As a pilot there are many organizations that will be beneficial to my career. These organizations will range from the diverse to the focused. Some of these organizations will help me with networking and career building while others will act as an advocate on my or my company’s behalf. As it stands now I believe that there are 2 main organizations that will help me in my career. The first organization is Airplane Owners and Pilot Association (AOPA) and the second organization is National business Aviation Association (NBAA).

AOPA is an organization that advocates on behalf of the general aviation community. Their focus is to keep flying accessible to the general public. They achieve this goal by educating policy makers on how policies are beneficial to general aviation pilots, aircraft manufactures and businesses. One of the main focuses of AOPA over the last couple of years is the 3^rd class medical reform. AOPA has had a legislative affairs team in Washington every year speaking on behalf of the general aviation community in order to help our government better understand the facts and benefits of the medical reform (Tennyson, 2015). They also provide education to pilots and non-pilots. This education is focused on safety and helping pilots interact with the FAA. While this organization is not primarily business oriented; they will help me early on in my carrier as a CFI. As a CFI I will be training the current and future pilots of general aviation. These pilots along with myself will benefit from the many tools that AOPA provides.

As I further my career and become a corporate pilot the NBAA will provide me with the most benefit. Their mission statement is “To foster an environment that allows business aviation to thrive in the United States and around the world.”(NBAA, N.D.). In many ways, they do this in the same way AOPA achieves their goal. They promote policies that are beneficial to business aviation. They also provide resources to those businesses who are seeking to obtain or already have an aviation department. For example, with the help of the NBAA, the FAA extended the 7897G exemption. This exemption “permits operators of piston aircraft, small airplanes and helicopters to use certain cost-sharing options contained within Part 91 Subpart F of the Federal Aviation Regulations” (Trautvetter, 2015). The NBAA also “helps business aviation professionals ascend in their careers through valuable professional development opportunities, including cutting-edge seminars, certification and professional development programs, and peer-to-peer networking” (NBAA, N.D.).

As you can see these organization will help provide the tools that I can use to further my career in aviation. They are constantly updating their education programs and are on the cutting edge of their focused section of the industry. By maintaining a membership and keeping up-to-date on their information and current projects I will be prepared to take on challenges within my career as well as staying informed within the aviation community.

 

 

 

About NBAA. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2015, from http://www.nbaa.org/about/

 

Education. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2015, from http://www.aopa.org/Education

 

Mission and History of AOPA. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2015, from http://www.aopa.org/About-AOPA/Governance/Mission-and-History-of-AOPA

 

Professional Development. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2015, from http://www.nbaa.org/prodev/

 

Tennyson, E. (2015, March 25). Baker meets with key legislators on GA issues. Retrieved April 14, 2015, from http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2015/March/25/Baker-meets-with-key-legislators-on-GA-issues

 

Trautvetter, C. (2015, March 30). NBAA Small Aircraft Exemption Extended Another Year. Retrieved April 14, 2015, from https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2015-03-30/nbaa-small-aircraft-exemption-extended-another-year