AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2017 - 102

DETAILS

325,000

The number of drone registrations the FAA received between
December 2015 and February 2017.

News & Notes
MEMBERSHIP

DRONE MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

AOPA offers drone
memberships
Association
welcomes UAS
to the GA family
THE FAA ESTIMATES that 1.3
million pilots will be certified
to operate drones under FAR
Part 107 by 2020. If that forecast remains accurate, many
drone pilots will have no
prior connection to general
aviation, nor any connection
to its community of aviators
or exposure to GA's culture
of safety. Pilots of unmanned
aircraft, many of whom are
new to aviation, will need the
same types of support, services, information, and tools that AOPA provides to the
manned aviation community. The association announced in February it has launched
a new line of membership options created
for drone pilots.
"Drone pilots are seeking their place in
the larger world of aviation and looking for
opportunities to expand their experience,"
said AOPA President Mark Baker. "This is
an ideal time to embrace these pilots and
welcome them to the GA family."
AOPA has been involved with drones
and related matters for about a decade.
The association has commented on most
federal regulations and policies created
since the drone boom began, with an eye
on safe integration with manned aircraft.
Many "new" drone pilots are already flying manned aircraft and many are already
AOPA members. AOPA has expanded its
drone expertise, adding new team members and developing expertise within its
existing staff. Kathleen "Kat" Swain is
AOPA's senior director of unmanned aircraft system programs. A CFI, Swain
played key roles building unmanned

102 | AOPA PILOT May 2017

aircraft capabilities for the insurance industry
as well as flying humanitarian missions prior
to joining AOPA in April 2016.
By joining AOPA, drone pilots will support current and future efforts to make
unmanned aviation safe and accessible, in the
same way all AOPA members do for GA as a
whole. "We're providing the community and
resources all pilots need," said Swain.
"As newcomers to the skies, they have told
us they are looking for a trusted source to help
them get the most out of their flying, protect
their license and their assets, and keep them
up to date on regulations and issues affecting
their kind of flying," Baker added.

Education. AOPA has a formal
agreement with DARTdrones,
a leader in the drone training
industry. DARTdrones online
courses are available free to
AOPA members. Members
receive a discount on the online
Part 107 preparation course.
Drone demonstrations and seminars will take place at AOPA's
fly-ins and at the major airshows.
Advocacy. AOPA represents GA
on the FAA's Drone Advisory
Committee and the association
is co-chair of the 26 Coalition
for UAS Safety. AOPA was an
integral part of the creation of
Part 107 and collaborates on
proposed regulations for safe
integration into the National
Airspace System.
Pilot Protection Services.
Enhanced membership options
include legal counsel and representation from AOPA's attorneys,
and other services included in
AOPA Pilot Protection and Pilot
Protection Plus memberships.
Insurance. AOPA Insurance
serves customers seeking protection for recreational and
commercial drone operations.
News and media. Subscription
to a new, biweekly AOPA Drone
Pilot email newsletter is included
in drone membership; nonmembers also can subscribe.
Safety. Products from the AOPA
Air Safety Institute are equally
applicable to manned and
unmanned aviation, and new
content is in development
specific to drone operation.
WEB www.aopa.org/drones3

MEET KAT SWAIN, SENIOR DIRECTOR,
AOPA UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM PROGRAMS
As the senior director of
AOPA's unmanned aircraft
system programs, Katherine
"Kat" Swain brings a new perspective to the association. A
manned pilot before she was
a remote pilot, Swain joined
AOPA in 2016. She has multiple ratings, including flight
instructor. Swain also has

flown drones for many purposes including insurance
industry support and humanitarian issues. "AOPA is in a
unique position," she said,
"to build an aviation community for all operators that
fosters responsible and effective use of powerful new
technologies."
http://www.aopa.org/drones3
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2017
