ANN Wants Your Opinion

By ANN Associate Editor Mark Sletten

I love to fly. Everything about my life has revolved around flying. From growing up as an Air Force brat, serving my own 20-year stint, owning an airplane for the last 7 years and building one right now, my life is about flying, and that's the main reason 9/11 was such a blow to me. Before I go further, let me say 9/11 was a horrible incident, especially for those that lost loved ones as a direct result of the attacks. I can't even begin to speak for the families and friends of the victims…

But I think I have an idea of how others involved in aviation feel. If you're like me, 9/11 hit hard, at the very heart of your soul. I think, mainly, because an activity - flying - that is so beautiful, brings so much joy into our lives and has been used for so many good things was twisted to the sick service of a few madmen on a lovely fall morning. In fact, one couldn't have asked for a better morning for a quick trip around the local airfield to see if the foliage was turning - it still twists my guts to think about it.

And then we all were grounded. Some of us longer than others, but grounding for even a day is a punishment. I understood the need for the grounding. Indeed, I didn't really have a pressing need to fly during that period. Pleasure flying, after all, can rarely be considered a necessary - unless you live to fly…

This is the greatest country in the world if you like to fly. Bureaucracy, high fuel costs, small countries and borders, these are just a few of the issues pilots in other countries deal with on a constant basis. It's not that we don't have the same problems, but we certainly don't have them to the degree other do. Flying is still viable in this country, and with the advent of the sport pilot/aircraft rules, it's more accessible than ever. I love this country!

But one of the things I've been thinking about lately is how much things have changed since 9/11. TFR's, Airport Watch programs, new security procedures for commercial air travel, etc.; it's a different world for aviation since 9/11.

Terrorism is defined by the US Department of Defense as "the unlawful use of -- or threatened use of -- force or violence against individuals or property to coerce or intimidate governments or societies, often to achieve political, religious, or ideological objectives." I wonder if I'm the only one that worries the terrorists might have succeeded.

If you've thought about this, ANN wants to hear from you. Even if you haven't thought about it before now, take a moment to think about how flying has changed for you since 9/11, and send us an email. We'll compile your thoughts and let you know how everyone else feels about it.

FMI: Tell ANN How 9/11 Changed Aviation For You