AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2017 - 43

AOPA FLY-INS |

Top 5 reasons members volunteer
Join us at an AOPA Fly-In near you
B Y A LY S S A J. M I L L E R

AOPA FLY-IN volunteers are an energetic,
enthusiastic bunch who help the events
run smoothly. But what compels pilots and
guests to volunteer to work part of a fly-in,
instead of taking it all in as an attendee?
They want an extra helping of fun. AOPA
surveyed volunteers after each of the 2016
AOPA Fly-Ins, asking what they liked best
about volunteering at the event.
Spending time at the airport. Aviators are
always looking for an excuse to hang out at the
airport, and the AOPA Fly-In is a perfect one.
Airports come to life as hundreds of pilots
fly in and thousands of aviation enthusiasts
camp, enjoy educational seminars, shop in the
exhibit hall, look at display aircraft, and hang
out with other pilots. In addition to spending
a day at the airport, volunteers get a behindthe-scenes perspective of what it takes to host
a fly-in because they are an active part of pulling it off safely and efficiently.
Close to the action. Pilots can volunteer to
help with airside operations, where they are
stationed on taxiways and in grassy areas closer to the runway than the main event. It offers a first opportunity to look at
tricked-out, rare, or brand-new aircraft as they taxi by.
Working with airplanes. Pilots love to work around airplanes-the sights and sounds of aircraft maneuvering on the
ground are second only to the sights and sounds of aircraft
flying. The adrenaline rush of watching an aircraft taxi by,
marshalling it to the parking area, or parking aircraft offers a
sense of adventure and accomplishment.
Meeting fellow pilots. General aviation is a welcoming community in which pilots from all over the country can bond
instantly during a conversation about flying. Volunteers said

2017 AOPA FLY-INS

that one of their favorite aspects of the event was greeting
pilots after they had parked and shut down their aircraft.
Working with fellow pilots also ranked high. Two pilots who
volunteered at the Plymouth, Massachusetts, Fly-In in 2014
really hit it off and later married.
Being a part of AOPA. By helping fly-in airside operations run
smoothly, volunteers expressed a closer sense of belonging to
AOPA. Many cited the shoulder-to-shoulder interactions with
AOPA staff members as one of the benefits of volunteering-
and were even on a first-name basis with staff by the time their
volunteer shift ended.
Pilots interested in volunteering at 2017 AOPA Fly-Ins can
explore the opportunities available at all four of the
2017 locations and sign up to help out. Volunteers
also receive a free lunch, a volunteer T-shirt, and a
cap as a thank-you from AOPA.

April 28-29

Camarillo, California (CMA)

September 8-9

Norman, Oklahoma (OUN)

October 6-7

Groton, Connecticut (GON)

October 27-28

Tampa, Florida (TPF)

EMAIL alyssa.miller@aopa.org

WEB

www.aopa.org/fly-ins

www.aopa.org/pilot AOPA PILOT | 43

http://www.aopa.org/fly-ins http://www.aopa.org/pilot

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - May 2017