AOPA announced Jan. 5 that it is updating its brand as part of ongoing efforts to build the pilot community. As part of the announcement, the association unveiled a new logo and tag line—“Your freedom to fly.”
The new logo is a variation on the association’s previous logo and includes wings, the AOPA name, and in some applications a shield emblazoned with 1939, the year AOPA was founded. The design of the wings and the font used for AOPA have both been updated.
“The new look is designed to reflect both our history and our commitment to the future of aviation and the pilot community,” said AOPA President Mark Baker. “We’re proud of what AOPA has achieved in its first 76 years, and we look forward to serving many more generations of aviators.”
In recent years, the association has put increased emphasis on building the aviation community through grassroots outreach and focus on the one fact about flying: It’s the most fun a person can have in any machine. As part of those efforts, AOPA has hosted a dozen fly-ins nationwide, helped more than 1,200 pilots return to active flying status through the Rusty Pilots program, helped launch flying clubs around the country, and started an initiative to bring aviation education into high schools. The evolution in AOPA’s logo and the design of AOPA’s materials, one of a handful of evolutionary changes in past 75 years, represent a renewed focus on the fun of flying and on connecting with current pilots and future pilots of all ages and interests.
“It’s important for an organization like AOPA not to stagnate. The world we fly in is changing, and we need to stay ahead of that change. Much of what we’re doing today, and what we’re planning for the future, revolves around creating an environment that gives people of all ages the opportunity to enjoy aviation and all it has to offer,” said Baker. “We want our brand to reflect that forward-looking approach, sense of optimism, and pride in belonging to the greatest pilot community in the world.”
AOPA’s new brand image will appear on association publications, websites, and other materials beginning Jan. 5.