AOPA Membership fee

[DavidC]

HiFlyUK, Thanks for the quick reply, given that it's holiday season.

the AOPA UK website doesn't explain the fee structure, but this was because it seemed to cause so much confusion when we did publish it and the page is cleaner without it.

I looked at the downloadable membership form which you pointed out and was frankly quite shocked at the disparity between joining this week (end December) and next (January).... membership through end March 2012 would cost £144 today but only £77 next week... not at all obvious from the membership webpage itself. I can see why it causes confusion and why the scheme so desperately needs updating. I'm sure this must deter prospective members from joining - it certainly has caused me to think twice.

I've done some more research and read various views on AOPA and its operation here, here and here.

It seems to me, as a complete outsider/novice that AOPA is worthwhile of support by almost every UK PPL, although less than 20% have signed up. The primary reason for joining is to support the lobbying work done by its representatives, but it has achieved some significant contributions to GA in the past (including development of the IMC syllabus and qualification in the first place). Mike Cross gave a good summary near the bottom of this forum thread

The replacement membership scheme was announced earlier this year in GA magazine, indicating that crew cards will be issued to all members and that annual membership fees will be payable on the anniversary of joining. You have indicated above that this scheme won't come in until after the next annual membership renewal in April 2011, but I've not seen any firm date for its introduction.

In the spirit of providing some constructive feedback (I appreciate that a lot of AOPA work is achieved through voluntary contributions), I would encourage AOPA to expedite the new membership scheme as quickly as possible, publishing a target date for introduction. If this is within the next 6 months, consider adopting a transition arrangement whereby only 1 year membership is offered for £79 including crew card (valid through end March 2011). The 3 membership categories (pilot, instructor, associate) should be explained on the website with the strong emphasis on pilot category (who surely form 90%+ of members). The headline figure of the annual membership fee could then be shown clearly near the top of the webpage and the paragraph about crew cards would then be valid for everyone.

[Hiflyuk]

David,

The Two Year rates include crew card, whereas the one year rates don't. Many members choose to have the crewcard at the higher inclusive cost.

As you point out, joining in January is a bargain for one year membership rates, when you effectively get January to March free! Don't hang around thinking about it .........

I am not aware of any move to including crew cards for all and believe it will remain an option at extra cost. If anyone on AOPA EC reading this knows different then please post the details.

Your point about membership categories is a good one - I'll see about getting this on the website. As soon as a date for moving to rolling membership is known it will be published. Personally, the sooner the better for all the reasons you put forward.

[DavidC]

Thanks again for the rapid response. I see you have already updated the website clarifying the different membership categories, so this now reflects the current scheme.

The source of my earlier comment about annual subscriptions including a membership card was the box on Page 9 of the October 2010 edition of GA Magazine which pre-announced the forthcoming new/simplified annual scheme as follows:

We are updating and streamlining the process of renewing AOPA membership. The first step will be with your renewal letter, which will go out with a laminated membership card embedded in the letter.

These new-look membership cards will be valid for one year and ALL members will receive a new card every year.

You will be pleased to hear that the new-type membership card will include your membership number.

We are no longer issuing two year membership cards.

Eventually we will get on to a system of 12 months membership from the date of joining. We will notify you of that when all the niggly problems have been dealt with.

We look forward to receiving feedback with regard to the new system.

I had interpreted this to mean that all members would get a card - perhaps this isn't the intention but it would seem to be a good move to me. Comparison with similar (but by no means the same) organisations, PPL/IR fees are £60/year including a card; LAA membership has (wait for it) 11 different classes of which the Full Member Plus annual fee is £69 but doesn't advertise any crew card.

[GrahamB]

Unless things are changing, the membership card is something that every member gets. A crew card is something different, and is an optional extra.

[Hiflyuk]

Ah good, that means I didn't miss any big change. Membership cards are just that, issued to every member, while the Crew card, with your photo, is an optional extra (currently incorporated into the two year subscriptions).

It is an easier item to carry than a passport, and costs less to replace if you lose it. It also doesn't have the same value to thieves as a passport, photo drivers licence or other state ID cards have. Don't forget, if you have a JAR licence you need photo-id carried with it. So why doesn't the licence have provision for a photo? Another thread
perhaps.

AOPA is definitely moving to rolling membership and it will be after the end of this membershio year, to align with the finanial accounting year of BLAC Ltd (Trading as AOPA UK). We have also got to put in place the shopping cart and secure payment facilities, including online direct debit, on the website. How Crew cards are offered from then still has to be decided.

Now, I need to remember how to fly again ...............