AOPA’s Rusty Pilots Initiative: Celebrating 15,000 Pilots’ Return to the Skies
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is celebrating a significant achievement. Its acclaimed Rusty Pilots program has successfully guided over 15,000 lapsed pilots back to active flying since its inception in 2014.
This unique program is tailor-made for certificated pilots who have been inactive for extended periods and are seeking a straightforward, accessible route back to currency. The Rusty Pilots program is available in three flexible formats:
- In-person seminars
- Live webinars
- Self-paced online courses
These formats cover crucial topics such as updated FAA regulations, airspace changes, medical reform, weather tools, preflight planning, and radio procedures. Participants also have the opportunity to earn FAA WINGS credits and receive logbook endorsements or completion certificates to use with a flight instructor.
The AOPA Foundation has also emphasized its wider pilot-support initiatives, which include:
- Providing over $2 million annually in scholarship programs
- Establishing nearly 300 new flying clubs to decrease the cost of training
- Implementing aviation outreach programs that have reached more than 130,000 high school students
The Rusty Pilots program is free for AOPA members, while non-members can participate for a fee of $89.
Source: AOPA – Rusty Pilots Initiative Passes Milestone