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#1
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Why GA is Dying
After I landed from this morning's flight, a young guy (maybe 18 or 20 years
old) came over, complimented my airplane and asked if he could take some pictures. Of course, I was flattered and told him to shoot away. He hung around and we talked for 20 minutes or more as I wiped down the airplane for bugs, cleaned the canopy, etc.. Turns out, he has his "ultralight pilot's license? (???) and is about ready to start training for his PPSEL. Nice guy. Once I took care of a few things (and the airplane cooled), I taxied over to the wash stand and gave the RV a nice bath. - Can't go to Oshkosh with a dirty airplane. The young guy from before happed to be over by the wash stand with his camera, so we had another conversation as I was washing the airplane. In the middle of this, one of the employees from the FBO came over and asked the guy to go to the FBO and present his photo ID so the FBO would know who is making pictures at the airport. I steped in and asked where this requirement came from, and the FBO guy hemmed and hawed, saying that he thought it came from the airport authority. I asked if he could show me the requirement in writing. He hemmed and hawed some more, and never could answer the question. The FBO guy said that people didn't like having others make pictures of their airplanes. (Huh??) Like, who? I asked. Again, no good response. I'll verify this with the FBO owner and the airport authority on Monday, but no way, no how, is there a "must present an ID before taking pictures" policy at my home field. Someone at the FBO didn't have anything to do and decided to play "big man on campus" for fun. So, what does this have to do with the slow death of GA? It has to do with the attitudes around some airports. Today's 20 year old picture taker will be tomorrow's private pilot who'll be paying for flying lessons, gasoline, etc. and will eventually rent aircraft or own his own airplane. That is, if he wasn't put-off by the FBO. In which case, that's one more person who had his dream squashed, and will never become a pilot. Given the sharp decline in the number of pilots in the US, it amazes me how unfriendly FBO's can be. You'd think they would be out begging for business. Naah. It must be far more productive to run off prospective customers. No wonder there are so few new pilots. FYI, my home field is just outside of Atlanta. Go one airport farther away from Atlanta in any direction and you'll get great service by very friendly people. Go to any of the airports closer to the city and they will practically beg you to leave unless your aircraft is turbine powered. I'd bet those unfriendly airports turn a lot of people from potential pilots to boat or Harley owners. By the way, the 20 year old guy did go inside the FBO and present his ID. His choice, and a nice gesture. I thought a different gesture might have been appropriate. KB |
#2
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Why GA is Dying
Nobody is forcing you to use that FBO. Frankly, I like the idea of
them keeping tabs on people hanging around planes they are responsible for. If I owned a plane, I might seek out a place like that. Kyle Boatright wrote: After I landed from this morning's flight, a young guy (maybe 18 or 20 years old) came over, complimented my airplane and asked if he could take some pictures. Of course, I was flattered and told him to shoot away. He hung around and we talked for 20 minutes or more as I wiped down the airplane for bugs, cleaned the canopy, etc.. Turns out, he has his "ultralight pilot's license? (???) and is about ready to start training for his PPSEL. Nice guy. Once I took care of a few things (and the airplane cooled), I taxied over to the wash stand and gave the RV a nice bath. - Can't go to Oshkosh with a dirty airplane. The young guy from before happed to be over by the wash stand with his camera, so we had another conversation as I was washing the airplane. In the middle of this, one of the employees from the FBO came over and asked the guy to go to the FBO and present his photo ID so the FBO would know who is making pictures at the airport. I steped in and asked where this requirement came from, and the FBO guy hemmed and hawed, saying that he thought it came from the airport authority. I asked if he could show me the requirement in writing. He hemmed and hawed some more, and never could answer the question. The FBO guy said that people didn't like having others make pictures of their airplanes. (Huh??) Like, who? I asked. Again, no good response. I'll verify this with the FBO owner and the airport authority on Monday, but no way, no how, is there a "must present an ID before taking pictures" policy at my home field. Someone at the FBO didn't have anything to do and decided to play "big man on campus" for fun. So, what does this have to do with the slow death of GA? It has to do with the attitudes around some airports. Today's 20 year old picture taker will be tomorrow's private pilot who'll be paying for flying lessons, gasoline, etc. and will eventually rent aircraft or own his own airplane. That is, if he wasn't put-off by the FBO. In which case, that's one more person who had his dream squashed, and will never become a pilot. Given the sharp decline in the number of pilots in the US, it amazes me how unfriendly FBO's can be. You'd think they would be out begging for business. Naah. It must be far more productive to run off prospective customers. No wonder there are so few new pilots. FYI, my home field is just outside of Atlanta. Go one airport farther away from Atlanta in any direction and you'll get great service by very friendly people. Go to any of the airports closer to the city and they will practically beg you to leave unless your aircraft is turbine powered. I'd bet those unfriendly airports turn a lot of people from potential pilots to boat or Harley owners. By the way, the 20 year old guy did go inside the FBO and present his ID. His choice, and a nice gesture. I thought a different gesture might have been appropriate. KB |
#3
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Why GA is Dying
"Stubby" wrote in message ... Frankly, I like the idea of them keeping tabs on people hanging around planes they are responsible for. If I owned a plane, I might seek out a place like that. Yup, our FBO requires ID for those that enter the ramp thru the FBO. I think it's a small inconvenience for the step up in security. If people know they can walk in off the street without question, that's where some trouble could start. |
#4
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Why GA is Dying
A lot of these requirements are being driven by TSA. Badges for people
employed at the airport. People with their own airplanes may soon need badges too. Also, many Airport Authorities, not the FBO, require permits for photo or video that may be taken at the airport and sold for commercial use. This does not stop the aircraft owner or CFI taking pictures of his newly solo'd student. BT "Michael Ware" wrote in message . .. "Stubby" wrote in message ... Frankly, I like the idea of them keeping tabs on people hanging around planes they are responsible for. If I owned a plane, I might seek out a place like that. Yup, our FBO requires ID for those that enter the ramp thru the FBO. I think it's a small inconvenience for the step up in security. If people know they can walk in off the street without question, that's where some trouble could start. |
#5
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Why GA is Dying
On 2006-07-23, BTIZ wrote:
A lot of these requirements are being driven by TSA. Badges for people employed at the airport. People with their own airplanes may soon need badges too. I find it amazing that if I wait 5 years, flying in Britain will be more free than flying in the United States. We USED to really look up to the US system. -- Yes, the Reply-To email address is valid. Oolite-Linux: an Elite tribute: http://oolite-linux.berlios.de |
#6
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Why GA is Dying
"BTIZ" wrote:
People with their own airplanes may soon need badges too. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinking_badges |
#7
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Why GA is Dying
On Sat, 22 Jul 2006 20:38:07 GMT, Michael Ware wrote:
Yup, our FBO requires ID for those that enter the ramp thru the FBO. I think it's a small inconvenience for the step up in security. A gain in security because you produced some form of ID? ridiculous. And producing it for some college guy working the desk at an FBO? even more ridiculous. #m -- Did you ever realize how much text fits in eighty columns? If you now consider that a signature usually consists of up to four lines, this gives you enough space to spread a tremendous amount of information with your messages. So seize this opportunity and don't waste your signature with bull**** nobody will read. |
#8
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Why GA is Dying
"Stubby" wrote in message ... Nobody is forcing you to use that FBO. Frankly, I like the idea of them keeping tabs on people hanging around planes they are responsible for. If I owned a plane, I might seek out a place like that. They are not keeping tabs on people hanging around the airport. There are 2 gates to the ramp and both are wide open all day. The gates are not monitored. Automobiles are allowed on the ramp. Bikes are allowed on the ramp. People are allowed on the ramp. No ID, no anything other than an active GA community to keep an eye on things during the day. At night, one gate is open and there is a security person around. I'm fine with that. I don't need/want big brother at the airport. I don't want to have to sign in or card in or have to meet guests at a security gate. That kind of security just isn't necessary at a GA field. The issue today was that the kid was taking pictures instead of just pointing and talking. Why you'd need to have an ID to take pictures (as opposed to walking the ramp or driving on the ramp) is unknowable. And, why someone with the FBO would fabricate a rule about having a photo ID to take pictures is bizzarre. KB |
#9
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Why GA is Dying
Years ago I was talking with Bill Sweet [Air Show America]
and he told me a story about something that happened to him. He was flying to an air show and stopped for the night and put his plane in a hanger and the operator, a friend of his let him stay over-night in the hanger with his airplane. During the night he said he heard a DC3 taxiing on the airport and looked to see what was going on. He then went back to sleep. The next morning there were more than a dozen airplanes sitting on the ramp, firewall forward missing and the avionics were all taken. Later the DC3 was caught and they had rigged a canvas and chain hoist on a rail out the door. They'd taxi near a Bonanza or C210 and if the couldn't steal the airplane, they'd use power saws or cutting torches to remove the parts they wanted. Drug smugglers, plain thieves, and terrorists all want your airplane. But we need to still be able to have airport kids, lookers, and future students feel welcome.The major airports have bigger budgets and more threats. Should we all carry a dozen official government ID cards? I hope not. But a digital camera [or Polaroid] can take a picture of the people who are allowed on the ramp. It is just security, everybody on the ramp needs to be escorted or instructed in safety around airplanes, prop/jet blast, danger zones for props and rotors, nothing will get your airport closed faster than a headline, Toddler Killed by Private Plane's Propeller. -- James H. Macklin ATP,CFI,A&P "Kyle Boatright" wrote in message . .. | | "Stubby" wrote in message | ... | Nobody is forcing you to use that FBO. Frankly, I like the idea of them | keeping tabs on people hanging around planes they are responsible for. If | I owned a plane, I might seek out a place like that. | | | They are not keeping tabs on people hanging around the airport. There are 2 | gates to the ramp and both are wide open all day. The gates are not | monitored. Automobiles are allowed on the ramp. Bikes are allowed on the | ramp. People are allowed on the ramp. No ID, no anything other than an | active GA community to keep an eye on things during the day. At night, one | gate is open and there is a security person around. | | I'm fine with that. I don't need/want big brother at the airport. I don't | want to have to sign in or card in or have to meet guests at a security | gate. That kind of security just isn't necessary at a GA field. | | The issue today was that the kid was taking pictures instead of just | pointing and talking. Why you'd need to have an ID to take pictures (as | opposed to walking the ramp or driving on the ramp) is unknowable. And, why | someone with the FBO would fabricate a rule about having a photo ID to take | pictures is bizzarre. | | KB | | | | | |
#10
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Why GA is Dying
Jim Macklin wrote: Years ago I was talking with Bill Sweet [Air Show America] and he told me a story about something that happened to him. He was flying to an air show and stopped for the night and put his plane in a hanger and the operator, a friend of his let him stay over-night in the hanger with his airplane. During the night he said he heard a DC3 taxiing on the airport and looked to see what was going on. He then went back to sleep. The next morning there were more than a dozen airplanes sitting on the ramp, firewall forward missing and the avionics were all taken. Later the DC3 was caught and they had rigged a canvas and chain hoist on a rail out the door. They'd taxi near a Bonanza or C210 and if the couldn't steal the airplane, they'd use power saws or cutting torches to remove the parts they wanted. Drug smugglers, plain thieves, and terrorists all want your airplane. But we need to still be able to have airport kids, lookers, and future students feel welcome.The major airports have bigger budgets and more threats. Should we all carry a dozen official government ID cards? I hope not. But a digital camera [or Polaroid] can take a picture of the people who are allowed on the ramp. It is just security, everybody on the ramp needs to be escorted or instructed in safety around airplanes, prop/jet blast, danger zones for props and rotors, nothing will get your airport closed faster than a headline, Toddler Killed by Private Plane's Propeller. -- James H. Macklin ATP,CFI,A&P I visited a friend (in New England) at a large county (but uncontroled) airport, with a small regular commuter airline, and parked my plane on the ramp. During the visit he gave me one of his old high powered deer rifles as a present. When I went back to the plane I walked right through the terminal with it and out to my plane. Started up and left. No one gave me a second look. I laughed about it most of the way home. Jim |
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