Comments on: All We Want Is To Be Left Alone – But Congress Won’t Give Us That Choice

By: Mike Torma

Mike Torma — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:47:40 +0000

I’m one of the many “Joe Pilots” out there. And I have to side with Jim on the numbers data question, though I believe it would actually be better for GA if “Joes” are not in the majority.

I do belong to AOPA, and I fly with the Civil Air Patrol some times, but I don’t use a plane for business. In fact, woefully, I’m one of the increasing number of GA pilots who don’t even own one. Considering both the economy and my current age, I’m unlikely to, either.

I find myself just as disenfranchised on the GA issues as on health care. Well meaning and as active on our behalf as they are, I don’t think AOPA, NBAA, et al, make a serious difference once the politicians and the bureaucrats get very far down a particular path— for reasons far too lengthy for a blog.

The organizations can help if they watch dog every aviation bill in both houses of Congress, e-mail all their members for write -ins on specific bills, and do likewise for FAA proposals as they are unveiled. Then it does take a committed populous, the rest of us, to write, call and hold to account the elected officials, both for their decisions, and for what they allow the administration of the FAA to carry forward. Jefferson had it right when he said, “No more good should be attempted than the people can bear.”

By: Ha (Vietnamese name, meaning: River), nickname: Angus

Ha (Vietnamese name, meaning: River), nickname: Angus — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:13:57 +0000

I have the invitation from John and Martha King/ Mr and Mrs King
thank you for the invitation.

Aviation = our future; travel, tourism, aviation are our freedom

By: Bill Bingham

Bill Bingham — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 20:08:24 +0000

Amen to Mark Smith’s comment. How about the 747 that serves as Air Force One when the president is aboard flying low over Manhattan for a “photo-op” terrorizing the citizens in the process? Buildings were evacuated and businesses shut down. What if that had been Joe the GA pilot in his C-172? Joe would probably serving prison time.

By: jim

jim — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 01:17:27 +0000

John & Martha,
Do you have a reference to support the opening phrase of your essay, “Most operators of general aviation airplanes use their planes for business…” ? It may be true that most of the flight hours are business-related, but I am willing to bet that most *operators* are flying for personal interest or on occasional personal missions (family to the beach, daughter to college, ski trip, etc). Joe Pilot may have a Cherokee that sits in the tie-down for three weeks while you log fifty hours; but I believe there are ten of Joe for every John King. I am afraid the NBAA has little to offer Joe.
More significantly, Joe is not tuned in to all the news feeds from AOPA, NBAA, EAA and so forth; Joe (or Jane) may not learn about the 12.5 rule or the manifest requirement until that Cherokee or Bonanza gets on the way to Florida from Lower Somewhere. Rather than preach to the choir, and tell the members of NBAA, especially the faithful who attend conventions, that they need to write to Congress, more importantly we need to find a means of reaching all the thousands who belong to no alphabet organization, and get THEM to write.

How can the word get out to – not just the business operator – but the personal operator, the pilot who flies 40-50 hours a year, on hamburger runs or trips to visit grandma? What will energize these pilots to storm the halls of congress and demand that we be treated like full citizens, with as much right to travel as the folks who rent Ryder trucks or Avis SUV’s? Not NBAA, I venture; but who? How?

By: joe grimes

joe grimes — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 23:28:31 +0000

Regarding Mark Smith’s comment: You sound surprized that the politicians are hypocritical. This administrration and the democrats in general are elitist. No one by them, and maybe hollywood, is worthy of such assets as airplanes.

By: Steve Crowley

Steve Crowley — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:32:10 +0000

As an active pilot since 1986 (I soloed in 1970) using aviation in my smaller business allowed me to grow and create jobs.
Small business has always been the nation’s jobmaker, and business aviation contributes to higher employment mightily.

By the way, I have been a major fan and customer of John and Martha King for 25 years. They helped me to secure my higher ratings, and to stay current, sharp and to stay alive. Keep up the great work NBAA and King Schools too!

By: Mark W. Smith

Mark W. Smith — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 16:55:21 +0000

I suggest you might want to make a comparison between business aviation and the use that the Administration is using of their aviation assets. It seems as though the President can’t get through a single week without using AF-1, Marine One and all of the aircraft that support his movements. Ms. Pelosi can’t get by a week without using the assets of the 89th MAW at Andrews, and numerous Congressional junkets use transportation provided by the Air Force. Sort of hypocritical of our lawmakers to criticize free enterprise for using the same type of assets that the government uses daily. Whats more is that we pay for our government officials travel whereas companys and private individuals who use general aviation pay for it themselves. If they want to ground us, they need to look at themselves first.

By: ed

ed — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 15:47:14 +0000

they see us as having luxuries that they can’t have. so they want us to pay. put some effort into the idea that this is just another job like everybody elses. much less dangerous than a car!!!!! even though our mistakes make headlines!!! perhaps 911 has given us a bad association.

By: Bob Reid

Bob Reid — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 22:21:53 +0000

Where was the NBAA when we asked them to stop the International registry? now if you want to buy or sell a turboprop or helicopter you have to spend an extra couple thousand dollars in Ireland. It’s a load of crap..but it was a first step recognized by many in the GA community. It all fell on deaf ears..now we are in more trouble and they are waking up? Don’t worry, they will make some kind of a deal with Washington that involves airplane owners and pilots paying some kind of a tax or fee approved by the NBAA .

Bob Reid

By: Warren Oliver

Warren Oliver — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 21:38:36 +0000

Right ON! I just got back from picketing downtown the way Congress and the President are trying to hogtie our freedoms!