Somehow a version of my "Gloom" post (which I also posted on the
Cherokee Pilots Association's "Cherokee Chat") ended up in Phil
Boyer's in-box.

AOPA President Boyer apparently questioned Piper's management about
the status of Piper's support (or reported lack thereof) of our
"ancient" aircraft, prompting the following statement from Mark S.
Miller, Chief Corporate Spokesperson of Piper Aircraft, Inc.:

"Contrary to rumors, inaccurate representations and misinterpretations
in respect to Piper Aircraft's position on parts availability, Piper
has not and will not set a cutoff date for spare parts availability.
Published reports that Piper President & CEO Jim Bass announced such a
cutoff are unfounded and untrue. Piper maintains a total of more than
15,000 active spare parts and manages a total of approximately 25,000
spare parts. Our goal is to try and support all certified models that
we have produced in our 70-year history whenever possible."

Ah, spin control. Some day I want to have a "Chief Corporate
Spokesperson" in my company who will clarify and sanitize all the
stupid things *I* say... :-)

Seriously, however, I think the clamor (especially amongst members of
the Cherokee Pilots Association) over Piper CEO Bass's speech at last
weekend's CPA fly-in is truly an example of a victory for us "little
guys".

In my opinion, Mr. Bass was either floating a trial balloon idea about
cutting off support for old, out-of-production aircraft, or he just
got carried away during his speech and injected his own personal
opinions. Either way, this reaction -- sudden, vociferous, succinct,
loud, and unanimous -- from the pilot community has effectively and
surely shot it down.

Suddenly, there is less to be gloomy about!

:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"