Only thing I can say is that it sounds expensive.  I doubt all the expense is being carried by the members, so that leaves the party that has the most money -- probably BMW and, to a lesser extent, other suppliers of parts and accessories.  At this point, I don't think Mooney could pony up the bucks, and we are such a small segment of the market, other supliers of parts and accessories probably don't see much value in offering discounts.

No, the magazine sells a lot of advertising.  Mainly to people who sell to BMW owners.  The rebate may be subsidized by BMW.  Membership is $58 a year.

But there is also a LOT more BMWs on the road than any airplane. 

Also, the type club does help with support of older models.

[LANCECASPER]

6 hours ago, 1980Mooney said:

 

There is a big difference between MAPA and the "type clubs" discussed here (BMWCCA) and Cirrus - COPA and Piper - MMOPA (discussed in the other MAPA thread in "Misc Aviation Talk").  Those type clubs are supporting owners of product that is in production.  In addition to new owners of "old product", new owners of "new product" are joining.  Suppliers like Garmin have an incentive to offer discounts - Piper and Cirrus are exclusive Garmin shops.  Owners of older models will be influenced by the latest panels on new aircraft - it helps cement Garmin's dominance.  The "type club" helps drive a synergy between the aircraft manufacturer, Garmin, Jepp, etc and the Owners.  As a result they all invest a little in one form or another (subscription, underwriting, discounts, donations of product or services, etc)

@LANCECASPER said MAPA publications are "just a re-shuffling of what had been printed over and over."  Well of course - with no new production in 4 years or likely in the future Mooney ownership is "just a re-shuffling ... over and over".  Recall 2 1/2 years ago the new Mooney CEO said one of the priorities was "In the works is an upgrade of the Legacy G1000 to the NXi Phase II."  Mooney just needed to do a deal with Garmin.  But it is all "crickets".  I suspect it is hard for Garmin to envision any synergy with Mooney.

 

 

This is not to slam MAPA at all since I really like the people who used to work there,  but honestly they have re-shuffled the magazine for many years. With the other organizations there is a noticeable symbiotic relationship - the better the one does the better that the other does and they absolutely make each other better.

I think back in the 80's and 90's MAPA and Mooney did the same for each other. I bought a Mooney 231 in May of 1993 and joined MAPA that month and could see it. I think with all of the changes in Mooney Company ownership over the years maintaining and growing that was difficult - some company owners saw the value of a close relationship with the MAPA organization and older airplane model owners and some definitely did not.  As prices took off in the later 80's and the 90's there was a big chasm between the existing airplane owners and the new airplane owners. There was a core group of older Mooney airplane owners that were fiercely loyal to MAPA and really allowed it to keep going for many years after they offered anything new. Sadly many of them have stopped flying and are no longer with us. So MAPA is going to have to attract newer, younger owners to exist and grow.

[exM20K]

6 hours ago, Pinecone said:

No, the magazine sells a lot of advertising.  Mainly to people who sell to BMW owners.  The rebate may be subsidized by BMW.  Membership is $58 a year.

But there is also a LOT more BMWs on the road than any airplane. 

Also, the type club does help with support of older models.

That club is or was very aggressive in marketing.  With one of the BMW motorcycles I’ve bought in the last couple years, there was a spiff or discount worth at least 2x the car club membership for joining. Joined, read a couple of the magazines, and let it lapse.  Weird strategy.

-dan

[Pinecone]

Motorcycle side and car side are pretty separated.

The rebate requires you be a member for a minimum of 1 year  So you can't join, get the rebate and not renew.  Hmm, just checked, rebates are lower than in the past.  Used to be as much as $1500, now max is $1000.  But still, for $58 a year, that can be a good deal.