Mon, Aug 02, 2004
Strengthening the
Future of General Aviation
By ANN Contributor Aleta Vinas
"Learning to fly is the foundation upon which every segment of
aviation is built," says the Be a Pilot brochure. No one is born
with the ability to fly. Even baby birds must be taught. The Be a
Pilot program is reaching out through today's most popular medium
-- television -- bringing a new generation of flyers to the
airport.
The Be A Pilot program was started in 1997 by AOPA President
Phil Boyer, among others. He has this to say of the program: "The
long-term success of Be a Pilot and the future of aviation are
inextricably linked."
The program is run by General Aviation Team 2000. The team is
made up of aviation leaders dedicated to involving both Canadians
and residents of the US in flying. A few of the dedicated
individuals involved include Jack Olcott of General Aero Company,
Phil Michel of Cessna Aircraft Company and Alan Klapmeier of
Cirrus Design Corp.
The aviation industry has a big stake in maintaining a
continuous supply of pilots. Major sponsors include AOPA, Cessna
Aircraft Company, Mooney Aerospace and Sporty's Pilot Shop. Paula
Derks, President of Aircraft Electronics Association says, "Today's
investment in Be A Pilot becomes tomorrow's return for continued
success in the General Aviation industry."
The Be A Pilot program's focus is training future pilots. Over
200,000 people have registered for the introductory flight
certificate, and over 40,000 have taken their $49 introductory
flight. More than 30,000 of those have continued beyond the
introductory lesson. Almost 5,000 are on the FAA pilot registry,
over 200 have progressed beyond Private Pilot. The Be A Pilot
program demonstrates that flying is purposeful, affordable,
productive and fun.
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