What benefit if any...

Maximilian_Jenius

Maximilian_Jenius

Super User
Would it be to join AOPA? They constantly send me junk mail each week/month wanting me sign up and become a member. My opinion is that there just another organization with there hand out asking for money. Is my assumption true..or as a pilot does membership have it's benefits?
 
I have been a member for a few years and think it's a good deal. I get the Flight Training magazine and it always has some good articles.

If you do any flight planning, the AOPA flight planner is worth the price of admission alone.

AOPA can be a wealth of information and if the unfortunate happens and you need some aviation related legal advice they can't be beat.


my $.02 worth.
 
You used to get $10 or so off of CATS testing. Don't know if they still do that or not, but do a few tests and you pay for the membership!
 
NightCargo said:
You used to get $10 or so off of CATS testing. Don't know if they still do that or not, but do a few tests and you pay for the membership!
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yep, you still get the $10 off.
 
I like AOPA. Don't tell MikeD, though. It's only $39 a year and the mag alone is worth that. I think it's basically supporting a good cause, though I don't agree with everything they do.
 
It is good to be a member, especially if you ever wanna fly GA aircrafts on your spare time in future, they represent the GA community at least!!!!!
 
I've been getting mail from them as well and have been thinking about joining. THey are offering a $29 fee versus $39 for the first year which I suppose is pretty good. Maybe I'll wait till I actually start flight training to join.
 
I joined so I could get that flight planner program that does everything for you. Yes, I am lazy.
 
I joined right when I started flight training, but cancled my membership after I found they had sold my information to King Schools. I very specificly checked the box that said do not send me offers/promotions but ended up getting a call from King Schools. When I traced it back to AOPA and ended up talking to a senior manager for customer service and was told that even though I had in fact checked the box AOPA still thought it was in my best interest to get the stuff from King. That was the end of me and AOPA.
 
AOPA is a huge GA advocate in DC, they do a lot of good things fighting for GA. They're a resource to people who are fighting to keep their local airports open, if they're under attack from local citizens.

AOPA's medical section in their member's only accessable website has been very helpful to us on a couple occasions.

The magazines are a good read, Flight Training does have some ariticles that help explain concepts very well.

All in all, I'd say it's worth it. They're not the Golden Apple they like to think they are sometimes, but it's worth $40 a year.
 
I've been getting mail from them as well and have been thinking about joining. THey are offering a $29 fee versus $39 for the first year which I suppose is pretty good. Maybe I'll wait till I actually start flight training to join.
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Brian, you can get a free six-month membership. Students can get a free, six-month membership. All you do is fill out a form and I think the call your flight school to verify with the instructor you list that you do take flight lessons. In that span you will have access to the magazines and the abundant of online resources.

Would it be to join AOPA? They constantly send me junk mail each week/month wanting me sign up and become a member. My opinion is that there just another organization with there hand out asking for money. Is my assumption true..or as a pilot does membership have it's benefits?
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Max, I definately think it's worthwhile. I'm partially biased having interned with the Air Safety Foundation ... but I was able to see from the inside just how passionate everyone is toward working hard for the best/safest interests of GA.

Between the magazines, flight planning software, abundant online resources, free safety seminars, online courses (though I think free to non-members as well), legal advice, Toll-Free hotline to answer any questions you have regarding just about anything aviation, coupons, advocacy not just for the DC ADIZ, but all of the little airports across the nation, etc. I think it's worth the money.
 
Doit Matt, for all the reasons everybody has listed. I kinda skirted AOPA for a while but finally threw down the cash. I'm glad I did.
 
Also, AOPA's website has lots of safety-related stuff that I think is restricted to members. There are publications on stuff like icing, runway incursions, single pilot IFR, the ATC system, weather, etc. as well as multimedia presentations that you can download (some of which are kinda hokey, but still contain good information). I think it's worthwhile, even if they did sell my info to King schools. The Kings probably already had all my info anyway.

John, I think they even had a safety bulletin on why headsets are for ******s.
 
Maximillian_Jenius said:
Would it be to join AOPA?
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Yes. The magazine itself is worth the cashola. Then you add in the online access to the airport directory, the flight planner, and so on and you end up getting quite a bit for very little money.
 
DE727UPS said:
I like AOPA. Don't tell MikeD, though. It's only $39 a year and the mag alone is worth that. I think it's basically supporting a good cause, though I don't agree with everything they do.
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:yeahthat: I also have the AOPA credit card which can get you basically 5% cashback on FBO purchases, which is nice.
 
Windchill said:
Brian, you can get a free six-month membership. Students can get a free, six-month membership. All you do is fill out a form and I think the call your flight school to verify with the instructor you list that you do take flight lessons. In that span you will have access to the magazines and the abundant of online resources.
Click to expand...
If your a student pilot or below, you can sign yourself up for 6 months for free here:
https://flighttraining.aopa.org/apps/student/ft_free.cfm?priority=SX05ASLTF

I agree with most above. They have a wealth of features on the website: 2 different monthly magazines, interactive learning stuff, flight planning, medical resoureces, legal resources, ownership/finincial/pilot services.....they even give you a hat (like you need another one!)
 
I just had to renew my membership and was happy to do so. The Air Safety Foundation is an EXCELLENT resource. I use the flight planner, it's pretty good. You can plan your whole flight and print everything out to knee board format. I've always maintained my membership even throughout long periods of not being able to fly. As long as AOPA is lobbying for our benefit I'll support them. GA seems to be almost hated and misunderstood throughout the masses. Airports are perfect for all types of land development and all...
 
AOPA has a lot of benefits for its members, however, they are not as strong and powerfull as they would have you believe. I have been a member since 1990. The AOPA Pilot magazine used to be a good magazine; that changed in the last few years. If you get Flying Magazine, it is a good bet that whatever was in flying last month, the same will be in AOPA Pilot.

Secondly, I live and fly in and around the ADIZ. The ADIZ has been around now for three years, and AOPA is no closer to getting rid of it. In my opinion, the ADIZ will be stay due to the fact the airlines are not affected by it.
 
I used to be a member and I remember something about AOPA legal services and advice in case you make a boo-boo somwheres.
 
NightCargo said:
You used to get $10 or so off of CATS testing. Don't know if they still do that or not, but do a few tests and you pay for the membership!
Click to expand...

I recently got the $10 discount at a Lazergrade center. So far I have been very impressed with AOPA.
 
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