Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association

Last updated
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
AbbreviationAOPA
Formation1939;85 years ago (1939)
FoundersP.T. Sharples
Type Not for profit
Purpose Aviation advocacy
Headquarters Frederick, Maryland, United States
Area served
Worldwide
Membership (2012)
384,915
Chairman of the Board
Bill Trimble III (2005)
Vice Chairman of the Board
Darrell Crate (February 2014)
President & CEO
Mark Baker (September 6, 2013) [1]
Website aopa.org
AOPA Headquarters AOPA HQ.jpg
AOPA Headquarters
An AOPA-owned Cessna Grand Caravan AOPA-GrandCaravan.jpg
An AOPA-owned Cessna Grand Caravan
A Cessna 182 panel upgrade featured in AOPA publications for the 2011 sweepstakes AOPA Cessna 182.jpg
A Cessna 182 panel upgrade featured in AOPA publications for the 2011 sweepstakes

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is a Frederick, Maryland-based American non-profit political organization that advocates for general aviation. AOPA's membership consists mainly of general aviation pilots in the United States. [2] [3] AOPA exists to serve the interests of its members as aircraft owners and pilots and to promote the economy, safety, utility, and popularity of flight in general aviation aircraft. [4]

Contents

With 384,915 members in 2012, AOPA is the largest aviation association in the world, although it had decreased in membership from 414,224 in 2010, a loss of 7% in two years. [5] AOPA is affiliated with other similar organizations in other countries through membership in the International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations (IAOPA). [4] [6] [7] In 2015, AOPA was inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame at the San Diego Air & Space Museum. [8]

In September 2024, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) appointed Darren Pleasance as its sixth President and CEO. Pleasance, with extensive experience in aviation and business, is set to officially assume the role on January 1, 2025. [9]

History

The organization started at Wings Field in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. On 24 April 1932, The Philadelphia Aviation Country Club was founded at Wings Field. The country club was the location of meetings of members that founded AOPA. [10] AOPA incorporated on May 15, 1939, with C. Towsend Ludington serving as the first president. [2] [3] In 1971 the organization purchased Airport World Magazine, moving its operations to Bethesda, Maryland. [11]

On 1 October 2023, Senior Vice President of AOPA Air Safety Institute Richard McSpadden was killed in an aircraft accident near Lake Placid, New York. [12]

Programs

AOPA has several programs.

Events

AOPA sponsors its own Fly-In and open house in Frederick, Maryland. The yearly event started in 1991 with 125 aircraft. By 2001, the attendance grew to 760 aircraft. The event was cancelled for five years after the September 11, 2001 attacks and consequent airspace changes, but resumed in 2006.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Grady, Mary (2013-08-20). "AOPA Names Mark Baker As New President". AVweb. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  2. 1 2 Flying Magazine: 76. August 1945.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link)
  3. 1 2 Komons, Nick (August 1989). Air Progress. 51: 62.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link)
  4. 1 2 "Mission and History of AOPA". Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
  5. ↑ IAOPA Statistical Report World Assembly, April 2012, retrieved 2012-08-01
  6. ↑ IAOPA Statistical Report World Assembly, June 2010, retrieved 2012-08-01
  7. ↑ "International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations". Iaopa.org. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  8. ↑ Sprekelmeyer, Linda, editor. These We Honor: The International Aerospace Hall of Fame. Donning Co. Publishers, 2006. ISBN   978-1-57864-397-4.
  9. ↑ "AOPA names new CEO". Globalair.com. 2024-09-24. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  10. ↑ Julie Summers (May 2014). "Where it all began". AOPA Pilot: 30.
  11. ↑ Air Progress: 20. September 1971.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link)
  12. ↑ "Senior VP of AOPA Air Safety Institute killed in plane crash". Globalair.com. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  13. ↑ "About the AOPA Foundation". Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Archived from the original on 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2012-03-22.
  14. ↑ "AOPA Foundation". Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Archived from the original on 2014-04-13. Retrieved 2014-04-14.
  15. ↑ "Political Action Committee". Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Retrieved 2014-04-14.
  16. ↑ Brown, Sarah (April 20, 2009). "GA Serves America campaign to protect, promote GA" . Retrieved 2014-04-14.
  17. ↑ AOPA Pilot June, 1983
  18. ↑ "Air Safety Institute". AOPA. Retrieved 2014-01-23.
  19. ↑ "You Can Fly" . Retrieved 8 May 2022.
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