AOPA 2007 Safety and Philanthropy Report

THE 2007 SAFETY AND PHILANTHROPY REPORT MESSAGE FROM: PHIL BOYER PRESIDENT, AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION The word transition means more to pilots than the training to add a rating or logbook endorsement. While the training may have been demanding—I’m reminded of my tailwheel instruction in a Waco—it was merely an introduction to new challenges and rewards. The Waco transition has allowed me the pleasure of flying with the wind in my face and the smell and sound of a growling radial engine out in front, not to mention the wind whistling through the support wires. General aviation is in the midst of many transitions. There is the FAA funding debate and new glass cockpits, of course. The pilot population is down from its peak, but is better trained with more commercial and ATP licenses. The average age of pilots has increased but more young people are joining a professional pilot track. Most AOPA members fly for pleasure. But about 45 percent say they also use their airplanes for business purposes. And some members are transitioning in a relatively short time to one of the many new turbinepowered aircraft. GA and society at large are transitioning fully to the Internet with 24/7 broadband. For example, the new video SafetyCasts bring AOPA Air Safety Foundation and other AOPA Expo ‘07 seminars to pilots worldwide. E-mail, text messaging, and mobile Web access are emerging as valuable flight planning tools. We’re also exploring how “wikis” and social networking services can be used to share flying knowledge. Another transition I note this year is that of AOPA Board of Visitors Chairman David Hinson. Dave has been an immensely helpful source of wisdom over the past 10 years. He’ll be handing the chairmanship of this important advisory board over to the very experienced hands of Russ Meyer, Cessna’s Chairman Emeritus. Your continuing generosity and passion for GA have helped us make the most of these changes. But as in our flying transitions, the impressive work we’ve done together is just the preamble. That’s why your continuing and increasing support is so vital, and why it has such a lasting and meaningful impact on the future of GA. Sincerely, Phil Boyer We dedicate this year’s report to David Hinson, the outgoing chairman of the AOPA Air Safety Foundation Board of Visitors. For the past 10 years, David has provided wise and invaluable guidance for the foundation’s activities during a period of remarkable growth and change. In addition to a great friend and colleague, David is a true champion of general aviation and, indeed, all of aviation. His insight and support have helped make the skies safer for all pilots. 1

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