'09 Promises To Be An Amazing, If Complex, Year
…And so 2009 is
slightly over a month old and I have but one primary thought at a
little past four in the morning, the end of another long
day… where the hell did it go?
While the mass of 2008 flew by like an SR-71 overflying a
missile battery, the '09 pace seems to be continuing unabated as
this new year brings up additional challenges and opportunities
with a frequency that is truly breathtaking. And strangely
enough, that's become the way that I like it. Each opportunity (of
course) is welcome, but I have come to find that each extra
challenge can become an opportunity hiding beneath the guise of
'yet another problem…' and that's the way that I've learned
to survive through the best and worst that our economies have
offered over a number of decades.
This latest mess, though, seems to be a mite more challenging
than most since the media seems determined to paint it as Financial
Armageddon while various government officials want to claim credit
for a future recovery that seems quite a ways off while ignoring
all that they did to get us here.
So be it… We have our own ideas about how to deal with
this mess. Our core philosophy revolves around our
being aggressive, innovative and purposeful in the upgrade of
our business model and overtly and publicly demonstrative in our
support for the industry we work in. If there is no good news to be
found about aviation in the general media, it's up to us to find
it, and expound upon it where possible (while making sure we do not
ignore true issues and concerns of less than positive
consequence).
As always… there are copious examples we can set and
things that we can do to not only be better aero-citizens, if you
will, but to coach others to do the same. And we will.
Most important, we
feel, is the fact that this is not a time to be timid. It is a time
to be aggressive and inventive and to work harder than ever
before… both in terms of what we offer you as well how we
craft the means with which we do it.
While others are hiding their heads in the sand, we've decided
its time to storm the beach.
So… in the coming weeks and months, you'll hear more
about the next iterations of ANN… a quantity/quality that
has never remained static for long and has been undertaken as
aggressively and studiously as we know how… and while we've
been incredibly dedicated to maintaining a leadership position in
aviation/aerospace news and information services, we're about to
raise the bar in ways that are intimidating as hell....
even for us.
No kidding… you ain't seen nothing yet.
Regardless of how things look out there, we have great faith in
the ability of aviators, and the aviation industry, to survive. And
with that faith, comes a responsibility to act on it... to invest
in all things aviation and to put our money where our mouthpiece
is. As a company, we are sick and tired of having to patronize
industries and companies that not only care not a whit for our
well-being or for serving us with a hint of professionalism... but
are often at odds with our safety and well-being... personally and
professionally. I'm tired of spending money with the airlines when
I can spend it on the heart and soul of aviation... the FBOs, the
airports, the manufacturers, the Avionics shops, the Maintenance
facilities, the A&P/AIs -- ands so many others.
These are people that I care about, these are
folks that have given me a great life through their faith in and
patronage of ANN's business endeavors and so these are the folks
that deserve all my faith and support in whatever manner I can
manage.
That said, we're pleased to announce that ANN and Aero-TV
have purchased a Technologically Advanced Aircraft as 2008
came to a close. It was the biggest single purchase (and most
terrifying) I have ever undertaken, and albeit somewhat
difficult to accomplish on a number of levels, I'm convinced
that we did the right thing for our business interests, our
industry, and our collective future. For the moment, it does not
matter which one we bought and why (we'll have much more to say
about that shortly), as any number of really fine aircraft could
have fit many of our missions in a number of ways, but it is that
fact (that so many of this industry's offering are so amazingly
talented and capable) that speaks so well for our industry's
future… despite the mess the world around us keeps
proclaiming to one and all.
ANN and Aero-TV spends upward of $100K a year on undertaking our
unparalleled special event coverage, with travel and related
expense/issues… much of that money, heretofore, has gone to
airlines and other businesses that practiced abysmally bad customer
service, rude behavior and hadn't a care in the world for their
effect on our time-critical missions. ANN's massive
expenditures for this coverage will do nothing but grow in the
future, and so it behooves us to not only be more cost-effective
but use those bucks to make an investment in those businesses and
industries that actually have value to us. Hence, a change in
mission planning and the addition of a very capable GA
platform.
Our airplane purchase means a lot to us, personally and
professionally… and is more than just a great tool with
which we expect to wage some aggressively competitive business
missions…
As previously noted, it is a heart-felt declaration of faith in
this industry and its ability to change the nation -- if not
the whole world (no matter what the Congress critters say about
it). This purchase is also a conduit for some messages we wish
to impart about/to aviation and the world around it. This airplane
gives us greater versatility to do more with our travel
expenditures than ever before, it offers the us the ability to
change schedules and priorities based on OUR interests (and no
others), and it allows us to use our dollars where we want
to… on aviation related businesses worthy of our investment
and patronage. Instead of "wasting" money elsewhere, our money will
be directed (Primarily) at the FBOs, airports, aero-vendors,
avionics/maintenance shops and aero-businesses that are owned by
our brothers and sisters in flight -- the same entities providing
treasured (and imperiled) jobs for aviation professionals all over
the world. We look forward to meeting them all - the airports, FBOs
and aviation businesses of this nation -- finding out what they're
dealing with, lauding those that are doing their jobs well (and
chiding those that don't), and telling the many stories that are
sure to be seen and heard in the years to come.
This bird will be
flown often and aggressively… within reason… and will
serve as a focal point for judging how well the aviation industry
is serving its constituency. We'll tell it all to you… the
good and the bad (as always), so those who are deserving of praise,
get it -- and those who need improvement will get the critique they
need to be worthy of serving us all. It will also be a
portal… serving as a flying validation of the power of GA,
allowing us to not only tell these stories about how GA keeps
America moving, but using our own example as ample testimony that
GA is a valid, even critical, business tool that needs to be
treasured and protected by those who would otherwise ignore it or
penalize it for a few cheap headlines or a temporary advantage.
So… here we go. Yet another new mission and a new
capability for aviation's most comprehensive news and information
service -- and a further demonstration of our faith in the innate
power of the GA world to help us do business, on our terms, and
with greater versatility, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness
than ever before.
I took delivery of the new bird a few days ago, full of
excitement at the capability it would afford us and more than a
little afraid of the immense investment we'd taken on… but
as I think about all that this industry means to me -- and to so
many others… and of all that it does each and every day to
keep this country free and mobile, I realize that this was a solid
investment, possibly the best one I've ever made outside of ANN
itself… because we're investing in GA, in aviation business,
and in the unique breed of people that populate the most amazing
culture I know… the aviation world.
To the FBOs, airports, service centers, aero-vendors,
maintenance and avionics shops and all other aviation businesses
the world over… we just bet BIG bucks that you are
worth the biggest investment we've ever made… and we aren't
the slightest bit worried that we wasted our money…. After
working with you all for several decades, I am assured in my deep
and abiding faith that you are all worth it.
So… Keep an eye out for ANN's flagship -- coming soon to
an airfield near you…
Blue Skies,
Jim Campbell, ANN E-I-C
ANN HQ, Planet Earth
ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.13.24)
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