AOPA

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is the second oldest national aviation organization to which I belong. AOPA is touting its 70th anniversary in the May, 2009 issue of their monthly magazine, AOPA Pilot. (Here is a link to the current issue.  Archived issues are available only to members).

I am definitely getting the impression that AOPA has decided to expand their coverage of activities outside the airplane category. There is a blimp on this month's cover, a blimp story inside, and a nice article about a little grass strip in Vermont where balloons and gliders are flown (you have to be a member to read it online).

SSA members Val Paget and Bill Daniels have been writing for AOPA, and last month we were visited at the Seniors Contest by AOPA contributors Mike Fizer and Mark Twombly.

Regardless of whether this new level of attention is official policy, AOPA deserves credit for reaching out like this.  They stumble sometimes, but at least they're trying.

You can join AOPA for $39.