Aviation Organizations

In class, we were asked to research a few different aviation organizations and charities to further increase our involvement in the industry. Because my aspirations are to become a corporate pilot, the obvious choice for me would be the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. The key thing that they provide to the General Aviation side of things, is political advocacy. Just last week, a bill in congress was passed to force pilots to go through intensive and expensive sleep apnea testing if they have a body mass index of over 40. Congress tried to get it changed to a BMI of 30; however, the FAA lowered the restrictions. Another political move the AOPA members in the House of Representatives recently did was introduce the General Aviation Pilot Protection Act which protects pilots if their medical is in jeopardy. You can read more about this bill here.

There are many other resources that are made available to AOPA members and the general public. Many safety seminars look good on any pilots record and can help out a lot in the cockpit. Education of pilots is one of the AOPA's mission points. A few more mission points are supporting activities that ensure the long-term health of General Aviation, and fighting to keep General Aviation accessible to all. Because private air travel is constantly seen in a negative light, especially since the big automaker's incident in 2008, the AOPA plays a critical role in ensuring that the General Aviation world stays alive.

A second organization that is more of a personal favorite of mine, is Every Kid Can Fly. Their goal is to bring interest to the aviation world and get kids interested in flying early. Specifically underprivlaged children who do not understand or believe they can get into the field, or do not have the financial means, will eventually be sponsored in a flight program.With more organizations like this, we will see much less of a pilot shortage and make the small aviation comunity just a bit bigger.

Thanks for reading, and fly safe!