USA Today is hurting us!

[Mike]

What do you guys think of this article?
It's a great response to what USA Today wrote....

9-28-09

Business aviation fuels growth

USA TODAY's article "Little-used airports cost taxpayers big money" has done an injustice to general-aviation businesses that continue to provide hope for the economic well-being of this nation (Cover story, News, Sept. 17).

Why not look at the positive impact business aviation has in the United States?

•Business aviation contributes $150 billion to U.S. economic output and employs more than 1.2 million people.

•The flights made by business airplanes require support. Schedulers, dispatchers, maintenance technicians, pilots, training professionals and airport employees are just a few of the many support professions involved in business aviation.

•Although some 500 airports have limited commercial airline service, almost all airline flights go from only 70 major hubs. For the myriad communities not serviced by these hubs, there is no way to get there without business aviation.

A 2006 study conducted by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association stated, "General aviation is an important element of economic growth in part because it fulfills transportation needs which can not otherwise be met. Only about 350 U.S. communities have scheduled air service; for the remainder, GA is the only option for the movement of persons or cargo by air. Moreover, GA provides specialized air services, such as air ambulance and traffic patrol, to communities that do have scheduled air service."

Without proper and well-maintained airports, these services would be limited at best.

Whether it is fixed-based operators, charter services, fuel suppliers, aircraft maintenance, emergency services, recreational flying or flight training providers, general aviation contributes to the economic development of communities throughout America. Their tax dollars (property tax, sales tax, employment tax) are sustainable revenue sources.

Your one-sided view, from the vantage point of government spending, does not tell the whole story. General aviation has an immeasurable impact on the lives of people, communities and the nation.

Andy Priester,president

Illinois Aviation Trades Association
Springfield, Ill.

[TheSoccerMom]

It's always good to see the stats that support GA, and all of aviation.  So many people never see the many different sides of aviation -- so many people think "aviation" = the airlines.

With the slow fire season, we heard (over and over!) the same refrain wherever we went this summer -- the FBOs were dying to sell fuel, the hotels were grateful beyond belief to hold blocks of 12-20 rooms for us, and even wait help in restaurants were happy to see a big group walk in....  and that's just one small group's effect on a town's economy. 

I wish more people knew how much small airports have to offer their area, especially in rural parts of the country.  Our local Chapter of the 99s (International Women Pilots group) just airmarked (repainted) a small local airport.  It took 12 of us half a day, and that was with all the markings having been laid out ahead of time by two industrious women engineers (also pilots) in our group.  It was a big job, and is all done on a volunteer basis, to help small airports and GA thrive.  The runway looks great, and this morning was the big reopening.

It also happens to be one we use every spring for the jumpers' training, so it was fun to be able to help out with the airmarking.

Aviation offers a lot to all of us!

 

[Lt.Fubar]

Someone should send them also a copy of "One Six Right".

Can't understand all the hate towards airports, especially GA ones. Although there are no strictly GA airports in Poland, all tarmac/concrete runways are used by commercial airlines primely - GAs are guests there. True GA airports are usually grass strips, used by helicopters, light aircrafts and gliders. So they have it easier. The military and airlines lawyers on the other hand work 24/7

There is one specially hated airstrip here - Krzesiny AB, military operated, single runway airbase located near Poznan city. The base was there since 1950s, operated jets almost from day one, first MiG-15s, 17s, and 21 until 2003. There was 2 years of relative quietness, as the base was modernized, and only aircrafts were training TS-11s and cargo turboprops... then the brand new F-16 came, and all hell broke loose. The Mayor of Poznan got complains from people who bought property there between 2003 and 2005 when the base was barely operational... now there are training flights constantly. So the Mayor ordered noise measurement, and then declared a special zone around the airbase, where no new buildings could be made, and everything else that was already there, lost in value dramatically.... Of course most people living there blame the Air Force, who were there for the last half of century.

[croatian judge]

Someone should send them also a copy of "One Six Right".

I would suggest exactly the same thing, such a great movie.

People just don't understand the importance of airports in the community. Sure there may bit a little bit of excess in some cases but what doesn't?

[Mike]

"One Six Right" is such a great movie. Should we find a way to promote it more through Chicken Wings?!
I should see if we can sell it in our shop for a good price, huh?!

[Mike]

Speaking of "One Six Right"

recognize those two girls?

(for some reason this is the picture you get when you google "mike strasser" under google images.....)

[Jean Loup]

Speaking of "One Six Right"

recognize those two girls?

(for some reason this is the picture you get when you google "mike strasser" under google images.....)

Must be one of those "misterious coincidences"...