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USPA Organized to Serve Members

The United States Pilots Association is a national non-profit organization of pilots formed under statutory provisions as a taxexempt Section 501 (c)(3) corporation. USPA is designed to serve as the liaison between state pilots' organizations and to establish a national forum for common concerns and issues in aviation. Affairs and operational functions are conducted by the Board of Directors, composed of five directors from each affiliated state organization and officers who are elected annually.

USPA, in cooperation with the FAA, promotes safety seminars and sponsors a competition in the FAA "Wings" program among member states. USPA serves as a liaison between various state aviation organizations and provides the opportunity to share successes, examine aviation problem areas, and exchange general aviation information. USPA local chapters have monthly meetings and activities. USPA is also used as an information resource by state and federal agencies on aviation issues. USPA promotes social and flying activities, sponsors school aviation education programs, and provides assistance to state and local aviation groups that desire to become a state organization in USPA.

View the USPA Fact Sheet

Ten Good Reasons to Join USPA

Benefits for members

The United States Pilots Association is founded on a unique concept which binds together the interests of all general aviation member pilots nation-wide who share a common desire and love of flying. USPA, now in its second decade of successful operation, gains its outstanding strength from a structure which draws its members from the grass roots level organizations which it fosters. These include local chapters and affiliated state organizations. Thus, a USPA membership provides the individual with participation in its' many aviation activities at the national, state and local levels. This close-knit relationship has nurtured USPA growth over the years to become the largest national aviation pilot's organization governed entirely by its own members. It has more than 5000 members nation-wide in state association affiliates and local area chapters. It benefits the local USPA member, therefore, by having a voice in state, regional and national issues concerning general aviation at all levels of government. USPA continues its vital role of fostering the development of strong state-wide associations, each of which support active local chapters. Thus it accesses and serves the aviation interests of a broad in-depth spectrum of members and communities.

Another Reason to Join USPA...and to be Active

By Bob Worthington

For those of us who own our airplanes, we have found some changes in the past couple of years regarding our aircraft insurance. Two things in fact - one, the cost of coverage is increasing and two, insurance companies are demanding pilots obtain more annual training and more formalized training for those pilots needing higher coverage limits. (See Richard Collin's editorial in the November 1999 issue of "Flying" magazine.)

Being an active member of USPA by attending the four quarterly meetings one can attend at least four FAA sponsored safety seminar classes (and receive a FAA certificate testifying to that) and receive the three hours flying required to complete a phase of the FAA Wings program. This also completes requirements for the FAA mandated Biennial Flight Review.

In addition to obtaining this training (which typically would meet the minimum training requirements the insurance companies want pilots to meet annually) flying to and back from each of these meetings gives members the opportunity to enjoy some excellent cross-country flights.

Quite often our USPA quarterly meetings also entail other aviation related activities such as visiting airframe manufacturers or touring military air bases. Knowledge of how to fly in areas where military aircraft also exist is gained as well as knowing what airplanes of the future will be like.

Lastly, meeting and talking to other pilots from around the country adds to our overall fund of aviation knowledge. Sarah, from the Chicago area can give us tips on how to best fly into the Chicago area for a business meeting we have next month. Bill just had a problem fixed with his Mooney that you were wondering how you might handle; now you know what to do.

So in addition to helping deal with aviation concerns on local, regional and national levels; being an active member of USPA allows pilots to also satisfy most insurance annual training requirements at virtually no cost to pilots except for the plane.