AOPA Expo Breakfast

  • Thread starter Thread starter CK
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I have been a member of many many organizations for other industries. IMHO, AOPA provides a lot. Sorry that a lot is only a lot more than those who provide nothing but it is still something.

To all the ney sayers: Can you have an organization that represents the majority's opinions/needs? Would the industry be better off without AOPA?



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I just wonder where AOPA is when airports like SDL are as draconian as they are. I'm not necessarily anti-AOPA, I just don't care for the situation my friend went through, so I choose not to support them.

Tha being said, I don't see that they do too much anyway. Public still sees GA as "all those Piper Cubs with inexperienced pilots." Alright mag, but that's about it.
 
If SDL gets a TFR for the noise problems, AOPA will be all over it then. Maybe you should call the DHS.
smile.gif
 
I can understand how frustrating situations like that are, especially when they are close to home and involve friends.

However, I still continue to believe that AOPA does a fantastic job representing us on the hill. The reality is that Congress and the other lobbyists would walk all over GA if they had the chance, AOPA is constantly there reminding them that are important contributors to both votes and the economy.

Just remembering a few examples: Post 9/11 we were all supposed to get photo ID pilot licenses. AOPA both slowed the knee jerking down convinced Congress that we didn't need bomb proof doors on our Cessna’s and our driver's license or other photo ID in tandem with our current pilot's license would do the job.

Recently Congress wanted to get all airplanes to have an emergency hijacking panic button. Use engaged it would squawk the hijack code continuously until reaching the ground. AOPA convinced them that most of us GA know the people are flying around it the cost of something like this would cripple GA.

How about the fight for privatization of ATC?

How about getting graphical TFRs? I don't think our government would have done that on their own.

I really think that the majority of the GA pilots out there don't understand the big picture in aviation and therefore could be construed as a burden on ATC, airways, etc. The powers that be are so swooned by big business that is surprising GA has as many liberties in the air that they have.

AOPA has to pick and chose its fights, but I think, all things considered, that it is a great organization. Could it improve . . . . . there is not such thing as perfection, especially in bureaucracy.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I can understand how frustrating situations like that are, especially when they are close to home and involve friends.

However, I still continue to believe that AOPA does a fantastic job representing us on the hill. The reality is that Congress and the other lobbyists would walk all over GA if they had the chance, AOPA is constantly there reminding them that are important contributors to both votes and the economy.

Just remembering a few examples: Post 9/11 we were all supposed to get photo ID pilot licenses. AOPA both slowed the knee jerking down convinced Congress that we didn't need bomb proof doors on our Cessna’s and our driver's license or other photo ID in tandem with our current pilot's license would do the job.

Recently Congress wanted to get all airplanes to have an emergency hijacking panic button. Use engaged it would squawk the hijack code continuously until reaching the ground. AOPA convinced them that most of us GA know the people are flying around it the cost of something like this would cripple GA.

How about the fight for privatization of ATC?

How about getting graphical TFRs? I don't think our government would have done that on their own.

I really think that the majority of the GA pilots out there don't understand the big picture in aviation and therefore could be construed as a burden on ATC, airways, etc. The powers that be are so swooned by big business that is surprising GA has as many liberties in the air that they have.

AOPA has to pick and chose its fights, but I think, all things considered, that it is a great organization. Could it improve . . . . . there is not such thing as perfection, especially in bureaucracy.


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I'll concede that this is a fair answer. Agree.
 
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