R.I.P. AOPA Project Pilot...

Dear Members:

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) today launched its new learn-to-fly initiative, LetsGoFlying.com. This replaces ProjectPilot.org. The new program’s Web site, www.letsgoflying.com, now offers visitors even more useful information about learning to fly, including:

• Everything you need to get started, including a database of over 3,500 flight schools nationwide

• A FREE Let’s Go Flying DVD

• Expert flight training advice from a pilot

• Unique destinations and local events for pilots

• Stories of and experiences had by other pilots, as well as the opportunity to share your own story on the Web site.

- via AOPA Project Pilot on Facebook

:: Having participated as a mentor as part of Project Pilot, one of the first things that I noticed about the new site was that the mentorship function has been dropped from the new microsite. While you can still search for flight schools, order a DVD, and even follow along on a flight training blog, the ability to find, connect with and manage mentorship is gone. There was no mention of this in Phil Boyer's column in this month's AOPA Pilot magazine announcing the new site.

AOPA has long advocated that prospective and student pilots that have a mentor are far more likely to complete flight training. I liked the feeling of support that I got from the AOPA program... as silly as this sounds...having a way to document progress online was motivational.

Overall, I like to the new site. It uses video to good effect, it's good looking, and it gets the lead capture job done.

But as AOPA seems to have found religion when it comes to social networking, (on Facebook, on MySpace) it's a bit disappointing to see the experience less social, not more.

I guess we'll see what we can do about that around here.

Rod Rakic is a private pilot and geek based in Chicago. (MDW)

Comments

[Jake]

I found this a big disappointment. I made it to my first stage check in a part 141 school, and had to put things on pause to have a broken wrist operated on. I went poking around hoping to find a mentor and a little motivation to keep me on track and was unable to find any traction. I was hoping it was merely an outage for the redesign, but it's been so long now I'm guessing that's not the case.

[Jenn]

Hello. I work for AOPA (directly on the LetsGoFlying site). Very helpful feedback in the comments here. Project Pilot is still up and functioning as a mentor site for those who already have a mentor/student relationship. However, it is no longer a site where individuals can find mentor/student relationships. LetsGoFlying.com is more geared toward individuals (among the general public) who do not have a mentor. I admit it's a little confusing with both sites having similar purposes. We are working on the connection between the two sites. We are also working on more social aspects of the LetsGoFlying site (coming soon). Suggestions are always welcome. Just go to the Letsgoflying.com homepage and click on the bottom right link "contact us."