New leader for AOPA Air Safety Institute

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has appointed Mike Ginter, a general aviation advocate and retired Naval aviator, to head its Air Safety Institute.

“For more than 70 years, the AOPA Air Safety Institute has delivered life-saving information and education to pilots, and I am honored to be part of continuing that legacy,” said Ginter. “It’s important to meet pilots where they are with practical tools and information they can really use, and no organization does that better than ASI.”

Since 2018, Ginter has served as AOPA’s vice president of airports and state advocacy, spearheading efforts to protect airports, bringing 1,000 new volunteers into the AOPA Airport Support Network, and helping to successfully resolve more than 700 airport issues on behalf of AOPA members.

Most recently, he led the effort to plan the National Celebration of General Aviation Flyover of Washington, D.C., which highlighted the history and utility of general aviation aircraft.

Prior to joining AOPA, Ginter spent 27 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring with the rank of captain. During that time, he accrued more than 5,300 flight hours and 555 carrier landings, completed four deployments to the Persian Gulf, commanded a jet squadron, and served as operations officer for the USS John F. Kennedy.

In 2003, he led the demonstration team responsible for showcasing the capabilities of the Lockheed S-3 Viking. That same year, his squadron won the Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award.

Throughout his Navy career, Ginter, who earned his private pilot certificate at 18, continued to fly general aviation aircraft. He previously owned a T-6 Texan and currently owns a 1972 Beechcraft A36 Bonanza and a Cessna 172, which his wife, Donna, is using for flight training.

“Mike is an active flyer who understands the real-world challenges GA pilots face,” said AOPA President and CEO Mark Baker. “His down-to-earth approach to making every flight safer resonates with pilots of all experience levels.”

Ginter replaces Richard McSpadden, who died in a plane crash Oct. 1, 2023, near Lake Placid, New York.

The Air Safety Institute provides videos, podcasts, publications, reports, online courses, quizzes, CFI renewal programs, and more to help pilots fly safely. Its work is supported by donations to the AOPA Foundation, AOPA officials explained.

For more information: AOPA.org