Lifetime member relies on AOPA for financing, insurance

Steve Southworth is a sports medicine and orthopedic physician as well as a 2,000-hour pilot based in Tupelo, Mississippi, who has owned a variety of aircraft. He currently owns a 2010 Piper PA-46-350P and an Aviat A1-B Husky. Previously, he owned a Cessna Skyhawk and a Cirrus SR22, but as his family grew, he needed to upgrade in useful load for trips.

“The Piper is used for family trips and the Husky is used for fun,” Southworth said. “We have family in northern Ohio and southern Florida and our daughter is enrolled at the University of Texas, so my typical trips are 500-plus [miles], but I have flown to California and back for an AOPA meeting a few years ago in the Piper.”

In addition to being an active instrument-rated commercial pilot, Southworth serves as the airport safety counselor forTupelo Regional Airport, his home airport. He also has served as an aviation safety counselor for his local flight standards district office and recently enrolled with Angel Flight to serve as a volunteer pilot. 

Southworth was introduced to AOPA while a student pilot and has continued membership through the years, eventually becoming a lifetime AOPA member. “I am grateful for the extensive representation that AOPA employs for us ‘little people,’” he said. “We need an advocate in government and in industry, and AOPA is our champion.”

When it came time to finance his airplane, Southworth turned to AOPA. “My experience with AOPA Finance was efficient, effective, and customer friendly,” he said. “Most communication was by email and uploaded documentation. Questions were answered in a fashion that was collegial and educational—even though I probably asked an occasional silly or unsophisticated question along the way.” AOPA Aviation Finance found a lender interested in refinancing his loan, a lender that’s only accessible through a broker like AOPA Aviation Finance.

But when it came to insurance for his aircraft, Southworth was just recently won over by AOPA. “I don’t know why I did not investigate—or even think of—AOPA for aviation insurance until my prior insurance agency was bought up by a larger chain, but that prompted me to think and search,” he said. “I am so glad I did and I would recommend it to anyone, as I would all of AOPA’s services.

“Acquiring insurance was quick, efficient and highly competitive in price, compared to my prior carrier. Why did I wait so long?”