Will The "New" AOPA Be Just Like The Old?

Opinion, Analysis and Observation by ANN CEO/Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell

“I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things”
 Antoine de Saint-Exupery

As Mark Baker gets settled into the big seat at 421 Aviation Way, a few hiccups are being noted even before he gets the chair adjusted.

Now, we're fully aware that he may not have anything to do, YET, with the issues we're going to raise... but the fact that these things are happening under his watch, and his name, needs to be brought to his attention now before the issues raised become all the more problematic.

Based on the public documentation and hype AOPA put out in the last few days, the organization has had a change of heart and decided to meet its members one on one instead of using the Expo/Summit events that have been the centerpiece of their membership outreach for the last few decades. Rather than addressing and simply admitting that these events were poorly attended, and reportedly losing money by the bucket load, AOPA is hyping its faux selflessness by portraying the decision as an individual outreach... even offering to buy you a hot dog if you show up at a future event.

Talk about gilding the lily...

But... an internal letter sent by Baker's office tells a somewhat different story – at least in terms of the priorities involved. While the memo does eventually emphasize the value of a grassroots approach (something used by Phil Boyer to great effect during his Presidency), Baker emphasizes FIRST the fact that the summits were, apparently, a losing proposition... and that this was a measure taken by the Board... the same board that no one gets to talk to and is VERY much hidden behind the scenes -- and yes, the same board that AOPA members have no hand in electing.

The Baker memo led off by stating, "During last week's board meeting, the trustees voted to cancel the AOPA Aviation Summit for 2014 and have suspended convention planning beyond next year. The decision was based on a number of factors, including the cost of hosting the event, attendance figures, and a desire to meet the members 'where they fly.'"

Note the order... money (First), attendance (Second)... and, oh yeah, let's go meet the members (Third Place).
The memo also notes that, "I know this is a big change, but it gives us a great opportunity to use the time and resources we were putting into Summit in new and exciting ways." Once again, the emphasis is on resources... and it is NO secret to those of us in the cheap seats that the Summits were having a hard time attracting members, were incredibly expensive for exhibitors to attend, and offered a decreasing value, year to year, for an ever-increasing cost.

And this year was rumored to be looking exceptionally unimpressive…

None of this is brain surgery... but one wonders why this was not addressed more forthrightly as the decision was made -- it's not like anyone is NOT going to sympathize with the fact that trying to succeed in this economy was likely to be getting more difficult by the day. Then again, the AOPA of the last few years has been more about telling its membership about what made AOPA look good rather than communicating with the transparency and honesty we demand (and, yes, rarely get) in so many other aspects of our lives. This is the same AOPA that was trying to paint Craig Fuller as an aviation statesman... while refusing to acknowledge the fact that AOPA has lost a LOT of its membership, gone astray on a number of issues, alienated countless vendors, exhibitors (and most important) Members... and turned the other way too many times when aviation was under attack. And mind you, this is not all Fuller’s fault -- there is a Board that he answers to… that does not seem interested in answering to membership… Under such circumstances, there is little opportunity to excel given the fact that organization is destined to become and stay out of sync with a rank and file they clearly do not talk to… much – and certainly not with their critics.

OK… that was one recent note of discord… but another example of AOPA recent hype also caught us a bit off guard and produced a truly annoying sensation.

You may remember that ANN covered the issues inherent in DHS, CBP and other LEO surprise inspections at multiple airports across the country... you may also remember that we have covered this issue for YEARS... LONG before AOPA and even Flying magazine decided that it was now time to publicize the fact there were problems taking place on airports across America (it’s nice when they wake up every few years and realize this). In 2010 and 2011 (including a particularly insightful guest editorial by Jeff Edwards), after writing about these issues a number of times (conveniently forgotten by AOPA, et al), ANN sought assistance and support for our readership from quite a number of sources, including AOPA, and pretty much got the cold shoulder.
A reader, in a call to AOPA (in 2011) reported to us that AOPA staffers told him that the ANN stories were just, "Zoom over-reacting... again."

That was then, this is now... and the topic of our so-called over-reaction now appears regularly in stories by a number of groups that seem to be claiming that this is a new issue and are patting themselves (so much so, that it looks painful) on the back for bringing this matter to light -- like it was a recent hazard and real live news. Mind you, I expect this kind of hype and mirrors from Flying... who caused me to lose my minimal faith in their credibility when they couldn't figure out how to work with Michael Maya Charles (possibly their last chance at editorial greatness)... but the almighty AOPA?

Puh-leeese....

All the more worrisome is the fact that AOPA (through AOPA PAC) now seems to be using this latest cause celebre to line its coffers... pretty much insinuating that AOPA, and only AOPA, can save GA from the big bad forces of wayward government.

According to Lorraine Howerton, Vice President of Legislative Affairs for the AOPA, "Time and time again when we’ve needed help defending GA, our friends in Congress have gone to bat for us. And today more than ever, we need to make it clear that those who help us fight and win this battle will have our strong support when the next election rolls around.

That’s why I’m asking you to consider making a generous contribution to AOPA PAC today.
As the only arm of AOPA that can give direct support to candidates, AOPA PAC has a critical role to play in this fight.
By making a contribution to AOPA PAC right now, you can help enlist the support of Congress – including the 235 members who have joined the General Aviation caucuses in the U.S. House and Senate – to hold federal law enforcement agencies accountable, and put a halt to these government strong-arm tactics against pilots.
Remember, pilots like you and me represent only one-quarter of one percent of the population. If we don’t stand up for our rights as pilots, and our rights as citizens, no one else can or will.
And every dollar you give to AOPA PAC today will send a clear and unmistakable message to elected officials in Washington – that pilots across this country are committed to support candidates in the next election who help FIGHT for our freedom to fly today. In the must-win battle we now face, that’s a message that every elected official will understand!
We can’t allow federal law enforcement officials to treat pilots like suspects instead of citizens. And your gift to AOPA PAC today will go a long way toward enlisting Congress’s help to put a stop to these searches – and restore our rights as pilots and as Americans."

Mind you, this is the same AOPA that ignored our calls and told (at least) one of our readers that we were over-reacting. Why was it over-reacting then... and not NOW?

Because it makes for good fund-raising copy?

Then again... I've heard here and there that a good crisis is a terrible thing to waste... right?

Ugh.

While ANN is used to sounding the alarm about a number of issues, and then waiting for the alphabets to catch up (and yes, we’re getting pretty annoyed at the ever present and interminable ops cycle in all this), the big question is this... did AOPA finally see the light in determining that these issues represented a clear and present danger to GA... Or did they see an issue that they could take to the bank?

I realize that this is a horribly pessimistic view of this organization (but not without five years of reasons to support our concerns)... but AOPA is the same group that acted against member companies because they saw a way to make more money – while hurting those it supposedly represented, that capitulated to FAA over the A/C re-registration program (that WILL at some point be used to institute and support user fees and aircraft taxes -- so says our sources at FAA), that seemed to have (and still has) a huge conflict of interest in the AeroNav debate, that ignored our warnings and request for support when a wayward flyer (Aero-Crook David Riggs) was fleecing and endangering the flying public (and just killed his final victim a few days ago), that ignored our concerns about Cirrus and the damage they did to countless vendors, investors, customers and staff--while cashing their sponsor checks each month, that definitely did not pursue member interests as aggressively as possible in the "Through The Fence" debate, and so many other issues.

And yes, this is the same AOPA that has belittled/attempted to squelch us, demonstrated a lack of transparency, treated some of their biggest donors/supporters like hell, and has ignored hundreds--even thousands--of complaints from members (which we've been copied on over the years), and all because they seem to know what's best for us... whether we like it or not.

OK... tough words about tough subjects -- and no one regrets uttering these words more than I... but these things must be said lest the lessons of the last five years be ignored and we get the same old AOPA that we've been suffering under for half a decade. Ultimately; we hope that this kind of discussion raises the bar in what AOPA will consider and discuss -- and broaden their realization that the way that they've done business over the last half decade leaves much to be desired.

One of the greatest responsibilities of any citizen is to question authority... and as citizens of the aviation community, we hope that AOPA will eventually understand that the questions we (and so many others beside us) raise are a powerful tool that they can utilize to fine tune their mission, understand the needs of our community, and better serve the interests of aviation.

Are you listening, Mr. Baker?

FMI: ANN Readers... What Do You Think? We Want YOUR Comments, Ideas, Critique and Input!