AOPA UK

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association UK is part of the largest association of pilots in the world, with over 470,000 members in over 50 countries. AOPA UK is a not-for-profit organisation which exists to serve the interests of its members as aircraft owners and pilots, promoting the economy, safety, utility, and popularity of flight in general aviation aircraft. We cater for all pilots and owners of any kind of general aviation aircraft, including fixed-wing singles and twin piston and turbine, airships, sea planes, helicopters, microlights, gliders, and balloons. AOPA works for all aircraft owners and pilots, campaigning for better regulation within the UK and Europe rather than just specialist needs of particular sections of aviation. We complement the work of representative organisations dealing with particular interests, such as gliding, homebuilts, vintage, warbirds, microlights, instrument rated pilots, business flying, instruction and the plethora of other methods of getting into the air.

AOPA UK provides the vital voice that speaks for the interests of UK pilots, for issues including and not limited to airspace access, aerodrome access, threats of aerodrome closure, over regulation, and flying costs. It speaks not only to the UK authorities but to Europe and the rest of the world through IAOPA's seat at ICAO, the United Nations body that oversees civil aviation throughout the globe.

We provide advice and support to our members when they are threatened with prosecution for alleged violations of aviation legislation.

AOPA UK provides incentives for further flight training and pilot development beyond ordinary licence standards, by means of the Wings Scheme, Mentoring Scheme, and other courses such as the Aerobatics, Radio Navigation, Ground Instructor, and Flying Companion certificates, as well as Seminars for instructors.

Join AOPA UK  http://www.aopa.co.uk/

About IAOPA

AOPA UK is affiliated to the

The International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations (IAOPA) is a nonprofit federation of 66 autonomous, nongovernmental, national general aviation organizations. IAOPA has represented international general aviation for more than 35 years.

The combined total of individuals represented by these constituent member groups of IAOPA is over 470,000 pilots, who fly general aviation aircraft for business and personal transportation. General aviation is defined by ICAO as "All civil aviation operations other than scheduled air services and non-scheduled air transport operations for remuneration or hire."

The AOPAs are organised into regions – IAOPA-Europe has 24 nations in membership and represents the interests of general aviation at the European Commission and Parliament, EASA, Eurocontrol and other pan-European regulatory bodies. Each national AOPA works separately with its own regulators and government organisations. AOPA-US is by far the largest, with over 400,000 members whose subscriptions and lobbying power make AOPA a major player in Washington. Despite being almost 100 times smaller, AOPA-UK punches far above its weight with regulators in Britain, in Brussels and in Cologne.

 Our Chief Executive, Martin Robinson, is currently the Regional Vice President of Europe for IAOPA.