An Apology to AOPA Employees

AOPA

When I wrote the blog that appeared in Wednesday’s AvBrief concerning the machinations behind the scenes at AOPA concerning its search for a new CEO my intent was to shed a little light on factors complicating it and to discuss the financial conundrum faced by the organization.

Much of what I wrote about is considered confidential by AOPA and under normal circumstances we respect that privacy with the understanding that the information of importance to members and the rest of aviation will come out in due course. Sometimes we need to look under that veil to understand the mechanism by which the final decisions are made. It’s not always pretty but I think it’s the function of a free press to look in the dark corners when it’s in the best interests of those who will be affected.

It can be a perilous endeavor and it puts us at the mercy of folks who are stepping out on a limb to give us information because they too believe that people should know. For Wednesday’s blog I relied on sources I’ve used since former CEO Darren Pleasance was shown the door last February and they’ve been pretty much spot on.

When I was finished writing on Tuesday I gave AOPA a heads up that it was going to be in the next day’s newsletter which is another way of asking if they wanted to talk about it. After a spirited discussion with someone there, I sent an advance copy to give them some comfort that it wasn’t a hatchet job and that the central theme was that members should hang in there while the issues are sorted out.

A minor technical issue was clarified and I was told my characterization of the circumstances of a CEO candidate’s decision to not pursue the opportunity further was “debatable.” Fair enough, I thought. We debated it and I still think it’s a fair characterization.

So I was surprised to hear that Luke Wippler, the chairman of the board of trustees sent an email to all staff essentially saying the blog was riddled with errors, the candidate didn’t turn down the job and that I hadn’t checked my facts. No sweat. I’m pretty easy to find and look forward to him setting me straight.

But it occurred to me after I’d chewed on it for awhile that trashing me probably wasn’t the goal of his letter to the employees and that brings us to the headline. Part of that blog was incredibly insensitive to the 200 people who work at AOPA. Depending on how the board addresses the operational deficit run by AOPA business enterprises, some of them are likely to lose their jobs. I discussed that inevitability with some crass terminology that reduced them to figures on a ledger and for that I am truly sorry.

Of all people I should understand the profound impact the sudden loss of a job that you put your heart and soul into has on a person. Having said that, I wouldn’t trade the last 15 months for anything and any success our little publication has will be the result of the most remarkable collaborative effort I’ve ever been involved with.

That will never erase that feeling in the pit of my stomach as the coldly delivered words over the phone sunk in on July 31, 2025.

Trying desperately to avoid being trite, I will say to those of you who may be victims of the board’s and new CEO’s presumably good faith attempt to revive AOPA that you will find jobs and you will continue to contribute to this industry in ways you may not have even considered before.

And if you’re as fortunate as I am, you will do it with people who share your goals and have the incredible skills and talent and drive to achieve them.

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