Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is a 1939-founded, Maryland-headquartered nonprofit membership organization serving 400,000+ U.S. general aviation pilots with $89/year dues, advocacy in Washington and 50 states, flight planning and weather tools, safety education, insurance, and aircraft financing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1939
- HeadquartersFrederick, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association does
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), founded in 1939 and headquartered at 421 Aviation Way in Frederick, Maryland, is a membership-based nonprofit organization that serves as the principal advocacy body and services platform for U.S. general aviation pilots. With 400,000+ members and a workforce of 251-500, AOPA operates across the full pilot lifecycle — from student pilots (free ages 13-20) through active private pilots, aircraft owners, lapsed pilots, and active-duty military personnel (complimentary membership). The organization's primary product is an annual membership priced at $89, which provides access to a digital services stack including the AOPA Flight Planner, AOPA Weather (delivered via SiriusXM), the Air Safety Institute's safety education library, and the staff-staffed Pilot Information Center. Beyond dues, AOPA monetizes through a tightly integrated ecosystem of insurance endorsements (group term life, AD&D, and 50+ term life through MetLife with no general aviation exclusions), aircraft loan brokering via the wholly-owned AOPA Aviation Finance subsidiary, branded merchandise through Flight Outfitters, BasicMed medical certification coursework, and the $124 eFIRC CFI renewal course.
AOPA's go-to-market is direct-to-consumer, blending self-serve online sign-ups with a 3-month free trial funnel, phone-based inside sales (800.872.2672), and a network of channel partners (Breitling, Sporty's Pilot Shop, Aircraft Spruce, Assured Partners Aerospace). Distribution is supported by award-winning Pilot and Flight Training magazines, podcasts, webinars, and physical presence at major aviation events (EAA AirVenture, SUN 'n FUN, AOPA Fly-Ins). The organization is governed by a board of directors, with affiliated entities including The AOPA Foundation (501(c)(3) for aviation education and scholarships exceeding $1 million annually), AOPA Aviation Finance Company LLC, and AOPA Holdings Corporation. Underlying technology is a digital membership platform supporting online flight planning, weather, and educational content delivery, supplemented by the legacy iFlightPlanner integration and the ADAPT ADS-B deviation tool — but no proprietary AI/ML or native mobile application is present in the disclosed architecture.
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
- Legal name
- Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
- Website
- https://aopa.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1939
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is a 1939-founded, Maryland-headquartered nonprofit membership organization serving 400,000+ U.S. general aviation pilots with $89/year dues, advocacy in Washington and 50 states, flight planning and weather tools, safety education, insurance, and aircraft financing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Frederick
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual membership fees at $89/year providing access to publications, advocacy, flight planning tools, and member discounts. Also includes 3-month free trial conversions.
- Insurance Products: Commissions from endorsed insurance products including group term life, AD&D, and 50+ term life insurance through MetLife and administered by AMBA. AOPA receives fees for endorsing these plans.
- Merchandise Sales: Pilot gear and merchandise sales through Flight Outfitters, with AOPA branding and custom embroidery options.
- Aircraft Financing: AOPA Aviation Finance serves as an aviation loan broker, generating revenue through loan arrangement fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Standard Annual Membership |
| Freemium | Annual | 3-Month Free Trial |
| Subscription | Annual | Student Membership (Ages 13-20) |
| Subscription | Annual | Military Membership |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AOPA is a membership-based organization serving general aviation pilots through annual memberships ($89/year), with free trials, student, and military tiers. It delivers advocacy representation in Washington D.C. and all 50 states, access to flight planning and weather tools, the Air Safety Institute, the Pilot Information Center, and add-on services including aircraft financing, group insurance products without general aviation exclusions, Pilot Protection Services (legal/medical), credit cards, and merchandise.
Product overview
AOPA operates as a membership-based advocacy and services organization for general aviation pilots rather than a traditional technology product company. The organization's offerings include a unified membership program ($89/year) providing access to core services such as the Pilot Information Center staffed by CFIs, AOPA Flight Planner for trip planning, AOPA Weather for in-cockpit meteorological data, and the Air Safety Institute for interactive safety education. Premium add-on modules include Pilot Protection Services for legal/medical advocacy, aircraft financing through AOPA Finance, and various insurance products (Group Term Life, Group Level Term Life, 50+ Term Life, and AD&D insurance) all featuring no general aviation exclusions. Additional programs include BasicMed medical certification alternatives, eFIRC for instructor renewals, the You Can Fly initiative with Rusty Pilots re-entry training, aviation scholarships ($1M+ annually), and advocacy resources including the Aviation Advocacy Fund and ADAPT tool for ADS-B authorizations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Pilot Protection Services (PPS): Legal and medical services for pilots including assistance with medical certification issues
- Air Safety Institute
- AOPA Flight Planner
- BasicMed
- You Can Fly
- AOPA Aviation Finance
Products and services
- AOPA Membership
- Pilot Protection Services (PPS)
- AOPA Aviation Finance
- Group Term Life Insurance
- Group Level Term Life Insurance
- 50+ Group Term Life Insurance
- Group Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
- BasicMed Online Course
- eFIRC (Electronic Flight Instructor Refresher Course)
- AOPA Credit Cards
- AOPA Merchandise
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 50,000 members assisted annually by Member Services team
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered premier partner, strategic partner, insurance partner, core partner and supporting sponsor.
- Breitlingpremier partnerBreitling is a Premier Partner of AOPA, with historical connection to the Navitimer watch developed in 1952 and designated AOPA's official timepiece. The partnership includes co-marketing of aviation watches and shared brand heritage in aviation.
- SiriusXM Aviationstrategic partnerSiriusXM Aviation is a Strategic Partner providing in-cockpit weather services for AOPA members, integrated with AOPA Weather offerings.
- Aircraft Sprucestrategic partnerAircraft Spruce is a Strategic Partner offering aviation parts and supplies with member discounts.
- Assured Partners Aerospaceinsurance partnerAssured Partners Aerospace serves as AOPA's insurance partner for aircraft insurance products.
- AERO-Space Reportsstrategic partnerAERO-Space Reports provides aircraft title and escrow services as a Strategic Partner.
- MetLifecore partnerMetLife provides group insurance products (term life, AD&D) underwritten for AOPA members, with AOPA receiving endorsement fees. Products have no general aviation exclusions.
- AMBA Administrators LLCcore partnerAMBA Administrators LLC administers insurance products on behalf of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company for AOPA members, handling enrollment and claims processing.
- Sporty's Pilot Shoppremier partnerSporty's Pilot Shop is a Premier Partner offering pilot supplies and training equipment with member discounts.
- Flight Outfitterscore partnerFlight Outfitters is a merchandise partner providing AOPA-branded pilot gear with free shipping and custom embroidery for AOPA members.
- Avis Budget Groupsupporting sponsorAvis, Enterprise, and Hertz car rental partners offering discounts to AOPA members for travel needs.
- iFlightPlannercore partneriFlightPlanner for AOPA provides exclusive member access to flight planning tools integrated with AOPA's services.
- AOPA Aviation Finance Company, LLCcore partnerAOPA Aviation Finance Company, LLC is an affiliated company serving as an aviation loan broker providing aircraft financing to members.
- The AOPA Foundation, Inc.core partnerThe AOPA Foundation (AFI) is an affiliated company focused on mission support and advocacy, with separate privacy policy.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Experimental Aircraft Association: EAA is the largest GA membership organization focused on recreational and experimental aviation, with a similar advocacy + member benefits model. Both organizations compete for GA pilot memberships, host major aviation events (AirVenture vs AOPA Fly-Ins), and advocate for pilot rights in Washington.
- National Business Aviation Association: NBAA is the leading business aviation association, providing advocacy, education, and member services to companies operating business aircraft. Similar membership organization structure and advocacy focus, though serving business aviation rather than personal/recreational GA pilots.
- Sporty's Pilot Shop: Sporty's is a pilot supply retailer and aviation training company offering pilot gear, courses, and flight planning tools. Overlaps with AOPA's merchandise (Flight Outfitters), publications, and pilot training content; serves the same pilot customer base and competes for share of pilot discretionary spending.
- King Schools: King Schools is a leading aviation education company producing video-based courses for pilot training. Directly competes with AOPA's Air Safety Institute and pilot training content offerings for the same customer base of active and aspiring pilots.
- National Association of Flight Instructors: NAFI is a professional association for flight instructors, providing advocacy, education, and member benefits. Similar aviation membership organization structure with advocacy and education focus, though narrower segment (flight instructors vs all pilots) and smaller scale than AOPA.
- Aviation Supplies and Academics: ASA publishes pilot training materials, FAA handbook reprints, and test prep guides for pilots and instructors. Directly competes with AOPA's publications and pilot training resources for the same customer wallet across pilot supplies and educational content.
- General Aviation Manufacturers Association: GAMA is the trade association representing general aviation manufacturers worldwide. Similar aviation industry association with advocacy role, though representing manufacturers rather than pilots, and overlapping on regulatory and safety policy advocacy.
Emerging players
- ForeFlight: ForeFlight is the leading iPad-based flight planning and electronic flight bag app, now owned by Garmin. Directly competes with AOPA Flight Planner and AOPA Weather for the same pilot customer base, with broader adoption and more polished UX among active pilots.
- ATP Flight School: ATP is the largest flight training organization in the US, offering accelerated pilot training programs at scale. Competes with AOPA's You Can Fly initiatives and flight school partnerships for student pilot mindshare, though addressing a more career-focused segment than AOPA's broader pilot audience.
Broad incumbents
- Jeppesen: Jeppesen, a Boeing subsidiary, provides flight planning, navigation charts, and aviation training materials globally. Competes with AOPA's flight planning tools and educational content; broader incumbent with primary airline focus and global scale across commercial and general aviation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association social profiles
Digital presenceAircraft Owners and Pilots Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
What does Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association do?
AOPA is a membership-based organization serving general aviation pilots through annual memberships ($89/year), with free trials, student, and military tiers. It delivers advocacy representation in Washington D.C. and all 50 states, access to flight planning and weather tools, the Air Safety Institute, the Pilot Information Center, and add-on services including aircraft financing, group insurance products without general aviation exclusions, Pilot Protection Services (legal/medical), credit cards, and merchandise.
Is Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association a public or private company?
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association founded?
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association was founded in 1939. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association based?
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is headquartered in Frederick, United States, in the North America region.
How does Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are insurance Products, merchandise Sales and aircraft Financing.
Who are Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Experimental Aircraft Association, National Business Aviation Association, Sporty's Pilot Shop, King Schools, National Association of Flight Instructors, Aviation Supplies and Academics and General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Emerging players are ForeFlight and ATP Flight School. Jeppesen is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.