COPA posted its first online survey on the web.
Some general questions were asked as a follow-up to the COPA Membership Survey
that was conducted in 2002.
Participation in this online survey was voluntary and restricted to those COPA
members who have Internet access. As a result of these limitations it is
considered a “non-scientific” study.
The results are not necessarily representative of COPA members in general, but
they are very representative of the COPA members who actually completed the
survey.
The survey was available for a month during June 2003 and received 89 responses.
Here is what we heard:
1. What would make the COPA Web site more useful to you?
change in organization –12%
change in look – 17%
change in “member’s only section” sign-in system – 0%
No answer – 71%
Comments:
“[We need] more news, articles online. I visit web sites often when they are
updated often.”
“It’s a pretty good site”
“Looks fine to me”
“Just keep expanding it with useful information.”
“Have recent news page updated more frequently.”
A minority of respondents are unhappy with the look or organization of the Web
site. Numerous useful comments were received, particularly about the large
amount of screen area taken up with navigation buttons at the top and left side
of the site on every page.
2. What can COPA do to attract more women pilots?
Comments:
“Promote women in aviation at every opportunity, especially in schools”
“Who cares? Flying is an asexual activity. If women are interested they’ll do
it, if their not, then no big deal. Work on keeping costs and regulations to a
minimum and more men and women will participate.”
“[I] can only suggest that a survey directed solely at existing women members be
attempted.”
“Create programs to attract student pilots including women. The problem is not
only a lack of women but a great lack of younger people. The amount of grey hair
in aviation can sometimes be depressing! As past experience has shown a reduced
membership fee does not by itself attract new members. A reduced tariff in
conjunction with proactive programming that networks new aviators (male or
female) with each other and more experienced aviators willing to share their
experiences might attract and retain new people. This could/should be done in
conjunction with flight schools that are COPA members.”
“Simply maintain the open, welcoming atmosphere.”
“That is a good one, too bad that they are discriminated against.”
“I don’t think women should be pilots”
Some members contributed useful thoughts to the problem of under-representation
of women pilots in COPA (women pilots are seriously under-represented as COPA
members).
3. If COPA had a competitively priced Aircraft Finance Program would you use it
to purchase an aircraft or aircraft kit?
Yes –57%
No –29%
No Answer –13%
Comments:
“I would like to see an aircraft finance program. When I mentioned I would like
to purchase a personal aircraft my banker eyes rolled up and said she is not
authorized to lend 30 million for a plane. It tends to be aggravating explaining
that there are other aircraft out there not just the big jets.”
Since this survey question was included COPA has implemented an aircraft finance
program with the Royal Bank. The program has already written 12 loans in the
first two months and continues to expand. Additional advertising for this
program is being pursued.
4. Do you regularly use COPA Hotel and Rental Car discounts?
Yes – 9%
No – 79%
No Answer – 12%
5. If your answer is “no” to the above question why do you not use the programs:
Never think of it – 47%
COPA rates are too high, can get better rates elsewhere – 30%
COPA benefit providers are not in convenient locations - 10%
Booking through 800 numbers is too difficult – 6%
No answer – 37%
Comments:
“In reference to the Hotel issue, I don’t use COPA because I have rates with the
company I use. If I travel for personal reasons, I would use COPA if the rates
are good. I haven’t tried them yet.”
It is clear that most respondents do not use the programs because the rates are
too high or because they don’t think of it. This is difficult to solve as we can
only get better rates by demonstrating to our suppliers that we have a high
volume of users!
6. Have you purchased an item of clothing from the COPA Clothing Collection in
the past year?
Yes – 17%
No – 75%
No Answer – 8%
7. If your answer is “no” why not?
No interest in COPA Clothing – 28%
Too expensive – 12%
Don’t like to buy clothing mail order -25%
Not big enough sizes available – 3%
Not small enough sizes available – 0%
Poor selection of colours -3%
Poor selection of garments – 7%
Other reason – 0%
No answer – 21%
It is apparent that there is a problem with respondents not being comfortable
with buying clothing via mail order and just a general lack of interest in the
program. There were no clothing-related comments received and there are no clear
solutions to these two issues.
8. Have you made use of the COPA Home and auto insurance or life insurance?
Yes – 3%
No – 89%
No answer – 8%
9. If your answer was “no” why not?
Rates not competitive – 0%
Happy with existing insurance broker – 70%
Don’t buy those types of insurance – 10%
Other reason – no interest -12%
No Answer – 8%
Comments:
“Never think of it.”
“Not available in my region”
“Didn’t know it existed”
“[I] will get quote when policy nears renewal”
“[I] hate insurance companies”
It is interesting that rates are not reported here as an issue, but rather that
people have insurance brokers that they trust, or are just not interested.
10. In the past COPA has mailed out COPA wings stickers, other stickers and
fridge magnets to use as promotional items. What items would you like to see
COPA send members to help promote the association?
More wings stickers - 22
Different kinds of stickers - 17
More fridge magnets - 16
Small flashlight - 24
Pens - 24
Calendars - 41
I don’t think COPA should be sending out promotional items to members – 11
Comments:
“A good hat that doesn’t look like a big bird hit it at 120 knots.”
“Anything COPA - I’ll use it”
“Save The Money”
A significant number of respondents (12%) believe that COPA should not be
sending out promotional materials. Amongst those that do believe in the value of
these items opinions are mixed as to which are worth pursuing. This is
definitely an issue on which the respondents are split.
11. Have you ever any personal contact with the COPA staff members, in person or
via telephone?
Yes – 58%
No –34%
No Answer - 8%
12. If “Yes” would you rate the service you received as:
Excellent –63%
Good –27%
Fair – 4%
Below average – 4%
Poor – 0%
No answer – 2%
Of those respondents who have had contact with COPA Staff 90% rated it as either
“good” or “excellent”.
13. Do you have any other comments about this survey or other COPA issues?
“I’m frustrated with the status of aviation in Canada to the point that I’m
hardly apathetic anymore. I feel pessimistic and I sincerely wish that I didn’t.
I’m not rich enough to do what I’d like to, and I’ve been unable to work as a
pilot even though I’ve been flying commercially for almost 8 years. I feel that
the schools are unrealistic in their promotion of the future of aviation in
Canada to younger pilots. I question the validity of so many different “degree”
programs in association with these schools; education and knowledge are
valuable, but are we training pilots or managers? I could go on, but why bother.
To each his own path: good luck.”
“Keep up the good work!!”
“I think COPA needs to work diligently to promote GA and advocate NO user fees
for GA aircraft, including those weighing more than 2 metric tonnes!!”
“Regional directors are not effective and are an obsolete concept. [We] need
direct member participation by e-mail, internet groups, fly-ins etc”
“Everyone is not as active as [you] presume”
“COPA is an indispensable organization for a Canadian pilot and I fully support
their efforts and admire the dedication of the staff.”
“COPA staff is doing a fine job”
“COPA is doing a good job of promoting aviation. The key is to keep promoting it
to young people so they will get involved early.”
“COPA needs to get insurance companies and Transport Canada “singing from the
same song sheet”!”
“Can COPA champion the idea of putting CFS online? This would be both simpler
and less expensive for private pilots like me”
“I’m happy to continue as a member.”
“COPA should be putting up more resistance to government regulations/security
that effect private owners.”
“Keep up the great work!!”
There is obviously a great range of thought expressed here and in the many other
comments that we received.
A number of very useful comments about the online survey itself were received
and will be acted upon in future surveys. This first attempt at conducting an
online survey was quite successful. It is hoped that COPA can do more surveying
by this method. One of the great advantages of these types of surveys is that
they can be done on short notice to get member reactions to “pop-up” issues,
such as fee increases.
While they are inherently “non-scientific” studies the opinions gathered are
still useful gauges of those COPA members who actually respond. These surveys
are valuable because they provide COPA members a voice in the association. It is
hoped in time and with better publicity that the number of responses will
increase in future surveys. The second online survey, is available on the COPA
Web site until the end of August, is on the subject of the recently announced
Nav Canada ANS fee increase to $65.