Below is a list of the different badge categories explaining how they all work. To see the specific criteria for earning each badge in particular and tracking your progress, refer to the badge progress page within the app.
Different levels are earned by the amount airports you check-in at within each state. For example, checking into 5 Maryland airports will earn you the bronze Maryland state badge or check into all of them and earn the platinum level.
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Region badges are earned by getting all the state badges within that region of the same level. For example, earning all the silver state badges in the central southwest region will earn you the silver central southwest region badge.
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Airspace badges are earned by checking into airports that are surrounded by a particular type of airspace. For example, checking into 50 different airports in class C airspace will earn you the gold airspace badge.
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Event badges are earned by checking into airports that are having an event (be sure to check-in during the hours of the event). The more you checkin to airports like this, the higher badges you will earn.
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Earn runway badges by checking into airports with different kinds of runways. Every runway type located at the airport will earn you progress toward that particular badge.
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Help build a stronger, safer pilot community by contributing to the AOPA Foundation and receive donor badges to recognize your generous support.
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Credit towards earning your social badge is obtained by sharing your check in via social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and the AOPA Hangar.
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Earn badges by checking into airports found on islands such as Cuba or the Bahamas. Each cluster has it's own badge, and collecting several of these will get you closer to earning your bronze, silver, or gold Island Hopper badge.
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Visit several different historical locations related to aviation, like Kitty Hawk, to obtain a bronze, silver, and eventually gold History Buff badges.
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Visiting airports with various types of amenities, such as restaurants on the field, fuel, and maintenance, will earn you progress toward new badges. For now we have the $100 hamburger badge but will be adding more soon!
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Earn badges by checking into National Aviation Heritage Area locations in Ohio and beyond. Every check in will earn you progress towards higher levels of badges.
*U.S. territories and states not connected to the mainland count toward the region badges. This includes places like Hawaii, Puerta Rico, and Alaska
Every time you check-in to an airport you are awarded points. These points are based on whether certain criteria is met such as the types of runways found at the airport or what airspace it is located within. Below is a list of all the different end points of that criteria and how many points are awarded each time they are met.
Check-in to an airport | +100 pts |
Airport has a grass strip | +10 pts |
Airport has a paved runway | +10 pts |
Airport has a helipad | +10 pts |
Airport has a seaplane base | +10 pts |
Earn a special virtual event badge (Affiliate challenges) | Varies |
Airport is located in Class B Airpsace | +100 pts |
Airport is located in Class C Airpsace | +50 pts |
Airport is located in Class D Airpsace | +25 pts |
Airport is located in Class E/G Airpsace | +10 pts |
Share your check-in on Facebook | +10 pts |
Share your check-in on Twitter | +10 pts |
Share your check-in on the AOPA Hangar | +25 pts |
Airport has an event during the time of your check-in | +100 pts |
Earn a bronze level badge | +200 pts |
Earn a silver level badge | +500 pts |
Earn a gold level badge | +1,000 pts |
Earn a platinum level badge | +10,000 pts |
Earn the AOPA member badge | +1,000 pts |
Earn the AOPA life member badge | +5,000 pts |
Earn a special event badge (AOPA Fly-In, Sun N' Fun) | +2,000 pts |