Association to Help

        There are many different associations that one could be involved in. Aviation provides a wide range of associations or clubs for a pilot to belong to, some more beneficial than others. These associations can prove to be a great benefit to pilots, and can be extremely helpful. I will be looking at two of the larger associations available for pilots to become involved in for different times during their piloting carriers: Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). Both of these associations are both for different causes and have areas that they focus in, having different types and levels of members. These associations should be something of interest to any pilot at some point during their piloting career.

           Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) was the first association that I belonged to and still take part in. When I first began interested in aviation I was looking for a source that I could learn from and find out more about aviation and I stumbled upon AOPAs Flight Training Magazine. The Flight Training magazine was a great way for me to get my feet wet in the aviation world and open my eyes to what is really out there, how detailed and multi-dimensional aviation really was. The Flight Training magazine gives you a large variety of areas such as: learning tools and tips, flight stories, accidents, horror stories from close calls, airline industry currently and forecast, questions answered, newer technologies, and helpful letters from some of the top editors and board members or AOPA on current thymes or topics. AOPA also provides, AOPA Pilot which is more geared for pilots that have all their needed certificates completed. The Pilot magazine cover more about aircraft and trips being flown but still offers learning experiences and news updates throughout the magazine. In fact my first flight was from a promotion that AOPA was advertising at the time for a $50 introductory flight. It has also provided a way for me to be connected with current aviation news and topics. Being a member allows you to access the large amount of content that they provide on the internet, anything from news updates, videos, flight planning, online airport directory, weather, discounts on products and services, discounts on insurance, and legal service protection, along with pilot information support staff. AOPA has three different types of member ships available depending on where the aspiring pilot is, with student membership starting at $25, regular membership at $45, and a plus membership at $99 pre year. AOPA mission statement:

Protecting the freedom to fly by; advocating on behalf of our members, educating pilots, non-pilots, and policy makers alike, supporting activities that ensure the long-term health of General Aviation, fighting to keep General Aviation accessible to all, and securing sufficient resources to ensure our success.

AOPA also provides a wide range of insurances from life insurance to aviation business insurance. AOPA provide more of a patriotic stand on the freedom of aviation with a strong interest in preserving the general aviation sector. Whether you're just an aviation enthusiast or a captain on a Boeing 747, AOPA can be a great benefit with a wide range of services that they provide and is going to a good cause, protecting our freedom to fly. The yearly cost is not that much considering just how much is provided for the members. Being an AOPA member has been a great help with my training and I would highly recommend becoming a member.

            On the other hand, Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) is a union for airline pilots to take part in. While ALPA dose not limit themselves to just air line pilots exclusively they do have an air line advocacy that is for aspiring pilots; part of their Ace Club called Cleared to Dream. The Ace Club provides news and helpful tips for pilots aspiring to make it to the airlines and provides community outreaches and scholar outreaches. ALPAs main focus remains with protecting the rights for pilots and securing safety within aviation and the airlines, a union for the pilots. ALPA provides three critical services to their members: Airline Safety and Security, by taking part pilot safety and security analysis; Representation, of the pilots contracts and legal and financial matters; Advocacy, providing professional advice on regulatory issues and helps preserves the pilots rights. ALPA has pilot groups, each group represents their own airline and are made up of members of that current airline, these pilot groups govern their own internal affairs with assistance from Master Executive Council (MEC). The ALPAs mission statement that has remained since October 1992:

The mission of the Air Line Pilots Association is to promote and champion all aspects of aviation safety throughout all segments of the aviation community; to represent, in both specific and general respects, the collective interests of all pilots in commercial aviation; to assist in collective bargaining activities on behalf of all pilots represented by the Association; to promote the health and welfare of the members of the Association before all governmental agencies; to be a strong, forceful advocate of the airline piloting profession, through all forms of media, and with the public at large; and to be the ultimate guardian and defender of the rights and privileges of the professional pilots who are members of the Association.

ALPA has been actively helping pilots since its inception in 1931, and is now up to almost 50,000 pilots that they represent between 32 different airlines. The association also provides insurance for members that need it and protects them not only in the work place but also provides protection in legal matters. ALPA vision statement includes: Continue to strengthen its union, create future opportunities for pilots and wages, increase pilots involvement within aviation, remain loyal to their unity revolution, apply political and experience to help ensure the safety of the pilots and the industry. The ALPA seems like it would be a great help to pilots that are currently working in the airlines to help maintain a fair and equal work place, and strive to make a better and safer work environment.

            I feel that it would be a wise and useful decision to eventually join one if not both of these associations, however, there are many other associations, clubs, and organizations that are currently active within aviation that could be a great benefit to join as well. Professionally these organizations can help protect you as a pilot and the sky that we fly in, keep you informed and up to date on current issues, and allows you to keep active in your aviation community. Both of these associations also have a political committee that help inform politicians of the aviation matters and safety, both do their part in protecting the pilots freedom and safety to fly. I found with the experience I have had being a member of the AOPA has been nothing but positive for my growth within aviation. It has given me an opportunity to keep learning and developing my aviation knowledge and skills in a manner outside of a classroom setting. Not only is the magazine very informing, the benefits that they provide online are extremely useful.                                             

References

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (2013). General Aviation's largest, most influential association in the world. AOPA. Retrieved December 1, 2013, from http://www.aopa.org

Air Line Pilots Association (2013). International. ALPA. Retrieved December 1, 2013, from http://www.alpa.org

Cleared To Dream (2013). ALPA. Retrieved December 1, 2013, from http://www.clearedtodream.org/Home/tabid/1768/Default.aspx