Aircraft Partnership Association grows to 2,500 members

The Aircraft Partnership Association announced on March 3 that it has posted its 2,500th member profile on its website. More than 1,000 members have joined since December, said the organization, which brings together people with similar interests who want to share aircraft ownership.

“While the economy is having a dramatic adverse affect on aircraft sales, many aviators are beginning to pursue private partnerships, now that a viable mechanism exists to facilitate the process,” said David A. Kruger, president of the Aircraft Partnership Association. “The association uses web-based programs to match partnership preferences that include aircraft type, budget, airport, flying experience and more. The APA encourages pilots to post their secure profiles on-line for free in an endeavor to match like-minded aviators who want to share the cost of owning/operating an aircraft through private partnerships,” he explained.

“We’re seen APA memberships begin to spike as the economy slows,” stated Kruger. “People who are passionate about aviation aren’t willing to just stop flying. What they are doing is actively looking for new ways to reduce the cost of flying so aviation can stay a part of their lifestyle longer. For some pilots, that may mean purchasing a used aircraft instead of a new one. Some current aircraft owners may want to find partners to help share to cost of ownership rather than succumb to the financial pressure to get out of flying altogether. The beauty of APA is that uses technology to intelligently form partnerships that work for new, used or currently owned aircraft anywhere. And better still – individual memberships are free.”

APA members are encouraged to post their partnership profiles on a secure database called the Virtual Pilot Lounge. Once members complete their partnership profiles, they can begin to search the database for suitable partners using a variety of parameters including aircraft type, budget, proximity from home or airport and much more. Members can receive e-mail alerts when a new partner joins who seems compatible. The searchable database is free, member information remains strictly confidential, and it never is used for marketing purposes without permission, Kruger explained.

“The idea of reducing the cost of flying by sharing the cost of ownership has always been a great idea, it was just never going to happen by posting a flyer on the FBO bulletin board. Today, using a web-based technology as the conduit to connect the partnership dots, more pilots will be able to realize the dream of aircraft ownership and more aircraft owners will be able to keep their planes as an integral part of their lifestyle or business rather than letting it become a hangar queen,” Kruger concluded.

For information: www.TheAPA.com or 972-334-0403.