To say my “Don’t Cry for Santa Monica” column struck a chord would be an understatement.
Sadly, I fear it struck the wrong chord. (And, for the record, I support the efforts of the National Business Aviation Association and others as they continue to fight SMO’s closure.)
A sampling of comments taking me to task…
“Ben’s attitude and opinion clearly doesn’t match that of the aviation community, and I flat disagree with him,” says PB. “There is no benefit for anyone out of this SMO closure since the outcome will not be a park, but will be development, traffic, greater air pollution from the traffic.”
Or…
“I have to say that I am surprised, and a bit disappointed in your view point regarding SMO, Ben,” said Ed Rosiak, former president of the California Pilots Association. “(FAA Administrator Michael) Huerta’s position that this is fair for all parties is clearly one of a bureaucrat who, no doubt, was told what to do.”
Or…
“The entire premise of this article is wrong,” notes GBigs. “An airport is NOT a local land issue. Airports are not used by locals only. Airports belong to the country. This is why a FEDERAL agency provides cash to keep them running. Santa Monica is stealing the airport and destroying a corner of the national fabric of places to use by the aviation community.”
Or…
“I’m involved in a local airport authority board in southwest Ohio and I can emphatically say the FAA has no interest in helping us go an extra mile to make the airport community friendly,” states Nick S. “Case in point is an airport viewing area we would like to construct. But for overreaching ‘safety concerns’ we would have to place it so far removed that visitors would need binoculars to read a tail number.”
You get the point.
And then, like a beacon of light, a message of support from Idaho-based flight instructor Rich Stowell and Linda Castner, co-owner and operator of New Jersey’s Alexandria Field (N85).
“Linda Castner and I read and discussed your article, ‘Don’t Cry for Santa Monica’ in the Feb. 23 issue of General Aviation News,” opened Rich’s email to me. “You are spot on in concluding, ‘Had the city valued the airport more than a park or business option, we wouldn’t be having this discussion.’”
Hallelujah. Linda and Rich saw the main point of my column. They also went a step — or three — further…
“There are two pieces to an airport’s value: Economic and social,” says Rich. “While discussing economic impact might resonate with local politicians and businesses, it probably doesn’t as far as the community at large is concerned. Instead, the focus with the community needs to be on the airport’s social impact, i.e., showing how the airport can be used to bring about positive change that addresses a pressing social challenge.”
And what might that social change be? Glad you asked.
STEM education, Rich says. For those who don’t know, STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
“Airports are STEM-rich environments by design, and could position themselves as valuable educational resources within their communities,” he continues.
A few statistics for your consideration:
- The National Math and Science Initiative finds only 36% of all high school grads are ready to take a college-level science course.
- The U.S. Department of Labor states that by 2020, there will be an estimated 1.4 million computer specialist job openings. Unfortunately, U.S. universities are expected to produce only enough qualified graduates to fill 29% of these jobs.
- Meanwhile, Economic Modeling Specialists points out that median earnings for STEM-based jobs pay $37.44 an hour compared to $18.68 for all other jobs.
This gives us all a huge opportunity to make airports about more than, well, airports.
They’re about our future — not just an invaluable transportation resource or a great place to conduct business or recreate, but a place that will be key to our future workforce.
What a way to get the community to support their airport.
Linda ran a 12-month STEM-based case study at Alexandria Field, funded by a $100,000 grant, and was invited to present her findings at the DOT National Workforce Summit held in Washignton, D.C., in 2012.
“What makes these programs effective is they are integrated,” continues Rich. “They aren’t singular, random acts of outreach. They offer multiple on and off ramps for community engagement with the airport, from pre-K all the way up to corporate-level programs. The idea is simple: STEM through the lens of aviation.”
Maybe you think we just need more pilots to save airports. You might want to think again.
“During the period 1969-1980, the number of public use airports dropped by 11% at precisely the same time when the pilot population grew 15%, when the pilot population reached its zenith of 827,000 active pilots!” exclaims Rich. “If that doesn’t support the hypothesis that it’s not about creating more pilots, nothing does.”
What’s that colloquial definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
Just like opinions, there are many ways we can improve and protect our valuable airport infrastructure. Rich and Linda’s path is one. And its impact will be felt far beyond the airport environment.
So I’ll ask again, are we aviators going to let anger cloud our collective abilities, or will we see this as the opportunity it is?
Once again, I’m hoping for the latter.
The HI DOT is unique in that it owns and operates all public airports in Hawaii through the Airports Division. Unfortunately airport management is totally uninterested in using their airports to promote aviation, which they are required to do by State statutes. On the island of Oahu where HNL is located, Barbers Point Naval Air Station was given to DOT through the Base Closure Act. Properly used, the airport (JRF) has more than enough facilities to satisfy GA. Dillingham Airfield (HDH) on the north shore is occupied with gliders and sky divers where essential infrastructure is in need of improvements.
The DOT needs a good dose of STEM principles.
I’ve participated at several Young Eagles events at the local EAA chapter. Each time, I tell anyone who will listen (and probably a lot of people who won’t) about this – free airplane rides for your kids.
On the Y.E. event day, most of them don’t show up. (The few who do go home with 10KW smiles which last for weeks.)
Monday is excuse day – “It conflicted with soccer practice.” or “We went to the mall.” or “We didn’t get up in time.” The problem seems to be the parents – THEY aren’t sufficiently motivated and don’t understand the value of this. They have to realize that their kid probably isn’t going to grow up to be Pele’, but *could* grow up to be a pilot. Soccer practice is evidently more important than something that could change their child’s life forever.
No, the YE program of the EAA will not ‘save aviation’, but it is a step in the right direction at least. At Chapter 14 (SDM) we try to interest the kids in being a pilot, but also to consider all the other aspects of AVIATION that include GA and all other fields of the most favored world of flying – read aviation in all its aspects. We try to show that being a pilot only expands ones chosen field so a pastor, a dentist/doctor/avionics/manufacturing/mechanical student or endeavor is better served and thus more valuable asset. A pilots license is like a Masters or an additional degree to almost ANY resume’.
STEM isn’t gonna save GA. Young Eagles isn’t gonna save GA. AOPA and EAA ain’t gonna save GA. Even GA isn’t gonna save GA. Each, in it’s own way can help but … it’s going to take a far more concerted and focused effort than that. And, the FAA sure as hell doesn’t care, I believe. It’s as if they’re ‘shooting’ the pilots of the very airliner they’re riding on! The SMO debacle is an excellent example of their uncaring position. I guess they forgot they were supposed to “promulgate” aviation, not throw rocks in our paths.
And, GA is the embryonic form of commercial aviation. 1500 hour ATP’s don’t grow on trees. It’s time that ALL the citizens of this Country recognize that not only airports but pilots, as well, are a National resource. The USAF has finally recognized that using pilots to fly drones is a mistake … so they’re training selected enlisted people to fly and then move on to the drone activities. Far sighted thinking like that is what’s needed.
ONLY a focused effort at the top levels of our Government AND at the local levels to educate the citizens as to the value of airports and pilots will save GA. One of these days, even major airports will start declining and going away because the NIMBY’s and short sighted people don’t “get” it.
LA County bought up nearly 25,000 acres of land to build a ‘new’ airport in Palmdale, near Edwards AFB. That started in the 70’s … so where is it? Nowhere! Because the people didn’t want to travel all the way up to Palmdale. Now they’re trying to lease it out for solar energy production AND give it back to the owners they took it from by eminent domain. LAX is a zoo! There are fewer and fewer places to build giant airports anymore.
The school operation at the Lakeland (Sun-N-Fun) airport area might be an excellent example of your STEM idea BUT … we need numbers far greater than that to replace all the old geezers (me, et al) who are in the bubble about to burst. And, there are other factors involved here, too. $400K C172’s are part of the reason more folks aren’t taking up aviation anymore. MY ’75 C172M is essentially the same airframe (not the avionics) and cost about $22K new. How the heck did we get to here from there? Supply and demand and then … pricing.
Unless and until the FAA rededicates itself to promulgating aviation, simplifying rules to the lowest common denominator and gets an Administrator who doesn’t just talk the talk but walks the walk … we’re done.
I think the party is over but the diehards are still singing … kinda like the band on the Titanic.