Heavily considering joining AOPA

Tom-D said:
You are not the only one Nick.

I joined AOPA to get there big book of airport data, they no longer print it, and I don't carry the equipment to read their freaking CD in flight.

Do your self a favor, get a Pilot Mag, cut out out all the advertisements, see whats left.
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Still have the book though now they are charging (if you order RIGHT NOW!) $19.99. And this probably isn't sans advertising.
 
Greg Bockelman said:
Not the ONLY one. EAA is the other major one. I believe there may be other minor ones, but EAA and AOPA are the main players in the game. I am member of both.
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Likewise. Both have their strengths and weaknesses, but if I only had the money for one, I'd pick AOPA. From my time on the EAA forums, there are too many people there who want to do everything they can to get away from the government. At times, the place is nothing more than a rant against the FAA in every way. Just too many people who want to cowboy it.
 
I get a 5% discount on my insurance for belonging to the EAA and another 5% for belonging to the AOPA which effectively makes both my memberships free plus I get something to read on IFR days and the satisfaction of doing my part to support GA.
 
RickH said:
I get a 5% discount on my insurance for belonging to the EAA and another 5% for belonging to the AOPA which effectively makes both my memberships free plus I get something to read on IFR days and the satisfaction of doing my part to support GA.
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Not sure which insurance you mean. But if it is airplane insurance I found that the AOPA offered a higher rate than I was able to get on my own.
 
ScottM said:
Not sure which insurance you mean. But if it is airplane insurance I found that the AOPA offered a higher rate than I was able to get on my own.
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I got my insurance from Falcon, thru EAA. When they asked me for my EAA member number, I mentioned I'm also an AOPA member and they said that was good for an additional 5% discount. They were considerably less expensive than AVEMCO. I'm paying a bit less than $100/mo for liability and full hull coverage, which I thought was quite reasonable for a taildragger/<100 hr pilot.
 
I am in the "Best available" crowd and belong to AOPA and EAA. But I just posted the following on the red board and it sort of says what is wrong with both in my mind.

"How do you "sell" GA?"

" I had an opportunity to take a very viable congressional candidate to a fly-in breakfast. So I went on the AOPA website expecting to find clear concise selling points. Nope, Sorry. EAA? Nope, Sorry. So I called AOPA. Staff was very helpful even overnighted brochures and a copy of AOPA Pilot. There were two somewhat helpful brochures and some not so helpful ones. (e.g. one encouraging you to get involved in saving your local airport) Not that they weren't great brochures, just that they didn't help me explain the value of GA to a person without aviation knowledge beyond the airline experience.

If she wins, then AOPA wants to know so the DC team can contact her. But this story is being repeated all over the country in one form or another, and these folks are a lot easier to talk to when they are running at home than when they get inside the beltway.

Oh well, I think she enjoyed flying in an open cockpit and the breakfast attendees were really nice."
 
What the significance of "heavily" considering something that costs $39? Does "heavily" considering something result in lots of exertion? What would it have to cost or entail for this to just require some light consideration? Do you "heavily" consider where to buy your next tank of auto gas for your car? Heck, that probably costs more than this membership and some of those knuckheads selling you auto gas have been polluting the Gulf. That might require some "heavy" considering too now that I think of it.
 
Tom-D said:
I would rather fly in Canada than here.... .
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I am thinking you say that as VFR pilot. IFR the Nav Canada bills just keep rolling in. The user fee issue is exactly why we need AOPA, so we don't become like Canada.

Tom-D said:
but it is a stated goal for this administration to become more like the EU.
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You are proving my point as to why GA pilots should at least cough up 39 bucks a year to be AOPA members.
 
gprellwitz said:
Jim, are you going to be at the ASN breakfast at OSH? If so, I'll see you there!
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Grant,
Sorry, but I have a command appearance with my mother and all the family that week. She's older than the EAA, so she wins.
Enjoy the event, and convey my greetings to one & all.
Jim
 
Lance F said:
I am thinking you say that as VFR pilot. IFR the Nav Canada bills just keep rolling in. The user fee issue is exactly why we need AOPA, so we don't become like Canada.

My Nav Canada bill last Quarter was 27 bucks, for quick polite service. no phone waits, no hassles, I am a full supporter of user pays. I would support any program that will drop the fuel tax and bill me for the ATC services I use. That way we elect what services we want to pay for. Fuel taxes? I get to pay for your services and you get to pay for the ATC services of the Airlines.


You are proving my point as to why GA pilots should at least cough up 39 bucks a year to be AOPA members.
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Your 39 bucks per year isn't going to change and gobment officials mind, simply because you and I are a PITA to the system. they view us as rich boys with toys.
 
I've been a member since 2004 and also a donor. I tried to purchase aircraft insurance through them, pretty high compared to Travers. I did get a nifty little plastic card with my name on it and all, and a magazine every month. I also pay a little extra and get the flight training magazine, that I find helpful. Then of course, I always like to know that I have a chance to win a free airplane every year.

I have pretty much decided to give up my six year quest for a check ride and have put my airplane up for sale. Since I am leaving the wonderful world of General Aviation, I will probably not be renewing my valuable AOPA membership next time the issue comes up.

Nothing is cast in stone yet, but I'm not exactly hanging out at the airport much anymore. The passion seems to be gone.

John
 
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