All Hail The Aero-Heroes of 2010!

Final Compilations by ANN Editor-In-Chief/Trouble-Maker, Jim Campbell

It is both the most "fun," and most difficult, task facing the ANN staff at the end of every year -- determining who, or what, did the most to promote the cause of aviation in the past 365 days... while also chastising those people or entities that did all they could to undermine the many successes the aviation/aerospace community has managed to accomplish.
 
Thankfully, 2010 was a year in which we saw the best and brightest among us step forward and work tirelessly on behalf of us all. No doubt about it... the challenges we faced in 2010 were numerous, and ongoing... so was the quality of expertise and passion brought to our defense by those who heroically demonstrated to the world the very best side of aviation... via their deeds, words and actions.
 
It is ANN's honor to recognize Ten persons/organizations or groups that qualify as our Aero-Heroes for 2010...  in something of an informal order -- Saving the 'best' for last. Let us know what you think of our selections... whom YOU would have liked be included or omitted from such a list. In the meantime, we thank the folks who made this year's list. Thank you, folks... we really needed you this year, and you didn't let us down.

ANN will list our Top Ten choices over the next few day's, but in order to kick off the New Year right, let's enjoy another selection from our Heroes List for 2010...

Aero-Heroes: Aero-Activists and Whistleblowers

A well-worn phrase basically states that the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing... while expecting a different result. If that's the case, the aviation world has gone 'round the bend and is certifiably bonkers. For decades the decline of aviation, and the aviation world, has been bemoaned by one and all... but all the so-called solutions look like those that have been employed for years and years.

BUT... there ARE people who are trying to shake things up (yeah, besides us)... the activists that are dedicated to trying new and different approaches to age old problems and the whistleblowers that are dedicated to speaking truth to power... even when those in power do all they can to shut them the hell up. Our aero-future may very well be in their hands. As a matter of fact; I'm beginning to strongly suspect that this is, indeed, the case.

From the amazing folks of SAFE (everyone of whom seems to be amazing in their own right), who are trying to rebuild the credibility and mission of flight instruction to the magnificent and many volunteer flying organizations that help vets, the sick and even little critters get form point A to Point B, the Aero-Activists of aviation are gifted, caring, people who need to be seen and heard far more often... and seen and heard FROM as well.

Rich Davidson

There are so many amazing Aero-Activists out there... some of who are writing some amazing blogs (look at the work of Max Trescott. Linda Meeks, Bob Miller, Rich Davidson, and so many others -- these folks ROCK!) and helping aviation grow in so many ways.

Linda Meeks

Max Trescott

We need them to feel empowered to do more, to help rebuild aviation and to keep employing aviation as a partner with so many good things. I'm particularly jazzed at the many 'behind the scenes' efforts made by one of ANN's own friends and Aero-Activists, Maxine Scheer... who while raising her kids and running her business, finds time to help aviators and aviation business improve their lot. It's little wonder that we've drafted Max and a few others in a scheme we've dreamed up that may eventually come to REALLY shake up aviation... and in the best of all possible ways. If it works, it will be because of people like Max.

Maxine Scheer

And then there are the  whistleblowers... the folks who take some real risks, here and there, to make sure that wrong things are exposed and put in the limelight so that, somehow all these wrongs might somehow be made right. Look at the case of flyers like Ed Jeszka and Ray Ledbetter who faced the FAA's wrath for trying to straighten out FAA misdirections in the Darby Aviation/Platinum debacle... they not only tried to speak truth to power...they suffered an FAA "hit" over it... losing their tickets and having their lives nearly ruined (and Ray's case, it was... the matter was never solved before his untimely death a few weeks ago). Look at the case of former FAA Lawyer David Pardo... who saw things that weren't quite right inside FAA HQ... and kept pursuing fixes until it cost him his job.

David Pardo

While he and I have chatted a lot about our political differences, I am impressed with his convictions and passion for seeking the right path... and the fact that he's still fighting to see the FAA recognize its errors. THIS, folks, is a whistleblower. And mind you, there are so many (and yes, I've been proud to count myself among them, at times) others that come to mind... all willing to take on the ridicule, risks, and derision that comes from trying to make the power brokers see the truth... and taking the inevitable flak for such a pursuit. It ain't easy... but this is how real change occurs... and this is how aviation might somehow be saved from its many foes (including its own brand of institutional insanity). Mark my words.

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