AOPA memberships in India

Aircraft Owners And Pilots Association promotes interests and needs of plane owners and pilots

BY A CORRESPONDENT
February 4, 2006
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is a non-profit organization for general aviation pilots, mainly in the United States. Founded in 1939, its mission is to serve the interests and needs of its members as aircraft owners and pilots, and to establish, maintain, and articulate positions of leadership to promote the economy, safety, utility, and popularity of flight in general aviation aircraft. Throughout the war years and later, the organisation has earned a reputation for working towards aviation safety and popularity without grounding too many pilots. Today it is considered to be the world's largest and most influential aviation association.

Over the years, AOPA has broadened its membership base to more than 400,000 members across 30 countries. Its representative in India, IndUS Aviation Products Private Limited, has a showroom in Bangalore and offers its members several benefits and facilities for a membership fee of Rs 2,500. Membership allows access to the APOA's online flight training and aviation related lessons, a one year subscription to its magazines (AOPA Pilot, targeted at certified pilots and AOPA Flight Training, targeted at student pilots), and invitations to two aviation seminars every year.

In addition, it also offers a free VCD for every three members within two months. Members are also entitled to a 10% discount at the IndUS Aviation Stores on Pilot Supplies, a 10% discount on discovery flights conducted by IndUS Aviation, and a 10% discount on Aeromodelling courses. These and other benefits are included in the membership which is not limited to aircraft owners and pilots alone. Anyone interested in the promotion of aviation in India is eligible for membership.

Applications should include the prospective members name, address, phone numbers and email ID, along with Rs. 2,500 in the form of a DD or cheque, payable to IndUS Aviation Products Private Limited. The contact address is IndUS Aviation Products Private Limited, Bangalore. Address: IndUS Aviation Complex AOPA-India, 2nd floor 898/1, 80 feet road, 6th Block, Koramangala, Bangalore- 95. Karnataka, India. Phone- (080) 5150 1521/22, 5110 5042. 5150 1523 (fax).

IndUS Aviation, Inc., was founded in 1994 primarily to manufacture and sell aircraft in India and other global markets. IndUS is involved in the development of diversified product lines that place it in an advantageous position to supply the largest emerging economies of the world. It manufactures the Thorp T 211 aircraft, and drives the emergent light aircraft infrastructure in India and other countries. Its headquartes are in Dallas, Texas.