First Av Company To Kick In Cash To Support Mentoring

What if each and every pilot currently flying today, introduced one new person to the experience... and then continued to offer their support and encouragement as that pilot went on to earn his or her license?

That is the goal of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association's "Project Pilot" mentoring program... and this past week at AirVenture 2006, the program received its first show of fiscal support from the aviation industry -- a $100,000 gift from aircraft fractional operator AirShares Elite.

"When I learned that the pilot population had decline by 25 percent over the past 25 years, I knew we had to inspire more people to move from being wannabe pilots to gottabe pilots," said AirShares Elite CEO David Lee. "Using the great tools available through Project Pilot, we want to enable all of our owners to each convert at least one new prospect into a successful student pilot as well as challenge other aviation companies to step forward and support a worthwhile cause."

Leading the "Project Pilot" program is AOPA President Phil Boyer... AOPA's Executive VP of Communications, Jeff Myers... and project spokesman Erik Lindbergh, who knows a thing or two about the joys of flying.

"Imagine where we could take general aviation if each one of us who flies found just one more pilot to take to the skies," said Lindbergh. "In a few short years, we could double the number of pilots -- to more than one million. We would all benefit with lower costs and greater clout when it counts."

"We applaud Airshares Elite for stepping forward to help keep GA strong and growing," said Myers. "Research clearly shows that having an AOPA Project Pilot mentor increases a student pilot's chances of becoming a pilot by three times."

"AirShares Elite is a wonderful example of how each of us can use the resources at our fingertips, to support the GA of today and tomorrow."

Project Pilot is completely free to both mentors and their students... and offers web tools and DVD-based resources.

FMI: www.aopa.org/projectpilot, www.airshareselite.com