small FBO's

[Dan]

This is just my perspective on some of the problems (or should I say, missed oportunities) for enhancing the interest in general aviation. I work as a mechainic in G.A. and I am not business genius, but some things just dont make sence to me. First, If I was running an FBO it would seem logical to me to advritise my business, by means of radio or t.v. tell people about the flying school availible, the rental planes, have 15$ intorductory flights to get people interested, more fly-in breakfasts, and overall - just encourage people to get in their car, and drive out to the airport to look around, I felt very uneasy about being at the airport when I was just starting out because I didnt even know if i was allowed in the termial building. Put up a VISITORS WELCOME sign at the fron entrance to let people know its THEIR airport as much as anyones. Most people dont even know THEY are paying for the runway with thier tax dollars!
If you want to keep your kids off drugs, get thier butts out of the house, put them in the car and take them places they have NEVER been, so they can see what life has to offer.
My dad did this, by getting me involved in Civil Air Patrol at a young age, this single act ignited my immagination to the possibilities that life had to offer. Now im not pushing CAP, just taking the kids to the airport once a week for ten minutes will do. Another problem, Ive seen FBO's that were not supposed to tun a profit, THATS RIGHT! The owner made sure of it. CAN YOU SAY TAX WRITEOFF?? this sure aint gonna do general aviaition in that town any good billy bob!! The owner fighting against fly-in breakfasts because the club wants to use his maintenence hangar for a day to put the exhibits and food on display. Its things like this that make me sick. I dont give a crap what kind of rental aircraft are availible, If its got wings, I'll fly it! Its the bigger problems that bother me.
Society in general feels intimidated by airports they live right next to.

[wxwatcher]

Dan,

Actually, it's been my ex[erience that most FBO's and airports try to stay low profile for one major reason, self-preservation. The quickest way to stir up anti-airport/anti-noise sentiment is to becopme a successful G.A. airport. Witness the number of anti-airport groups that appear any time someone even hints at airport improvements or expansion.

The interesting fact is that most airports predate the surrounding development, but local government officials did nothing to stop the encroachment into noise critical areas like approach and departure paths. I've seen a zoneing commission approve a high density housing development directly under the ILS approach path and one mile from the runway threashhold without any mention of the airport. Three years later, they were surprised when the airport noise complaints started coming in. Yet, they turned around and approved another housing development directly under the downwind leg to the same runway!!

In another location, the local real estate people got together and petitioned the county assesor to reappraise the local airport property at "best use" rates, high density apartment complexes. That effectively increased the property tax on the airport by 1000% and the owner was forced to declare backruptcy. Guess who bought the airport and what happened to it. Right, the realestate guys and it's now nothing but apartments and high density housing. This happens every day.

Now, there's even talk of requiring G/A aircraft to pass a smog test and have mufflers and catalitic converters to "cut down on the air and noise polution" around G/A airports.

With all this anti-airport sentiment out there, most FBO's don't want to draw attention to themselves. That just makes them targets for the local crazies and their anti-airport lawsiuts.

Worst case I've seen.. Reade Hillview Airport in San Jose. The airport has been there for over 60 years. Some smart developer decided the area across the street directly under the extended runway centerline would be a great place for a shopping mall. But instead of putting the parking lot under the approach path, he but the mall itself there. Within two months of the grand opening, an aircraft on emergency approach "bounced" off the roof of the mall. The store owners and the developer immediately filed suit to have the airport shut down because of the "safety hazard" to the shoppers. They never even considered the safety hazard to the pilots using the airport in their development plans. While the airport won that round, there's an ongoing campaign by local store owners and home owners to eliminate this "threat to their personal safety."

Like a prison, noone wants an airport in their neighborhood. Too bad if the airport was there first.

Jerry

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Comments and opinions are my own and do not reflect those of my employer.

[Dan]

I hope my kids dont grow up to be lawyers.
I'll be disappointed.

These views are of my own and probably reflect those of most everyone else.