A Continuing Look At The Obstacles We Face
Aero-Analysis/Commentary by James R. Campbell, ANN
Editor-In-Chief/Rabble-Rouser
And so the fun never ends…
some weeks ago we started this series of editorial articles in
order to point out issues we felt were, and continued to be,
problematic to the future health of the aviation industry.
Fist of all... we're sorry that we haven't followed up in a
number of days with additional parts to this series… but
between trying to beat the flu (and not succeeding) and the usual
everyday ANN business trials, it's tough to find the time to be
creative, inspiring… appropriately troublesome, and right on
target.
A few follow-ups… in the next few days, time permitting,
ANN will unveil a few new programs of our own… our attempt
to "Get Off Our Duffs And Contribute Something Positive To Save
Aviation" - I think you'll get a kick out of them… since
we're going to put our money, our time, and our talent where our
editorial mouths have been… and do something demonstrative
to make a difference to flyers the world over.
And by the way, we've decided to send a small team to
AOPA's so-called Summit this week-with reservations… despite
AOPA's disinterest in allowing unrestricted and unfettered coverage
of their event… though the minute we see any evidence of
real restriction on our coverage, we'll report it to you, and are
likely to pull the plug. It's become perfectly obvious to us and a
number of other independent journalistic organizations that AOPA
wants to not only control all aspects of how GA is covered but
really could care less if independent aviation media withered away
and disappeared. That's a foolish and wholly dangerous
attitude… and we abhor it. We're particularly concerned
about some AOPA efforts that seem deliberately targeted to inhibit
other independent media (and in fact, they seem to be targeting one
well-known monthly print periodical quite aggressively).
Sigh… what happened to the AOPA we respected, supported
and were proud to support? We miss it...
Oh well… back to the editorial business at hand.
This series has been an enlightening process, both on terms of
actually sitting down and put the words to work… and in the
thousands of responses we've gotten from others in the aviation
community… the great majority of whom are just
as worried about aviation's future as we are. This time,
though, let's look at what used to be a pretty positive aspect of
aviation, in days gone by… and one that might play a pivotal
role in our future… in a most positive way -- if we can
update it to fit the times we live in.
Re-Discovering and Re-Inventing The 'Flying Club' Concept For
North America
I don't have to tell you that aircraft ownership is
prohibitively expensive and well beyond the reach of many of those
who so desperately want the plane of their dreams. Most of us are
afflicted with the aviation bug when quite young… long
before the worldly concerns of higher education, chasing the
opposite sex (or the same, if you're wired that way) and finding a
solid career (among SO many other conflicts) rear their ugly heads.
For many, you have to be at least half way through your normal
lifespan before you have the financial wherewithal and other
resources to be able to afford an airplane so that you can feed
your desire to fly, at will.
By the time that a person can afford it, though, many of their
younger dreams of flight have died off and the enthusiasm we see,
sporadically, at today's overtly confined and fenced airports
is squashed long before those passions can truly take root for a
lifetime.
Think about it… by the time that most of us can afford
what we want in terms of an airplane, the commitments of everyday
life have all but trashed the early yearnings to fly that so many
of today's non-flying public admit to. Renting planes is a
difficult and expensive process at many FBOs, access to same is
often quite limited, and there is little of the social
reinforcement that other pastimes offer. We have to find a way to
bridge the gap between youthful enthusiasm and legitimate interest
-- and then finally having the means to indulge in the passion of
flight.
Mind you; other endeavors do not seem to be troubled as
badly as we see in aviation. For example, along a minor
thoroughfare that passes by the residential airpark that I live on,
the route North (bordered by the St. Johns River) boasts a number
of small friendly boating marinas that provide a social network for
those enamored of such activities as well as a haven for their
boats. Many of these have a small gathering place, a pub or small
eating establishment, a club or other organization and a number of
means by which these communities provide a loose social compact for
those who enjoy this recreational diversion. On weekends, these
places are packed… many evenings, as well… and there
is obviously something going on that binds these boaters
together when they're not actually off boating.
Think of what we might accomplish if we had something similar
for aviators… flying clubs that could bridge the gap of
affordability, and provide ready access and social reinforcement
that would keep the interest in aviation alive for those without
the means to become full-time owners… as well as a place to
enjoy the company and esprit de corps of other flyers. For those
just starting out… or those on retirement incomes, these
clubs, scattered at locations near major population centers
and using attractive new LSAs, as well as more conventional
airframes, can provide the impetus to keep a new flyer in the game
as they climb the rungs of the ladder of life… or provide a
pleasant and affordable way to stay flying to those enjoying their
senior years.
They should provide more than just access to airplanes… but
a gathering point for erstwhile flyers AND their families to meet,
enjoy the camaraderie of other flyers, and provide a good time even
when everyone isn't flying. There should be regular gatherings,
parties, dances, lessons, seminars, family outings, and as many
organized flying activities as possible… with Saturday and
Sunday morning fly-outs to popular breakfast spots or local
airshows being just the tip of the iceberg.
With solid social event planning and an organizational structure
that invites regular participation, we can build a network of
activity that can keep people interested as they build their lives
to the point where full-time aircraft ownership becomes
practical…. And we shouldn't miss a trick in doing
so… with everything from aero-movie nights for flyers and
families to kiddie playgrounds that feature aeronautically themed
kiddie rides so that the young ones can 'fly' while their Daddy or
Mommy does it for real. There are a million little ideas that
can be utilized to customize a flying club to the locale and
clientele in a specific area… and a little creativity can
build a following for aviation that could put the boating industry
to shame… face it, aviation is a heck of a lot more exciting
and versatile… but we have to find a way to provide the
accessibility that is so evident in boating, RVing, and other
endeavors.
Overseas, flying club activity is often more pervasive, (by
shear necessity… aviation overseas is even more
expensive/restrictive than it is here in the states), and it is
also a far more social activity… with all manner of events
and gatherings that not only bring pilots together, but members of
their families, to boot. Not only are these clubs helping to keep
the costs down, make airplanes accessible to pilots, and providing
a social structure for flyers and their families… they have
often become an abiding part of their nation's aviation
infrastructure. And best of all; to many of those who have joined
such groups as they worked their way through life to the point
where they could afford an airplane of their own, they have kept
their affiliation simply because such clubs added to their
enjoyment of the aviation world.
We can take some serious guidance and inspiration from such
programs… to serve here as a template for a future network
of flying clubs that offers just what this industry needs, ready
access to reasonably affordable aircraft as well as a reinforcing
social network that will keep flyers involved and enthused to be a
part of an extraordinary family of humanity… known as
flyers.
So… there's the problem (the decline of the flying
club) -- and a possible solution (recrafting them to fit in with
the needs of today's erstwhile flyer) - what do you think? What
ideas do you have? What would constitute the PERFECT flying club
for YOU? How might you improve on this outline? How would you
promote it? SPEAK UP! We look forward to hearing from you.
Next… While we realize that such
a hard-hitting editorial series tends to seem negative and
depressing… we also understand that much of the
criticism for the state of the aviation world needs to be directed
a little closer to home. SO… do be advised that some of the
toughest criticism we have coming up is for our own ilk... and the
truly deplorable state of aviation journalism.
More to follow in the coming days… Stay tuned!
Jim Campbell -- Unrepentant Aero-Advocate, Professional
Trouble-Maker/Pain-In-The-Ass/Aero-Evangelist (YOU Choose which one
truly applies)
ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.15.24)
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