Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) was founded in 1939 in order to protect the interests of the pilots and owners of private aircraft, who feared that with the expansion of commercial aviation they would be denied access to the nation's airports.

During the Second World War, the AOPA worked with the Air Force and Navy to train pilots for military service and for work with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). After the war the organization resumed its lobbying activities, opposing the efforts of the commercial airlines to restrict access to major airports. The AOPA also opposed congressional and state efforts to regulate general aviation and to set standards for mandatory safety equipment and radar devices for private aircraft. The organization worked closely with the manufacturers of small planes, particularly Piper and Beechcraft, in order to develop and test aircraft. It also provided private health and life insurance for its members, who often could not get coverage from commercial carriers.

Today, the AOPA has a membership of 300,000 and a staff of 200. It publishes a monthly magazine, AOPA PILOT, has an ongoing research and safety program, and operates flight training clinics.

From the description of Records, 1935-1983. (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122457171