AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2012 - 4

PRESIDENT’SPOSITION

BY CRAIG FULLER
AOPA PRESIDENT

Pent-up demand— are you ready?

t is always wonderful to move into spring. This year—at least at our headquarters home in Frederick, Maryland—we saw very little winter weather.

people are coming out in growing numbers to explore what general aviation is all about. They are attending shows. They are exploring our websites to focus on learning to fly. There is a genuine pentup demand for flying, and this is a great thing—if we are ready. To me, it is becoming increasingly clear that we will experience a shortage of pilots, which is why we at AOPA are so focused on sharing what we know about successful flight training. We Still, getting our aircraft out and about without the want people to have a good experience right from icing factor is a treat. the start, and we took two years to really underAOPA President Craig Fuller is an This also is the time of year that we think of as stand what makes for a good and successful flight avid pilot who the start of flying season—the time when the calentraining experience. I’ve spoken about our flight has been flying dar of general aviation events really starts to fill up. training initiatives at every event this year, and for more than 40 many of you have already become part of this However, as we enter April, I realized that I’ve years. already enjoyed the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in initiative to improve flight training in a very imporSebring, Florida. Then I marveled at the very large tant way—by sharing your experience of success. and well-attended Helicopter Association International show We have made it very easy to nominate any flight training in Dallas. And, just in late February, I enjoyed a return visit organization or instructor for an AOPA Excellence in Flight to the popular Northwest Aviation Conference. I even had a Training Award. You just fill out a nomination survey that chance to attend a large dinner of the Washington State Sea- walks you through the most important areas of successful plane Pilots Association. training based on our research. It’s all online (www.aopa.org/ All this happened before Sun ’n Fun! And, of course, we FTinitiative). always look to the annual event in Lakeland to see thousands As you share your flight training success with others, I hope of our members in the East who come to enjoy the Florida sun. you will encourage them to look at this site. We also provide At all of these events, I really enjoy the chance to share sto- something new called MyFlightTraining (www.myFT.org). This ries about where people are flying. There was a good deal of provides every individual interested in learning to fly one place interest in our very picturesque—not to mention fun— flight to go where they can share and receive information tailored to the Bahamas (“Another Day, Another Island,” March 2012 specifically to their own experience. AOPA Pilot). Our team really did a fine job capturing the beauty Every day I visit with people who ask where I’ve been and of this adventure, and we hope others will explore their own what I’m flying. We know we can attract people to flying. But, adventure just off the Florida coast in the Bahamas. once we attract them to explore flying, we must stop losing Of course, the Northwest offers its own form of adventure. them for reasons that are within our ability to change. In fact, during the Northwest Aviation Conference, I again What encourages us is that we see changes for the better had the good fortune to meet over dinner with the leaders all the time. Recently, I visited San Marcos Airport in Texas of pilot organizations from five western states. It was a great to see the new, unique programs offered at the new training opportunity to learn firsthand what was happening in Alaska, facilities at Skyport FBO, built by Redbird. Its simulators play Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California. And, while we did a very large role in the training experience at the facility, and speak about the big issues that affect our flying, the conversa- the company is seeing dramatic and positive results. The bottion soon turned to some of the great backcountry airports I tom line is that we can improve the training experience, and need to visit in my Husky. we can build our numbers. Everywhere I’ve traveled during the first quarter of this year, Whether you belong to AOPA because you want to be I’ve heard praise for AOPA’s formidable federal and state advo- engaged in the advocacy side of our mission or just to maximize cacy work. At the same time, whenever I spend more than a your own enjoyment of flying, we all depend on having a growfew minutes with a group of my fellow pilots, the conversation ing constituency to protect our freedom to fly. That freedom is is sure to turn to where we have flown and where we might fly threatened as the number of active pilots declines. For all these in the future. It is a constant reminder of how important it is reasons, I do hope you will join us in recognizing flight training to share the experience of flying with others. programs that work—and in sharing your own flying experiI do think that our mood as a nation is improving slowly. ences with others. To be honest, our future depends on it. Consumer confidence is drifting back up, albeit slowly. Of course, fuel prices are also drifting up! But, the point is that Email AOPA President Craig Fuller at craig@aopa.org. 4 • APRIL 2012

AOPA PILOT •

http://www.aopa.org/FTinitiative http://www.aopa.org/FTinitiative http://www.myFT.org

AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2012

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