A few associations that will be important to me graduating and moving forward in my aviation career as a airline pilot would be the AOPA and ALPA associations. These two groups are great for all sorts of pilots. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is a great group that comes together to help you stay involved in the general aviation community. Becoming a member of the AOPA you will be equipped with the ability to discover the latest technologies, get advice on medical issues, piloting, planning and maintenance. Also you can receive a monthly flight training magazine to help you stay focused and continue training correctly.
My next organization that is important in my field to be a part of is the Air Line Pilots Association international. ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents nearly 50,000 pilots at 31 U.S. and Canadian airlines. They focus on three things to aid there members in what they do. That is airline safety and security, representation, and encouragement. The security of passengers is always number one important thing, passengers equate to money which means business so that has to be most important. Next as you run a business (especially one in the aviation industry), how you represent your self is a big deal. Everyone wants to feel comfortable and well represented by the people who are flying them thousands of feet above the earths surface. Representation is key in running a efficient and successful business. Lastly encouragement should always be a top goal for any company. Dealing with hundreds of lives and millions of dollars in equipment and systems encouraging pilots to do the right things and handle aircraft properly is vital.
I also chose the AOPA as one of my organizations, but never really thought about how they could assist you with medical issues. The could definitely keep you up to date with the latest news, when it comes to your medical certificate - at least in the general aviation community. I believe that since AOPA is a very popular and strong aviation organization, it would definitely benefit pilots and managers alike to be a part of such an association.
ReplyDeleteYes, if you get hired by an airline where ALPA represents the pilots, it will indeed become an important part of your life. AOPA does offer all sorts of support for pilots, including lawyer support in the case of a violation.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right on par with your choices. I absolutely agree with the fact that it is important to be a part of the organizations especially during the hiring process. Good choices!!
ReplyDeleteBoth excellent choices, I'll be going the same route myself. I look forward to maybe working with you someday!
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