A corporate jet lands...and it's appearance on approach has a certain mystique, a certain touch. There is nothing like a jet to fly around in, and that is agreed all around.
But we have a problem. A big problem.
Especially after the big debacle with the CEOs of the big three automotive companies going to Washington, DC, the corporate jet has acquired a negative view. Fat cat CEOs fly around in their jets, heading off to their rounds of golf, or to a luxurious vacation spot with their family while their employees toil away in their work...well, you get the picture.
Now, the Los Angeles City Council wants to close six flight schools in Santa Monica, California. No matter how powerful the city council may be, no city can interfere with something that is federally controlled.
Aviation's image has been tarnished by fat cat guys who love to show off what they have. There isn't anything wrong with that...I mean, if I had a Ferrari, I would show it off too, but that doesn't vilify car owners nationwide.
But I know that cars are one thing...planes are another.
The thing is this: image. Airplanes have a mystique. And, when a regular person hears the word "airplane", they will imagine an airliner; an environmentalist will imagine a horribly large carbon footprint left by a Gulfstream V; and a true aviator will imagine a Piper Cub or a Stearman or something historic. The latter needs to stand out more.
This is where image must change. The aviation community needs to change this.
Look at the example of the state of Kansas. The governor of the state of Kansas held a summit with aviation's heavy hitters to see where things can improve economically. That's a start.
But collectively, things need to change. I cannot emphasize this more. We have such a horrible fight ahead of us...between image and blunders, we have the War on Santa Monica, in which the Friends of Santa Monica Airport (FOSMO) are leading the charge in saving the airport.
I don't know if we really see how dangerous a position we are in with Santa Monica Airport. Although the Los Angeles City Council doesn't really have a legal defense, that does not stop their wanton desires to hinder aviation's progress. Others will want to follow their lead. This has to stop. I cannot emphasize this more: THIS HAS TO STOP!!! This situation in SMO is something all anti-airport activists, politicians and NIMBYs with political agendas have their eyes on. Let's not forget that LA mayor Antonio Villaraigosa cancelled that huge grant to Los Angeles World Airports as one of the first actions in his term...to endear voters. And now even LAWA is in hot water with satisfaction ratings in Van Nuys Airport. Things need to improve.
So this is my humble question to the movers and shakers in my beloved industry. What do we do now?
What do we do now?
