Building A Template For A New Generation Of Aviation Events.. and Thereby Rebuild Aviation

Do you feel that?

It's slipping away... little bit by little bit. Do you feel them -- the golden bits and silver pieces, the ones we treasure the most about all that is right and good in aviation -- slipping away... stolen by the thieves of time, government, indifference, misunderstanding, economics, and a world that fails to value the true treasures that exist in its midst?

It's getting tough for all things aviation and while I (regrettably) have neither the expertise or power to fix it all, I'd like to take a stab at a little of it -- hence the highly emotional struggle I've undertaken to try and save what used to be an amazing way to celebrate aviation for all those who love it -- and to bring in those new souls who might someday come to treasure it as we do. In my younger years, I built my aeronautical life around the heady times that I could come together with my fellow flyers, see great new things, watch amazing flight displays, and simply immerse myself in all things aviation... because that's how you recharged your personal aero-batteries a few decades ago.

Now... not so much.

Think of it... Fly-Ins used to be a big part of how we grew aviation... and again, now, not so much.

What happened?

What went wrong?

Did the world outgrow the need to celebrate all things aviation (among so many other things that used to be so magical)?

Our latest missive on the many problems inherent in the Lakeland Fly-In brought in a huge amount of email and not just a few phone calls. While we got the usual dozen or so pieces of hate mail (often from folks who should know that their IP pretty much betrays who they work for), we received over 2100 responses in just a few weeks on the issues we raised.

Many of the responses were passionate, detailed and truly illuminating... and have had me thinking non-stop for a number of days. ANN has proposed that the mess that has become Lakeland needs to be replaced since all attempts to fix it have failed. But... replace it with... what?

And more important, while few folks deny that Lakeland is failing and failing fast, they're not the only ones... as we continue to conduct Fly-Ins and aviation events the same way we have for a number of decades...

As The World Has Changed, Fly-Ins Have Not

Therein lies the core issue. The Fly-In network harkens back to a lovely long-ago golden age of sport and general aviation... and with few exceptions, these hallowed events have truly failed to keep up with the times. We live in an ever-changing, NewMedia, internet world, where incredible amounts of information are to be had with a couple of keystrokes and read on something so small we can fit it in our pocket -- an carry it everywhere we go... so there has to be a truly compelling number of reasons to bring people to one location from all over the nation, if not the world. This demands a new set of solutions, a "Fly-In 2.0" design that not only keeps and UPDATES the best of what was, but also offers a number of new and compelling features to convince people to come to one place, now and then, recharge their love for aviation, and celebrate flight.

Let me suggest this... especially in light of the fact that this is just what I and a few folks have been engaged in discussing for the last few years. It's time to start with a clean sheet of paper. Fly-Ins are old hat... at least the way that we've been conducting them (by and large). It's time to throw out all that we have done, especially all those things that get labeled with the adage, "well, that's the way its always been done," and strongly consider what it is we want to do and to conjure up a modern, relevant and attractive means by which to accomplish those goals.

Fly-ins look the same, act the same, and are as depressingly grey as most of those left who cling to them for what inspiration and enlightenment that they might provide (and yes, I resemble that remark -- heavy sigh...). If we are to attract the new, the old, AND keep the faithful, we need a new plan. A vibrant, modern, unique, innovative and truly up-to-date action plan. Worse; those who are most devoted to attending these events are getting old... and one of the reasons that we are likely (and have seen) such a decline in a number of the attendance figures is the simple fact that too many of those who enjoyed these events have become too old to go, or worse, have gone west.

Everything Has To Change... Everything

Fly-Ins need to be more exciting, more accessible, more appropriately marketed, provide more value and must be prepared to compete in a world where the iPod and iPhone reign supreme. For example... look at airshows themselves... how many Fly-Ins have you been to that featured a half dozen biplane or monoplane acts and a warbird or two... just like the one that you went to a month before?

That's gotta change.

Why aren't there truly extensive outreach programs to welcome new people (who have never been to a Fly-In but have qualified themselves as truly interested in aviation) to the fold?

That's gotta change.

Why isn't there a truly customer-oriented approach to dealing with vendors who provide so much of an attraction o what's left of the Fly-In scene... the complaints about truly atrocious customer service (especially at Lakeland) are legion... and a proper customer service approach can only make vendors that much more likely to come out and make their best presentations... thereby enhancing the value of the Fly-In event.

That's gotta change.

Why isn't more attention give to what to do with family members who accompany the interested aviator -- there is a valuable issue here in which too many of those who get dragged to a Fly-In by a significant other/parent/etc. are not addressed... the same ones who will complain vehemently the next time the subject of attending a Fly-In comes up -- take care of those people and you now have some powerful allies in attracting Fly-In participants. 

That's gotta change.

There's more... so much more... and yes, we have some truly innovative and exciting ideas that we've been working on for a number of years that are not getting dusted off and made ready for prime-time.

But... what about you? As the prime audience for such events... what keeps you going? What keeps you away? What do you miss about Fly-Ins that may now be gone and forgotten? What would you like to see? What would attract you? What ideas might  you have to truly innovate a new style of aviation gathering?

Folks, we are building a truly superlative Board of Advisors to give Aero-Fest the expert and passionate guidance it deserves. Some of these folks are among the most expert and powerful names in aviation and aerospace... and I value their counsel beyond all measure... except for that one most important input -- yours.

I'd like YOUR counsel -- your ideas, your concerns, your needs, your thoughts, your experiences, your wishes... what YOU need to leave home for the better part of a week to head across the country and take up company with your fellow aviators. Most of all... what would get YOU to sit up and take notice? What would get you excited to be a part of aviation... all over again?

THAT is what we're aiming for... and nothing less.

In the coming weeks, we're going to introduce you to some new ideas -- some wild ones, in some cases -- and a group of very innovative people who have already helped craft new frontiers for aviation and aerospace... these are some of the most gifted folks I know... but since it's you they will be responsible to, and for, we want to hear from you as we come together and start turning words, dreams, desires, and ideas into a reality worth crafting.

Let's hear from you... let's hear YOUR very best ideas and dreams for an event that can help to jump-start a renewed future for all things aviation. We'll give you some of our best ideas (some of them are really wild, but very doable) in short order... but we need to, first and foremost, consider YOUR interests before we step up and out.

Nothing less will do...

Thanks...

Jim Campbell, ANN E-I-C
Green Cove Springs, Planet Earth (One Orb In From Mars)

FMI: I Want To Share My Ideas About How To Create 'Fly-In 2.0'