SocialFlight, which now powers the General Aviation News calendar, has launched its Ambassador program, enlisting pilots and aviation enthusiasts from around the world to promote general aviation through the events that give pilots reasons to fly.
More than 25 ambassadors from across the United States and Canada are already signed up with the program and are actively giving presentations to pilot’s clubs, organizations and individuals about how GA can benefit from increased awareness and participation in aviation events, using SocialFlight as a free tool to find and share these events.
SocialFlight Ambassadors include members of the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam), flight instructors, Department of Aviation representatives from numerous states, airshow performers, pilots, students and aviation enthusiasts.
SocialFlight’s mission is to support and energize general aviation by giving pilots places to go and more reasons to fly. The SocialFlight event database includes activities important to pilots such as fly-ins, airshows, pancake breakfasts, conventions, FAA safety seminars and much more. SocialFlight users can search for events, add events, chat, upload photos, get email notifications, send event notices to their friends and even add events automatically to their Google or Outlook calendar.
“SocialFlight has become a great asset to the general aviation community. Creating a network of Ambassadors to help motivate pilots and promote SocialFlight makes perfect sense.” said Rob Holland, world-renowned aerobatic performer. “As soon as I heard about the SocialFlight Ambassador program, I signed up to be an Ambassador myself. We’re all in this together to support GA, and I would encourage my fellow airshow performers to do the same.”
SocialFlight has grown rapidly since its launch only nine months ago, reaching almost 20,000 users and over 4,000 aviation events in 2013 alone. It has been supported by a number of aviation companies, including Cessna, Spencer Aircraft and, most recently, Lightspeed Aviation. Each of these companies has teamed up with SocialFlight as Principal Sponsors to help promote the aviation industry.
SocialFlight is a free app available on the iTunes App Store for iPhone and iPad. It is also available on the Google Play Store for Android Phones and Tablets, as well as on the web at SocialFlight.com.
I agree 100%, this can be a great benefit for aviation, an GA. Too many people, young people especially, have no concept of “small” aircraft. To them airliners are airplanes. We need to get into the heads of grade and high schools and plant the seeds that THEY can be part of aviation. Small business can benefit from small aircraft as they go where the action is, not just the major big cities. Sign me up.
This is great and we applaud more pilots becoming Ambassadors for general aviation.
As our own Mooney Ambassador program was formed in 2009, we have amassed Mooney owners all over the world to speak up and out for general aviation and the positive aspects it provides to communities.
As Mooney Ambassadors, we’ve been taking our Mooneys to existing airport days, airport open houses, etc., opening our aircraft doors to event attendees, talking to them about our Mooney airplanes that are hand made in the USA [Kerrville, TX to be exact!], specifically defining what general aviation is and how it does indeed benefit their city, and inspiring the love of flight to both young people and adults as well.
As aviation people, we all know the political issues that continue to negatively affect general aviation and our freedoms to fly in this Country. We can fight those through national pilot organizations such as AOPA, EAA, NBAA, state pilot organizations such as our own California Pilots Association, and through our local pilot groups and clubs, and of course, at the ballot box.
But, as ambassadors for general aviation, we can have a huge affect on public opinion and public opinion does affect our political leaders!
So, do become Ambassadors for general aviation, whether you fly a Mooney or not. As our Mooney Ambassadors motto states “promote general aviation, have someplace wonderful to fly……………oh yes, inspire the love of flight”
You can make a difference!
Mitch Latting and Jolie Lucas
Share the Passion”
Mooney Ambassadors
http://www.mooneyambassadors.com