President's Page
A Message from the President
What a difference a year makes. This time last year, I was contemplating how I might find a career path back into general aviation after more than two decades of leadership roles in the world of business. And now I find myself with the chance to not only get back into general aviation, but to do it on the largest stage in the GA industry: AOPA.
I couldn’t be more honored to lead this important and inspiring organization. I’ve been a member for 36 years, joining as a teenager. I didn’t know the exact path my future would follow, but I was certain that aviation would be central to it in some form or another.
I was fortunate enough to become immersed in many aspects of aviation, including flight instruction, glider towing, Alaska bush flying, competition aerobatics, warbird formation flying, corporate jet flying, and more. I had the chance to lead the Northern California Aerobatic Club (Chapter 38) and to serve for years on the boards of the Experimental Aircraft Association and the International Aerobatic Club (IAC). I marveled at the inspiring experiences and compelling people that GA introduced me to.
In my early 30s, it became clear that my dream job with the airlines was not in the cards. Many airlines were going bankrupt at the time, and I had a color vision issue that made me less desirable, despite receiving a demonstrated ability waiver and a first class medical with no restrictions. This reality led me into the world of business at a variety of global companies, which afforded me the opportunity to keep flying. It also allowed me to travel to virtually every country in the world, and it was these travels that showed me how truly amazing and inspiring the U.S. aviation environment is.
The breadth of our aviation infrastructure and resources is truly unique in the world and something we can’t take for granted. Yet this freedom is consistently under threat. Real estate development continues to encroach on airports, local governments are looking to airports for new sources of revenue, concerns over 100LL fuel are creating uncertainty, and the rising costs of insurance and aircraft, along with increased fencing around airports, are making aviation less accessible than it once was.
The good news is that if we act together, I believe all these challenges can be addressed. We can not only preserve but also enhance the vitality of general aviation. AOPA’s efforts have achieved many notable successes, including BasicMed, light sport, low-cost ADS-B, user fee avoidance, and increased FBO transparency. These achievements benefit all of us and strengthen general aviation.
Looking forward, I see the opportunity to do even more. Despite accidents being at an all-time low, I believe we can improve on this even more through better education and new low-cost technologies. Our high school aviation curriculum is introducing more young adults to the world of aviation. Several promising unleaded fuels are giving us optimism that a successful migration away from 100LL can be achieved by 2030. And social media is making it easier than ever to connect and engage individuals who share a common interest in one or more of the many diverse communities within GA. AOPA will continue to lead in all these areas, and more, to strengthen aviation for decades to come.
With this momentum, AOPA can use our sizable scale to help the vast world of nonpilots better understand and appreciate the value that GA brings to our economy and every community that has an airport nearby. Whether it’s training the airline pilots of the future, supporting medevac flights and firefighting efforts, providing free transportation to our community members in need, or enabling a wide range of aviation-oriented businesses that provide employment for hundreds of thousands of our community members, airports make it possible.
As we do this, we’ll also be working to continuously enhance the services and benefits that we provide to you, our valued AOPA members. We want to earn your continued membership while welcoming new members. There’s strength in numbers when it comes to protecting and enhancing this world of general aviation that we all love so much. Your voice and support will be critical in helping us to do this well.
As I turn back to “all aviation, all the time,” I couldn’t be more excited and honored to serve all of you. On behalf of the entire AOPA organization, thank you for your membership and your support. I look forward to the many opportunities we’ll have to connect in the months ahead. Blue skies.
-Darren Pleasance