Are you a member of AOPA or EAA poll

[201er]

Are you a member of AOPA or EAA? How do you feel about each organization? Has your opinion of AOPA changed recently? Have you discontinued your membership with either organization out of displeasure? Could either organization win you back if they made the right changes?

[MikeOH]

I left a couple of years ago as I felt they'd turned into a government level bureaucracy more interested in themselves and high-end GA owners (turboprops and jets) than the grass-roots GA demographic they were originally based upon.

Could they 'win' me back?  Possible, I suppose. But what just happened to Pleasance tells me that is highly unlikely!

[bonal]

You didn’t provide an option for member or non member that is neither happy with or unhappy with AOPA.  I support them with membership but don’t spend any time dwelling over their operations on a day to day basis and weather they bring me happiness or sadness 

[Paul Thomas]

With those results, you'd think we are on an experimental forum. Wow!

[Marc_B]

It's always a hard question of "are you happy with..." because 1) you have to really understand what the organization is doing, and 2) you have to have an understanding of what would happen if they didn't exist.

 

There is a TON that AOPA and EAA do that I'm not aware of.  I suspect that both organizations do have benefits for GA that wouldn't exist without them; and I suspect there will always be roles in GA that would benefit if they'd play a stronger role.

I still don't quite understand what happened with Pleasance, what prompted the change, and what exactly is going on... 

When I purchased my Mooney, AOPA was incredibly helpful with contracts, sending a sample offer letter/contract, coordinating with insurance and escrow for me, and made it easy for virgin aircraft owner to feel comfortable with the process.  Their pilot information center is great!

But I get the impression that they hopped on the "yay unleaded fuel" bandwagon and use verbiage that suggests this is a foregone conclusion that they fully support; I feel they should have completely condemned the California lawsuit to ban 100LL as WAY premature; I don't feel that they are properly helping me to prepare for what an unleaded fuel future looks like...i.e. in my mind they should be one of the test volunteers to run and report UNBIASED on all available unleaded fuel contenders.  They should also be integral in reporting on the issues that are being seen in California with rollout of G100UL, and I don't think the reporting is where it should be.  Even in testimony, Pleasance was about to say that G100UL works great in aircraft, but then retracted that and said it works great in "engines."  That seemed more than intentional; but he didn't expand and many in government aren't savvy to actually ask the best questions to really understand the issues well.

[LANCECASPER]

I'm an AOPA member and kinda neutral on them, leaning toward unhappy. I signed up 40 years ago and it's vastly different than when I started. They could do a lot more, but rather than pushing for group pricing, they view vendors as advertisers. The organization needs a complete overhaul, but it's probably too far into their life cycle to go back to grass roots. They are a mouthpiece that basically talks out of both sides of their mouth. They sound more like politicians than owner advocates. I think they have forgotten that they are supposed to fight for Aircraft Owners and Pilots. For many years I had my insurance through their sponsored agency. Early on I always felt like they gave me the quotes and let me decide. The last few years I was with them I felt like they showed me the highest quote and expected me to go with it. AOPA is supposed to save me money, but it feels they want to keep reaching into my pocket. Ok, after this rant maybe I am unhappy . . lol. That'll be my vote.

The discounts I get cover the membership, and their magazine is so-so, so I stay with it. But for how long I'm not sure.

[Schllc]

3 hours ago, LANCECASPER said:

The organization needs a complete overhaul, but it's probably to far into their life cycle to go back to grass roots.

This!

Unfortunately human nature dictates this outcome.  No grassroots organization maintains its autonomy and mission forever, and that duration is dramatically shortened when large sums of money come into play.

I read their fiscal budget for 2024 (couldn't find 2025), and they reported 70 million dollars in holdings with a 12 million dollar budget.  They were also touting the return on investment of the holdings.  

Im sorry but WTF? 

Is the purpose to make returns on investment and accumulate money, or is to protect interests of GA?. 

Some reserve is absolutely prudent and responsible, but what is the purpose of 7 years of operating expenses earning returns? 

Plenty of answers to that question are available but they all equal one thing.  The organization is much more concerned with its own existence than the mission for which it was founded.

Action brings attention, and while I am sure AOPA does some things for GA, they have lost their way on what really matters.  There is no coming back.  Support them if you disagree, but they will never see another nickel from me.

[Andy95W]

12 hours ago, LANCECASPER said:

I'm an AOPA member and kinda neutral on them, leaning toward unhappy.

The discounts I get cover the membership, and their magazine is so-so, so I stay with it. But for how long I'm not sure.

Exactly my position as well.

[MikeOH]

On 2/10/2026 at 8:26 AM, LANCECASPER said:

The organization needs a complete overhaul, but it's probably to far into their life cycle to go back to grass roots. They are a mouthpiece that basically talks out of both sides of their mouth. They sound more like politicians than owner advocates. I think they have forgotten that they are supposed to fight for Aircraft Owners and Pilots

^^^ THIS ^^^

[M20F]

How things have changed since the drama over Tom getting the boot.  It worked for EAA, hopefully the same boot comes for AOPA.  

[BlueDun]

11 hours ago, M20F said:

How things have changed since the drama over Tom getting the boot.  It worked for EAA, hopefully the same boot comes for AOPA.  

Could you elaborate?

[M20F]

2 hours ago, BlueDun said:

Could you elaborate?

The board forced him out due to sinking membership and a host of other things.  Google has a bunch of stories just search Tom Poberezny EAA.  It was all the rage 15yrs ago.