Just shy of a year ago I launched on a new endeavor. It was an exciting task. It was unique. It was a bit daunting, too.
In all the world there was only one other person doing what I was doing on a full-time basis, and she was nearly 3,000 miles away. Kay Sundaram took the territory known as Southern California, while I staked my claim to a massive sandbar commonly referred to as Florida. Our job was to begin the process of turning around the dwindling numbers of pilots and aviation enthusiasts in the good old U.S.A.
We are the Ambassadors. Our position was designed by the good people at the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) to provide a go-to person for general aviators and wanna-be general aviators who are hoping to find a better way.
Whether they are trying to get back into the cockpit after a long absence, or to cut the cost of flying down to size, we have been charged with the amazingly exciting responsibility of providing the tools to make it happen. In effect, we are consultants our clients don’t pay. The bill is already covered.
And just to be clear on this one most important point: The Ambassadors and the associated You Can Fly program are not funded from AOPA membership dues. Our work is funded by an astoundingly generous, anonymous donor whose goal is in line with our own. We’re trying to make a difference.
Now, nearly a year after starting out on this quest, I can say with great pride that Kay and I are indeed making a difference. We have found success. Big, bushel baskets of success, as a matter of fact.
We’ve been able to validate the theory and make impressive inroads. But that’s not complete success, mind you. Two people aren’t going to change the landscape entirely in a single year. But there are certainly a considerable number of people flying this year that weren’t flying last year.
And there is a growing acceptance — even excitement — over the potential that flying clubs offer Jane and Joe Pilot. Maybe most important of all, there is now a proven method of increasing the number of active pilots.
If you’re looking out the FBO window this fine morning, sipping a cup of less than gourmet coffee, as a persistent low layer of frozen stratus keep you on the ground, perhaps it will warm your heart to know things are finally moving in the right direction. For the first time ever, there are a handful of people completely devoted to the task of providing opportunity, insight, guidance, and real hope to those who want to fly, or fly more often. It’s working.
Now you’ll notice I originally said there were two people doing what I do. And that’s true. Or at least it was true.
Kay Sundaram and I were tasked with blazing a trail, but we weren’t out on the wide open prairie all by our lonesome. There is a whole team of professionals working behind the scenes at AOPA headquarters in Frederick, Maryland, to make our work day more productive and our ability to truly help others more effective.
Whether we’re engaged in putting on a Rusty Pilot seminar, or wrangling together a group of folks who are thinking about the benefits of creating a flying club, or even if we’re motoring around in a bright yellow and black Reimagined Cessna 152, providing tangible proof that affordable flying does exist – we’ve got a tag-team of creative geniuses behind us that can help even a tap dancing chimpanzee like myself perform like a polished professional.
It’s been said that success breeds success. That’s certainly true of this endeavor. Kay and I have been joined on a part-time basis by Sean Collins, a fine, upstanding resident of Maine who is taking the tools of the You Can Fly initiative to the people of New England. In the coming weeks our team will be joined by Pat Brown of Texas, who will expand the program’s territory to include a substantial portion of the Lone Star State.
I like this trend.
So, what have we gotten for our efforts to this point? Nine new flying clubs are a good start. Each one represents not only a cluster of pilots who can now fly more inexpensively and enjoy greater social satisfaction for their time spent at the airport, but also an entity that can grow and strengthen the opportunities for others to participate.
We’ve been fortunate enough to meet a spectacular number of Rusty Pilots who are finding their way back to the cockpit after years, sometimes decades away from the general aviation environment. Well over 1,000 men and women are now active, current pilots thanks to the efforts of the You Can Fly initiative, and the partnering FBOs, flight schools, flying clubs, and others who work with us to make sure these folks get through the ground portion of their flight review, and into the pilot’s seat in order to complete the flight portion.
The numbers are good, but this is just a start. Eleven months in we’re not just recording successes, we’re also following up on opportunities we didn’t even know existed a year ago – and the people we’re interacting with are finding resources and assistance they didn’t know was available to them. We’re developing symbiotic relationships that continue to expand our reach and strengthen our resolve with each passing day.
The tide is turning. I can’t even begin to tell you how pleased I am to have the pleasure of playing a role in that process.
In 2016 I hope you’ll consider jumping on this wagon train and being a part of what we’re doing — whether you want to host a Rusty Pilot presentation, offer flight training to Rusty Pilots or entry level students, or perhaps you’d like to become one of the growing number of people who are exploring the possibility of joining or founding a flying club. Whatever your wish, I think we’ve built a pretty impressive team of players who are ready and willing to help you reach your goal.
You Can Fly: It’s not just a slogan — it’s a literal statement. You Can Fly less expensively and with more satisfaction than ever before. Yes, you really can.
How do I Fly?? I soloed about 10 years ago, then had a child and ran out of money. There is nothing more I rather do but to finish and get my PPL ,but then again I run into the same problem “MONEY” ! How can I possibly finish with very limited funds ? Is there any hope for me? Is there any one out there that is willing to help me achieve my dream?
Joe, have you considered going Light Sport? I know, I know… it has it’s restrictions. But if all you want to do is fly for recreation, it might be enough. And if you find an instructor, willing to “honor” the training hours you already have, it could save you some money.
I first started training for my PPL in the late 90’s. But ran into similar problems that took me out of the cockpit. Finally got my SPL in 2011. In relatively short order, and for little money. Basically it amounted to not much more than “transition” training. And with the kind of flying I like to do, anyway – and since I don’t like flying at night – I don’t really feel all that restricted.
At least it’ll get you back in the air.
This is the problem with this Gofundme, Kickstarter, cardboard sign society. How about you work your ass off like I did. We all have bills to pay. I cleaned toilets and moved furniture to pay for my A&P license. I use mechanic income to get my pilots license, and it was a 757 captain when I had 2600 hours total time. If you want your Private Pilot License, grow a pair and WORK FOR IT!
Davis, are you making a statement, or making a suggestion? Growing a pair might make you a man, but it doesn’t make you a pilot.
Being overly presumptuous of you Davis. How can you accurately judge the poster, Martin, on the basis of his brief comment and plea for help. Answer: You can’t! If you want to gloat about yourself and your accomplishments, so be it, but don’t use it as a club to flame someone else in such an otherwise anonymous forum. It smacks of egotism and arrogance which is to say that your “two” have in effect made you an overbearing ***! I too have worked for all that I have achieved including my comparably extensive flight experience but I don’t mention any of the details to anyone unless specifically asked.
Joseph Martin…this column is for you. Seriously. This column deals very much with the exact problem you’re dealing with. Flying clubs are an excellent method of bringing down the cost of flying. They also provide a social network that is as beneficial to student pilots as it is to old hands who just want a place to hang out and tell stories. The flying club I belong to is a good example of this. Our members range from high school students to retired folks. Nearly half our membership is female, and we gather weekly to chat, learn, and share experiences.
An annual flying membership in our case is only $350, with dues set at $55 per month, and a C-172 that is available to members for $94 an hour – wet. That means you could realistically get your private pilots certificate in our club for something less than $6,000 without even getting all that creative about it. That’s assuming 50 flight hours, with 30 being dual instruction time.
It’s not free, but it’s affordable. It also means that after you’ve earned your ticket you can fly with another club member for half price. Is $47.50 per hour an affordable number for you? If it is, you can do this.
Keep in mind, there’s nothing magical about the club I belong to. There are others devoted to flight training, recreational flying, and social interaction with other pilots that offer similar advantages. Cost is certainly a factor when we fly, but it doesn’t have to be an insurmountable problem.
Write me if you wish. I’ll make sure you find some tools that will help you satisfy your dream of learning to fly, and maybe even make it possible for you to lure those young ‘uns you’re raising into the cockpit when the time comes, too.
This is a tough row to hoe, but some things are worth struggling for. I do agree that we have to look outside the alphabet agencies and the frozen in the 60s FBOs . . . they are preaching to the choir. The major magazines have articles on where to get the throttle levers on your G-5 gold plated, an awful lot of the FBOs don’t want to know you unless you want to buy 3,000 pounds of Jet-A. You only want 30 gallons of 100LL? That’s over in the back behind the junkyard . . .
We HAVE to fill in the hollowed out section of GA between ultralights and Lear Jets – the “middle” is very weak and getting weaker every day. We need to fill the pipeline with new pilots who will eventually want to buy new (or at least new-ish) airplanes.
I very much like the idea of advertising in non-aviation venues. I also recall that Nieman Marcus displayed a brand new Ercoupe in the store “way back when” and sold a bunch of them. We must stop talking only to ourselves, and we have to be inclusive to ALL aviators of ALL ratings who are flying ALL kinds of airplanes. Our caste system is divisive and is killing us. I’ve been in aviation since 1975 and have seen GA struggle for years. We are doing a LOUSY job of selling ourselves to the outside world and we need to change that.
Billboards, TV ads, print ads in non-aviation venues, local publicity, penny a pound rides, we need to do it all and more . . . because if we don’t the only aviation will be airliners and nobody around to fly them because there will be no pilot starts, let alone completions.
Uncomfortable? Yes, but admitting there is a problem is the very first small step to solving it.
The PBOR will help, too, if only the gubmint would get off their dead behinds and pass it . . .
I love general aviation, the equipment and the people are wonderful. I did my private in 1973, I worked at a flight school for seven years before taking a break to raise my family. The owner of the school ran advertising on the radio and the ad always ended with, ” this could be the most exciting phone call you will ever make.” I believe even today, I could say the very same thing.
Let’s go fly. Brenda Landing, Houston Chapter 99
Wow. I look up to all you fly guys and ladies for pursuing your passion for flying. It saddens me to see that, like every other slice of society, some high flyers with much to contribute get caught in a cycle of negativity. On the upside, I’ve found that sometimes abrasive introductions turn out to be positive, constructive interactions. I hope that John understands that we are interested in his positive insight. People hear your words, John, I hope you share the wealth of your experience with others. After all, we all have a choice of being a part of the solution or a part of the problem. I think you all are part of the solution.
I like debate and dialogue….but the two guys that think Jamie is nothing but hot air is that same old news.
If for 50 years you have been working to bring new pilot to the fold….I think you have some “splainin” to do.
The programs Jamie talks about and the RedBird Imagine program plus all the baby steps the new flying clubs are taking all mean one thing….doing something is better than doing nothing…agreed?
I manage a flying club that has existed for more than a decade. We have youngsters and seniors alike. And a few that need special issuances..myself included.
There is hope and I for one refuse to hear the negative comments anymore. If I did I would only looking at planes on the ramp and in the air. But I don’t and that is because of people like Jamie and many like him.
Have you ever called any of the aviation colleges and asked how may flights per month are conducted? I confidently say you will be very surprised.
I close with this…if you are going to complain please, with all due respect…get out of the way!
Joe,
Not sure where you get the idea I think Jamie is full of hot air but nothing could further from the truth.
I like you am tired of the negativity. I was hoping that Jamie would respond more directly to John’s ideas.
Keep doing what you are doing Jamie!
I know how many students are flying at those colleges, I have also run across a lot of those students and the results of their passing through GA like crap through a Goose and the smelly mess that they leave behind.
80% or more of those students are on a fast track to be airplane drivers, they want to fly long aluminum tubes that burn kerosene, they not only have no allegiance to GA, in most cases they view it with distain, simply a stop they are forced to make in order to build hours. The damage that they do is immeasurable and they do nothing to aid in the advancement or even the maintaining of GA.
I recently started instructing the Great Grandson of one of my former students, 1968, he had 15 hours in great grandfathers airplane but both he and great grandfather did not feel that he was progressing well.
I went to fly with him, while at the airport, I had a run in with his previous CFI , a recent CFI mill graduate, who commented to me, ” Why don’t you old F***s, hang it up so that use younger guys can build some hours,” That pretty well says it all, I was able to solo the student and get him through a PPL, but only by going back to the start.
I’m not going to deny there are those kinds of young instructors out there. But your one experience, Joe, doesn’t mean they’re all like that..
I had 3 instructors during my training days. All 3 were young, (in their early to mid 20’s) building hours, hoping to one day land a job with the airlines. But you know what? All three of them were pleasant, knowledgeable, and excited about teaching. And all three eventually made it to an airline. But all three also have stayed active in GA. In fact, one of them later quit the airline and returned to teaching.
So you can continue to be a cranky ol’ gloomy-gus, if you want too, Joe. But I’d rather focus on the good. And promote the sport with a smile.
I don’t see anything wrong with letting the GA public know about what these two are doing. No it is not the “answer” to saving aviation. There is one answer that will save aviation but will NEVER happen so there is no need to discuss it. What they are doing is a positive step.
I think that your ideas are great John but I also like this idea that is represented in the article. What is wrong with going after pilots that are not active? It breaks my heart every time I sit in an FBO and listen to a pilot who is burned out and ready to give it up. I talk with pilots everyday that are burned out for one reason or another. So how is adding new pilots not “delaying the inevitable” at this rate of decline? Not going after non-active pilots is like saying we should help the needy in other countries but neglect our own. Of course I agree that we need to go after new pilots but I love the idea of going after those who have stepped away.
I work in an office with a number of pilots. They range from private, CFIs, corporate, to former military. I don’t know of a SINGLE one that is active. Why? Life got in the way. How do we get them back?
John – Jamie is a big boy and certainly doesn’t need me to stick up for him, but I’ve got to say, I think you are being way too harsh on someone that is simply trying to do the best he can. From my perspective, he is hitting the mark and putting a lot of time and effort into the process. I know of no bigger “cheerleader” for general aviation than Jamie. I knew this about fifteen minutes after I first met him. I’m sometimes a little slow on the uptake. He is making a difference and that is good for us all.
Tim Shea
I have never heard so much bitter, defeatist nonsense in all my life! I feel so sorry for you John and I hope that someone will come along and bring some hope and happiness back into your life.
Kudos to Jamie and Kay for not giving up on general aviation and doing SOMETHING to reach out to pilots who need support. I don’t know where John has been, but the number of recruitment programs for young pilots is growing by leaps and bounds and that’s a good thing. But no matter how much fire we have in our bellies for aviation when we first start flying, most of us will have some time in our lives when we are forced to slow down or leave the plane in the hangar all together. There are a million reasons why, but they all fall under one heading…..life! I know first hand how depressing it is and would be thrilled to have some support, help and encouragement to get back in the cockpit. There’s no future for general aviation if our pilots don’t keep flying…..no matter how many new ones we crank out.
So let’s keep mentoring and advertising and recruiting, but let’s keep supporting our pilots long after the checkride! Don’t let negitivity get you down. People like you who take action are the game changers in this world. Keep it up! And Jamie, let me know if you’re getting any response in the Houston area.
How about a new slogan…..”You can keep flying!”
Deanne
Don’t feel sorry for me, feel sorry for the people that will never know the joys and experiences that I have known because of my involvement with aviation, feel sorry for yourself as you watch GA continue to decline around you.
I have been in love with aviation and airplanes since I was 3, took my first ride at 7, my first actual lesson at 14, had all of my ratings by 20.
I have been in all of the states in the US, all of the provinces in Canada, all of the countries in the western hemisphere, from the arctic to the Antarctic, been on all of the continents except Australia.
Flown 122 different makes and models of AC as PIC and another 32 as SIC.
I have met great people, gotten to know legends and call some of them friends, I even got to pet Gilmore. If you don’t know who that is look up Roscoe Turner.
But I live for one moment in every pilots life, that moment when the light turns on,
Don’t listen to me, that is your option, but don’t feel sorry for me.
Life is not a journey to the grave, arriving well dressed and looking good,
It is an adventure, sliding into the grave, battered bruised beat up and loudly proclaiming, “Man what a ride.”
Sorry Jaimee, but I have been on that path, and beating that drum for over 50 years and I can show you many, many more that gave been doing the same, so I hope you will forgive me for not standing up and cheering. Resurrecting old rusty pilots will not help us, only delay the inevitable.
When are you and others out the going to realize that our only hope is to reach out and attract the not already interested, non aviation public. All of the rusty pilot seminars and AOPA flyins will do nothing to attract new blood, until we do that, the spiral will continue to tighten.
Thanks for going negative early, John. It’s almost entertaining how dependable the naysayers are going to be. It’s also somewhat depressing.
Might I suggest you go back and read that piece again, perhaps with a magnifying glass, and certainly with a more open mind. Fifty years ago when you started beating this drum, how many of your compatriots were women? I’m betting that number was very nearly zero. I’ll go further and guess that most pilots you know have made little to no effort to bring women into the pilot’s seat with a sense of confidence and belonging. That’s a shame, too. Women represent the majority of the world’s population, yet we’ve ignored them for a century or more.
Let me suggest we stop doing that. Partly because it’s impolite, but mostly because it’s stupid.
Now let me correct an assumption you’ve made. Rusty Pilots are not all crusty old dudes on their way to facility where they can be placed on life support. I often meet Rusty Pilots who are in their 30s. Now I may be wrong, but I don’t think helping a 32 year old rusty pilot get back into the air is a waste of my time. I also don’t think it’s a pointless endeavor to welcome anyone back to aviation, regardless of how old or young they might be. I’m here to help, not to dictate the audience we should be reaching out to.
While I’m on that topic, I applaud you for doing exactly that – reaching out to the young. Please continue. In the flying club I belong to members range in age from 14 to mid-sixties. I’m happy to spend time with every single one of those club members, and I’ll gladly share a hot dog and a coke with any guests they might bring along too.
There’s nothing exclusive about getting people involved in aviation. Go ahead and do your part. I appreciate it. You’ll note there’s nothing in this piece that tells you what you ought to do, or what you ought not to do. It’s merely a review of what I’ve been doing and what some of my peers are up to. We’re finding success and pretty darned happy about it. If you’ll pass along some of your success stories I’d be happy to help you publicize them as well.
We’re all in this together. Let’s support each other’s efforts. That’s got to work better than shooting at each other, don’t you think?
Helping rusty pilots is not a waste of time, neither is it a new idea, I did my first AO?PA refresher in 1968 with 10 students, did at least 18 more over the years.
I made 2 very important observations during those classes, the pilots were in general lacking any real motivation from the start, most of them lapsed back to their inactive roles within 2 years.
As far as women are concerned, the attraction of women to aviation has always been a priority of mine, many because of a women pilot that I knew as a child who always expressed disappointment over the lack of support for women in aviation.
I have no problem supporting your efforts as well as the efforts of others, but we have to somehow get out of the preaching to the choir rut and branch out into the real world. quit spending our limited assets on programs with no hope of actually expanding the pilot database and work on some that do.
Just a little insight, 2004 I gleaned from the FAA data base, a local 2 county database for our local flight school. there were 1836 pilots in the 2 county area. In 2014 I redid the database, 921, that pretty much sums up our problem.
John,
What’s your solution then? If you’ve been at it for 50 years I would think you have some great well thought out ideas.
1. Put airplanes where people don’t expect to see them. ie: outdoor shows, RV shows, Boat shows, Car shows, stir up people with no existing interest in aviation.
2. Local open house with penny a pound rides, I know, money loser, but it is deductible.
3. Here is where you lose the alphabet gtoups, advertise in outdoor, RV, Boating Golfing magazines, anything not related to aviation.
Advertise in the on board magazines that the airlines have, one of the prospects that we really need to appeal to is the guy setting in that kerosene burning aluminum tube cussing about all of the little airplanes, delaying his flight.
Since nobody in GA has ever taken any advertising campaign beyond preaching to the choir initially it will not take great effort, but the alphabet groups will never condone a campaign like this, it will destroy their revenues. The just don’t seems to realize that until and unless they do grasp these concepts, their golden goose will disappear.
What is really needed is a concerted campaign, outside the generally accepted realm of aviation influence, not in anyway connected to or influenced by AOPA and EAA.
Thanks John.
I like all of those ideas! Particularly 1 and 3…..
Jaime…are you paying attention?
He is not listening, between his rose colored glasses, AOPA indoctrination and fair weather year round exposure to GA, he can’t hear.
Sorry John, but I think it’s you who isn’t listening. I don’t see where Jaime poo-pooed anything you’re doing. In fact, what I read from him – in his response to you – was encouragement to keep on doing all that you have been doing the past 50 years.
This isn’t a “my way or the highway” deal here. There are innumerous ways in which we can all attract new, and/or re-new, participants into this sport we call aviation. Regardless of whether they are young/old, male/female, white/black, rich/poor, et., etc. And for anyone to claim that “my way is right, and your way is wrong” is asinine.
Remember the movie Grumpy Old Men? Was that based on you?
If you read Jamie’s reply to you, he states “We’re all in this together. Let’s support each other’s efforts”. That seems like a better approach than your “my way or the highway” attitude.
John, sometimes it’s different blood, not necessarily new blood, that can turn things around, or at least make a dent in a problem. We’re lucky to have Jamie, and you, and others trying to help people into this difficult but incredibly cool pursuit we call aviation.
It seems that Jamie’s enthusiasm has a lot more good left to do. We are all better off as a result of these combined efforts.
Jeff G.