Rachel's AOPA Pilot Life

Rachel White's #FlywithAOPA story

“At the age of 16, I began flying as a student pilot and after my first lesson, was given a free promotional flight training membership to AOPA. I was an off-and-on member throughout college, but after graduation (when I wasn’t a broke college student anymore), I became a full-time member. As I became more involved in the aviation community, I realized how much AOPA does for aviation and wanted to support it as much as I could.

“During school I was able to witness AOPA in action multiple times. I had friends AOPA helped get their medicals back after medical issues, and I was also able to see how AOPA actively fights for pilots’ rights and general aviation here in the United States. Some of my friends came to the States to learn to fly because of how expensive it was overseas. My husband and I saw how valuable it is to keep aviation as affordable as possible—both for those currently in general aviation and for those who are going to learn in the future. I fly with AOPA for so many reasons—from the legal battles they fight in D.C. to the safety culture and emphasis it places on continuing education."

(To say Rachel comes from a flying family would be an understatement. She and her dad got their pilot’s licenses together in 2016. When she went to college, her mom got into flying and now has her CFI. Her youngest brother followed her footsteps and got his CMEL in December, and two of her other siblings are also taking flying lessons. And, if that wasn’t enough, Rachel is married to a pilot. They are both A&P mechanics and enjoy fixing and flying things together, particularly anything that has a tailwheel. More often than not, you will spot them flying a King Air 90 or 200 around the country with work.)

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