The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) kicked off its newly established Owner Pilot Association Coalition (OPAC) during EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Formed with representatives from six independent owner-pilot organizations, NBAA’s OPAC agreed on five top priority issues that they hope to tackle to best assist their members.

These include finding a way to enable aging pilots to get a “fair shake” at securing comprehensive aviation insurance; developing user-friendly, accessible data-collection tools that enhance safety and training; addressing air traffic control efficiencies and training requirements; and collaborating on means to ease shortages in supply-chain and training availability. The fifth priority is to sharpen focus at NBAA-BACE and OPAC coalition events to ensure expertise and resources are available to meet owner-pilot needs.

“The flight path developed by NBAA and its coalition of owner-pilot organizations offers just a first glimpse of what can be realized when we mobilize together on key priorities and address challenges collectively,” said Andrew Broom, NBAA's senior v-p of strategy, marketing, and innovation.

Marking the first of its kind of collaboration, OPAC comprises representatives from the Cirrus Vision Pilots and Owners (VPO), Citation Jet Pilots Association (CJP), Embraer Jet Operators Association (EJOA), Malibu M-Class Owner and Pilot Association (MMOPA), Pilatus Owner Pilot Association (POPA), and TBM Owner Pilot Association (TBMOPA). NBAA said the groups greeted the development of priorities with enthusiasm.

“NBAA’s Owner Pilot Association Coalition has the ability to build one strength upon another,” said VPO leader Dale Huffstetler. “Industry-wide issues often affect pilots of all aircraft types. Learning from each other and tackling those issues together will be a great benefit.”