Aopa Foundation

THE AOPA FOUNDATION (THE FOUNDATION) WORKS TO IMPROVE AVIATION SAFETY, PRESERVE COMMUNITY AIRPORTS, AND ENCOURAGE LEARNING TO FLY FOR CAREER AND PERSONAL BENEFIT.

SEE SCHEDULE OTHE AOPA FOUNDATION (THE FOUNDATION) IS A TAX-EXEMPT CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZATION THAT EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE VALUE OF GENERAL AVIATION. THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO ENSURE THE FUTURE OF GENERAL AVIATION BY IMPROVING SAFETY THROUGH THE AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION'S (AOPA) AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE, PRESERVING COMMUNITY AIRPORTS, AND ENCOURAGING LEARNING TO FLY FOR CAREER AND PERSONAL BENEFIT.YOU CAN FLYTHE AOPA FOUNDATION'S YOU CAN FLY PROGRAM IS A SET OF INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO GET PEOPLE FLYING AND KEEP THEM FLYING. WITH INITIATIVES TO INTRODUCE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN AVIATION AND AEROSPACE, PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR FLIGHT SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS, DELIVER TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO HELP PILOTS CREATE AND GROW FLYING CLUBS, AND HELP LAPSED PILOTS GET BACK IN THE AIR, YOU CAN FLY IS SUPPORTING AVIATORS AT EVERY STAGE OF THEIR JOURNEY.THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES FREE FOUR YEAR AVIATION STEM CURRICULUM TO THOUSANDS OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS NATIONWIDE. AN ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM FOR EDUCATORS HELPS SCHOOLS CREATE AND GROW AVIATION STEM PROGRAMS TO MEET THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS, WHILE $1 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED ANNUALLY TO HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO HELP THEM EARN A PILOT CERTIFICATE.FOR FLIGHT SCHOOLS, INSTRUCTORS, AND STUDENTS, THE FOUNDATION IS DELIVERING TRAINING AND TOOLS DESIGNED TO HELP REDUCE THE DROPOUT RATE BY MAKING TRAINING MORE EFFICIENT, TRANSPARENT, AND CUSTOMER FOCUSED. THE ANNUAL FLIGHT TRAINING EXPERIENCE AWARDS SUPPORT BEST PRACTICES AND RECOGNIZE SCHOOLS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT DELIVER EXCEPTIONAL TRAINING EXPERIENCES TO THEIR CLIENTS WHILE THE AOPA FLIGHT TRAINING ADVANTAGE PLATFORM BRINGS ADAPTIVE LEARNING INTO THE FLIGHT DECK.TO HELP INCREASE AIRCRAFT UTILIZATION AND BUILD A STRONGER COMMUNITY OF AVIATORS, THE FOUNDATION IS HELPING PILOTS LAUNCH AND GROW FLYING CLUBS. THE FOUNDATION DELIVERS EXTENSIVE RESOURCES, INCLUDING IN PERSON ASSISTANCE AND ONLINE GUIDANCE, TO HELP PILOTS CREATE NEW CLUBS. THE FOUNDATION'S FLYING CLUB FINDER ALSO LISTS HUNDREDS OF FLYING CLUBS, MAKING IT EASIER FOR PILOTS EVERYWHERE TO CONNECT WITH A CLUB CLOSE TO HOME.FOR LAPSED PILOTS WHO WANT TO RETURN TO FLYING, THE FOUNDATION'S RUSTY PILOTS INITIATIVE PROVIDES IN PERSON SEMINARS AND LIVE WEBINARS THAT GIVE PILOTS THREE HOURS OF GROUND TRAINING THAT FULFILLS THE FAA'S FLIGHT REVIEW REQUIREMENTS FOR GROUND INSTRUCTION. AN ONLINE COURSE OPTION MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR PILOTS TO REFRESH THEIR CRITICAL GROUND SCHOOL KNOWLEDGE ANY TIME. BOTH THE IN PERSON AND THE ONLINE PROGRAMS PROVIDE FAA WINGS CREDIT.FOUNDATION GRANTSDURING 2022, THE AOPA FOUNDATION GRANTED $1,500,000 TO VARIOUS PROJECTS IN SUPPORT OF ITS MISSION.THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED A $683,000 GRANT TO SUPPORT AOPA'S AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE (ASI). ASI SERVES ALL PILOTS BY PROVIDING FREE OR LOW-COST EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO PILOTS AND FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS NATIONWIDE, ANALYZING SAFETY DATA, AND CONDUCTING SAFETY RESEARCH. AS A RESULT OF THE GRANT, ASI'S MATERIAL WAS ACCESSED NEARLY 10 MILLION TIMES. THIS WAS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE RELEASE OF VARIOUS NEW PRODUCTS INCLUDING VIDEOS, PODCASTS, PUBLICATIONS, AND WEBINARS TO PILOTS AND AVIATION ENTHUSIASTS. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED A $392,000 GRANT TO SUPPORT THE AOPA AIRPORT SUPPORT NETWORK. THE AIRPORT SUPPORT NETWORK IS A GROUP OF NEARLY 2,250 VOLUNTEERS TASKED WITH PROMOTING, PROTECTING, AND DEFENDING AMERICA'S COMMUNITY AIRPORTS FROM PRESSURES MOUNTING AGAINST SUCH AIRPORTS.THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED A $425,000 GRANT TO SUPPORT MEMBER OUTREACH. EVENTS ARE FOCUSED ON PROVIDING AOPA MEMBERS EDUCATIONAL CONTENT, ACCESS TO AVIATION INDUSTRY PARTNERS FOR TRANSACTIONS, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH THE AVIATION COMMUNITY. EACH EVENT IS INTENDED TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT BY AOPA MEMBERS WHICH WILL LEAD TO SAFER PILOTS AND A MORE ROBUST AVIATION INDUSTRY.