Aviation Organizations

       In modern day aviation, there are many organizations that people can become apart of.  Having already received my private pilot certificate, I became a member of AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.)  According to AOPA's website, "AOPA protects the rights of general aviation pilots and aircraft owners to fly while keeping general aviation safe, fun, and affordable."  AOPA deals mostly with general aviation and offers numerous benefits for its members.  They offer flight planning services on their website which is always a helpful tool.  Another major benefit they offer is many different types of insurance.  Everything from aircraft owners insurance to hangars insurance and even CFI insurance plus many more.  Being a member of AOPA even offers car rental discounts and even pilot protection services.  And we all know being in aviation can be very expensive, but being a member of AOPA offers financial services and help for people pursuing a career in aviation or even just buying and owning an aircraft.  Being a member in AOPA is very important for any aviator not just for these reasons already mentioned, but the fact of being a member in such an established organization is very helpful knowing that they can help you with pretty much anything you need help with in your aviation career.
       Being an aviation management major, there is another organization in which it its beneficial to be apart of.  American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) is "the world's largest professional organization for airport executives, representing thousands of airport management personnel at public-use commercial and general aviation airports."  Being an airport manager or in management, this organization is the one for you.  Once you become a member, you get an accreditation next to your name saying you are a member.  Working in the aviation industry it is a nice honor to have the accreditation next to your name.  Other benefits that come with this membership, is a automatic subscription to Airport Magazine as well as all of the latest information in the aviation society.  They also offer 80 different types of seminars and workshops that members get discounted rates to attend.  All in all being a member of either organization only offers benefits which can only help someone pursuing an aviation career.

References 

1.  Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. (n.d.). Retrieved November 2, 2015, from http://www.aopa.org/ 

2. Home. (n.d.). Retrieved November 2, 2015, from http://www.aaae.org/