The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association on Monday abruptly announced that it “made the decision to stop using” social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. The move was met with backlash from users of the platform, which is owned by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.
However, the organization told FLYING on Tuesday that it now plans to keep its X account active in response to member feedback over the past 24 hours. AOPA said it would ramp up content on the platform with a focus on policy and advocacy work.
AOPA has about 85,600 followers on X, more than it has on LinkedIn or TikTok. The organization has about 254,000 followers on Instagram, 213,000 on Facebook, and 131,000 subscribers on YouTube. Its last X post prior to Monday’s announcement was made on July 26.
The organization said the decision to leave X was numbers-based, explaining that engagement with its posts fell 80 percent over the past three years and that some posts received little to no engagement. It added that during the same span, audiences on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok grew by tens of thousands of followers each.
AOPA said it made efforts to improve engagement and decided to pivot to other platforms when those failed. But the response from X users and members was apparently strong enough to reverse those plans.
Palmer Luckey, the co-founder of Anduril, called the decision “pathetic.” Bush pilot, STOL air racer, and YouTuber Cory Robin, who described himself as a “long-standing supporter” of AOPA, said the move was “not a member driven decision” and that it “might be time for a new organization.” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman simply posted a thumbs-down emoji.
A few users replying to AOPA’s post shared what appear to be screenshots depicting opt-outs from automatic renewal of their annual membership. Others threatened to cancel or not renew their memberships, though it is unclear how many of the posts come from actual AOPA members versus automated bots, which are prevalent across social media platforms.
Many who replied characterized the decision as a partisan statement and shift toward left-wing politics.
Responding to Controversy
AOPA’s decision to leave X and the subsequent reversal came about eight months after the group announced that former president and CEO Darren Pleasance, who assumed the role at the start of 2025, would step back from day-to-day responsibilities and assume an advisory role. A pair of acting co-presidents have taken up Pleasance’s responsibilities as the board of trustees searches for a new permanent leader.
AOPA provided the rationale that the CEO role “should be based full-time” at its headquarters in Frederick, Maryland. Pleasance lived in Oregon and traveled to Frederick for certain job functions.
However, the move drew accusations that Pleasance was forced out by the board. Members who viewed him as a strong leader created a petition calling for his reinstatement, according to an Aero-News Network (ANN) report. ANN also reported that AOPA board member Dale Klapmeier said Pleasance did “not have what it takes to run an organization like this” during a town hall in February.
In February, Jim Hauslein, the chair of AOPA’s board of trustees at the time, said the organization “received many calls and emails” following the move.
“We understand that leadership transitions can prompt strong reactions, particularly in an organization with such a loyal and engaged membership,” he wrote in a letter.
In an exclusive letter to Plane + Pilot, Pleasance said he had no plans to return to AOPA and endorsed Luke Wippler, who succeeded Hauslein as board chair.