Professional aviation organizations
not only offer unique services to their members, but they also provide a voice
on behalf of their members that holds a lot of weight with regards to influence
and power. Each organization represents its own individual sector of the
aviation industry. The organizations that I’ve chosen to highlight are the
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), and the Air Line Pilots
Association (ALPA).
AOPA is an organization that
caters to pilots and those who own their own aircraft. AOPA offers multiple
services to their members including aircraft insurance opportunities, financing
options for purchasing aircraft, along with legal and medical services for its
pilots. AOPA also offers an assortment of safety and training services for its
members. “AOPA and the Air Safety Institute offer a wide variety of resources
specifically tailored to your flying life” (“Training & Safety,” 2016). AOPA
also offers its members a variation of aviation magazines that not only focus
on stories relating to pilots, but also dive into industry news and must-read stories
from other sectors of aviation. The services offered through AOPA to aircraft
owners and pilots is second to none and fairly competitive when considering the
yearly membership dues of around $60 a year.
ALPA is an organization
that “represents and advocates from more than 54,000 pilots at 31 U.S. and
Canadian airlines” (“What We Do,” 2016). ALPA is a well-known union in the
airline industry and prides itself on the services it provides its pilots. According
to their web-site ALPA “provides three critical services to its members:
airline safety, security, and pilot assistance; representation; and advocacy” (“What
We Do,” 2016). ALPA is a voice for airline pilots when it comes to the decision-making
process involving congressional and federal agencies. ALPA also serves as a
crucial representative for pilots as a key negotiator of pilot contracts with
airlines. Additionally, ALPA offers several other resources for pilots beyond
union representation. Recourses such as safety seminars, professional training
opportunities, aeromedical services, and regulatory interpretation seminars are
just a few of the services available to ALPA members. ALPA works hard to keep
pilots in the loop with regards to the most current rules and regulations that
may affect airline pilots.
As I stated above,
professional aviation organizations such as AOPA and ALPA provide a voice and representation
in the realm of advocacy. As we operate in one of the most highly regulated industries
in the world, it is crucial to have the backing of a well-known and respected
organization that will have your best interests in mind.
References
Air
Line Pilots Association. (2016). What We
Do. Retrieved from http://www.alpa.org/about-alpa/what-we-do#
Aircraft
Owners and Pilots Association. (2016). Training
and Safety. Retrieved from https://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety
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ReplyDeleteNice post, I think you summarized these organizations pretty well. I also wrote about AOPA and ALPA; I think AOPA’s legal services are definitely a good deal if someone plans to fly frequently, and will save you a lot of money should a problem occur. And, since I plan on becoming an airline pilot, I think becoming a part of an established pilot union (ALPA) is a smart move.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Dan, nice post, you pointed out all of the important facts about both organizations. These are the same organizations that I wrote about and I think that they are the most important to belong to if you aspire to be an airline pilot, with the legal services and safety notices that AOPA provides, as well as the union benefits of ALPA, they are both vital organizations for airline pilots.
ReplyDeleteI like how you point out how important these organizations are in such a highly regulated industry. I think its important to belong to these organizations for a future as an airline pilot.
ReplyDelete