Canard Boulevard

Add your name to the Action Network petition insisting that the AOPA Board of Trustees reinstate Darren Pleasance: actionnetwork.org/petitions/reinstate-darren-pleas…

1 week ago | [YT] | 7

Canard Boulevard

You can write to the AOPA chairman of the board Jim Hauslein at jim@hauslein.com to let him know what you think of the board's decision to fire Darren Pleasance. This is the email that I wrote to him - feel free to use any part of it if you like:

I have been an AOPA member since 1992. I have used many of the AOPA programs and services over the years, and benefited from my membership. For several years, FDK was my home airport.

I have watched AOPA grow and wane over the years, in terms of influence and effectiveness, under various leaders. Under Phil Boyer, I was consistently amazed at the progress made on behalf of the AOPA members. Under Craig Fuller and Mark Baker, while there were legislative wins, it really seemed like AOPA had lost the plot. Wine clubs and focus on high net-worth turbine owners left the large majority of members, myself included, feeling left behind and ignored. I strongly considered allowing my AOPA membership to lapse.

When Darren Pleasance took over as president and CEO, I was cautiously optimistic. On paper, Darren appeared to be the absolute perfect leader to bring AOPA back to relevancy. I have met Darren twice during the past year, and every interaction I had and that others have had reported reinforced my opinion that Darren is what AOPA has needed for a long time. Finally, a leader that was bringing AOPA into the digital age, boots on the ground, outreach, exactly what stodgy old AOPA had been missing for literally decades.

That was why I was absolutely horrified to hear that the board had fired Darren (and make no mistake, we are not idiots and can read through the BS that was published in your press release). Short of a horrendous indiscretion or legal issue on Darren's part, the only thing that I could think of that would make sense of this was a conflict between the board and Darren - and being that it is WELL KNOWN that the AOPA board honestly cares far more about maintaining the good-ol-boy status quo than it does aviation, I am absolutely sure that this is exactly what has occurred.

If absolutely nothing else, it is the height of irresponsibility for the board to fire Darren and leave the organization leaderless. AOPA requires a point man, someone who has the relationships in government and in industry - pushing that off onto a couple of "co-president" board members in the interim is disgusting and insulting to your membership, and will cause untold damage to the lobbying efforts currently in progress.

I operate an aviation YouTube channel and posted a video yesterday when the news was made public. On the video I talk about how upset I am at the board for firing Darren. The response was immediate and overwhelming: tens of thousands of aviators watched and commented on my video, and the overwhelming sentiment echoed mine: AOPA had finally started to become relevant again, and people are ANGRY that the board has dismissed Darren. MANY of the people who wrote comments declared that they have had enough and will not be renewing their membership. Honestly, I am making the same consideration.

I am asking you to do the right thing, admit that the board has made a terrible, very public mistake that has angered and upset your membership, and reinstate Darren Pleasance. He is what AOPA needs to lead AOPA into the next decade. Without Darren I fear AOPA is finished, and the membership sees it.

1 week ago | [YT] | 52

Canard Boulevard

This is a letter to the board members of AOPA, shared with me for publication.

Letter to the AOPA Board of Trustees

To the Members of the AOPA Board,

I am writing as a long-standing pilot, aviation professional, and deeply engaged member of the general aviation community to express my profound concern regarding the Board’s decision to terminate Darren Pleasance.

By way of background, I have been flying for decades with more than 3,500 hours in piston aircraft and jets. I hold ATP, CFI, MEI, and A&P certifications. I have also had a long corporate career and currently serve as Chairman of the Board for companies in Europe, as well as a board member of the Citation Jet Pilots Association. I remain very active in the aviation community, including Mechanics of the Pink Jet and regular participation in multiple airshows each year, engaging with pilots, maintainers, students, and industry leaders across the country.

From that vantage point, many of us have observed with increasing concern that AOPA has been in long-term decline over the past decade. Membership losses, a gradual erosion of influence, and a failure to fully understand or engage a younger, more diverse, and more digitally connected pilot population have been evident. General aviation is changing, and AOPA has struggled to keep pace.

That is precisely why Darren Pleasance’s appointment was met with such genuine excitement and optimism across the community. Darren is widely respected in the industry—not only for his credibility as a pilot, but also for his professional experience at McKinsey, Google, and Cisco. Leaders with that rare combination of aviation authenticity and world-class organizational experience do not come along often. You could not have selected a better individual to lead AOPA into its next chapter.

Over the past year, I have personally watched Darren travel across the country to listen to members, understand their concerns, and reconnect AOPA with the grassroots pilot community. I have also seen him re-establish meaningful relationships with Congress, the FAA, NBAA, EAA, and other key organizations across the aviation ecosystem. His agenda was vibrant, outward-looking, and collaborative—and it led to what many of us view as AOPA’s strongest year in a very long time.

Equally important, it has been clear that AOPA’s employees believed in his leadership. Staff morale, trust, and a sense of purpose were visibly improving. There was a growing feeling inside the organization that genuine leadership was finally in place.

Against that backdrop, the Board’s decision to terminate Darren comes as a shock and is deeply troubling. Knowing Darren personally, there is no question that he brought his full energy, integrity, and passion to this role. From the outside, this decision creates the unmistakable impression that the Board is out of touch with what the organization needs and is not acting in the best interests of AOPA’s members or the broader general aviation community.

This concern is further amplified by the departures of Bill Ayer—one of the most respected CEOs in the airline industry—and Stephen Elop, former Microsoft executive and Nokia CEO, both of whom left the Board in frustration. These are widely admired leaders with impeccable reputations. When three highly respected individuals depart under these circumstances, it is entirely reasonable for members to begin questioning the Board’s agenda and governance.

As a board member myself, I understand fiduciary responsibility and the obligation to act in the best interests of members or shareholders. I am struggling to understand how this decision aligns with that duty.

This is occurring at a moment when AOPA’s leadership is more critical than ever. The organization is urgently needed to coordinate and advocate with the FAA and industry on drones, unleaded avgas, user fees, evolving airspace access, and many other existential issues facing general aviation. Darren had the credibility, goodwill, and relationships to lead on these fronts. Instead, the Board has left the organization effectively rudderless at a critical time.

AOPA does not just need a strong CEO—it needs a strong, engaged, and forward-looking Board that represents the future of the industry. For too long, the Board has not been sufficiently visible with members, present at industry events, or connected to the evolving realities of general aviation.

I therefore urge the Board to do two things:

Immediately reconsider and reinstate Darren Pleasance, restoring confidence among members, staff, and industry partners; and

Begin a serious process of board renewal, ensuring governance that is representative of the future of aviation, actively engaged with members, and aligned with AOPA’s mission.

AOPA matters deeply. Many of us want to continue supporting it, advocating for it, and investing our time and trust in it. But that trust depends on transparent, accountable leadership that demonstrably acts in the best interests of its members and the industry it serves.

Respectfully,

Endre Holen
ATP, CFI, MEI, A&P
Chairman of the Board (Europe)
Board Member, Citation Jet Pilots Association
AOPA Member and Advocate for General Aviation

1 week ago (edited) | [YT] | 17

Canard Boulevard

I just sent this written notice to AOPA. I would urge you to do the same. Time to make the out-of-control board of trustees sweat a little bit. I submitted this message on their contact form (URL below) and they removed my proxy within a couple of hours. I also cancelled my auto-renewal.



www.aopa.org/about/contact-aopa/inforequest

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I wish to revoke my proxy vote. I will be exercising my rights as a member at the next meeting and in the future, and no longer relying on the board to vote on my behalf. The dismissal of Darren Pleasance has exposed the fact that the board is not acting in the best interest of the organization. Changes need to be made.

This written request is formal notification that I have revoked my proxy vote. I expect to see confirmation of this request.

1 week ago | [YT] | 71

Canard Boulevard

I predicted exactly this a few weeks ago when private equity firm Thoma Bravo purchased Jepp/Foreflight. First I said they would raise prices, then they would cut costs, which usually means layoffs. They have now done both. Private equity destroys everything it touches.

1 month ago | [YT] | 57

Canard Boulevard

The FAA finally released the updated guidance for issuance of LSRI certificates under MOSAIC. Your FSDO should now be able to issue your LSRI (and LSRM) certificate. The revised instructions can be accessed here: drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/DRSDOCID152…

The revised 8610-3 application can be downloaded here: www.faa.gov/forms/index.cfm/go/document.informatio…

Still no word on a revised 8130.2L for updating operating limitations.

1 month ago | [YT] | 24

Canard Boulevard

We hit two milestones today - first, we got to 9,000 subscribers, and my video on the Cozy crash from a 3D printed part hit 110,000 views. Thanks everyone!! https://youtu.be/-waId4ju_A8

1 month ago | [YT] | 98

Canard Boulevard

Private equity doing exactly what private equity always does. Foreflight cuts the SAFE (Society of Aviation and Flight Educators) and NAFI (National Association of Flight Instructors) discount in half from 33% to only 15%.

2 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 15

Canard Boulevard

3 months ago | [YT] | 30

Canard Boulevard

I'm the featured guest on this month's Canard Cast podcast! I'm thrilled with how this interview went - let me know what you think: open.spotify.com/episode/6wiDmjpBD5sBaaKDinHNbP

4 months ago | [YT] | 47