HOW ABS INCREASED MONTHLY ENGAGEMENT BY 70%

A Community for Pilots and Mechanics Across a Dispersed Aviation Network

The American Bonanza Society (ABS) supports over 10,000 members who own, maintain, or fly Beechcraft piston aircraft. As the largest general aviation type club, ABS provides education, safety resources, and a community for both pilots and mechanics.

With a team of just five staff, ABS operates a dual-entity structure, a for-profit membership organization and a nonprofit safety foundation. ABS manages membership, events, and training, delivering continuing education and fostering connections among a geographically dispersed aviation community.

The Challenge

ABS relied on a single-use event app that only supported its annual convention. Staff spent significant time promoting the app each year, but once the event ended, member engagement with the app stopped entirely. There was no functionality or content to keep members returning, and the app offered no year-round value.

ABS also lacked a centralized platform for ongoing communication, community interaction, or real-time updates. As its membership began shifting to a more digitally engaged demographic, the organization had no scalable solution to support continuous connection, content sharing, or social engagement across its dispersed audience.

The enSYNC Approach

ABS replaced its single-use event app with iMIS® Mobile, powered by Clowder®, a year-round mobile platform designed to centralize access to news, events, and community features in one place. The goal was to create a member destination that supported ongoing communication, interaction, and real-time updates, not just a one-week event experience.

What Changed

• A centralized member hub. Members now access news, event details, and a member-generated feed in one place.
• Continuous engagement. The platform enables pilots and mechanics to share photos, ask questions, and stay connected across a geographically dispersed community.
• Timely updates and renewals. ABS uses Clowder® push notifications to deliver timely updates, including membership renewal reminders.
• A better fit for younger members. Clowder® helped ABS engage younger members accustomed to social networking and provided a scalable way to maintain connection year-round.