The idea was simple enough. A society built on the participation of the public in service to each other would be superior to a society built on the principle that a small, allegedly higher class of people should dictate demands to a larger, lower class of people.
Welcome to America. At least in theory.
You have no doubt noticed over the course of several decades the class system has crept into American life. While we were intended to be one people of similar status, we have become a highly fragmented population divided into innumerable groups.
There is a reason the expression “divide and conquer” has lasted through the ages. It works. And so it is with great sorrow that I must share with you that at this point in history we are doing great damage to ourselves by insisting on divisions rather than seeking out common cause.
There is no them, there is only us.
Public service was at one time a term used with pride. To be involved in public service was to take time out from one’s own life to share skills and effort on behalf of our own neighbors. This is one of the ways a community comes to be — any community, be it based on sports, religion, technology, the arts, or warfare.
America was designed to be a participatory system of government. A self-help program for those bold enough to brave the journey, shoulder the load, and accept the risks. Those who found themselves on the winning side economically, or admired for daring deeds, were encouraged and welcome to throw their hat into the ring in a bid to serve their fellow citizens for a time. Not a lifetime, just a term or two.
Somehow that citizen volunteer system of participation has morphed into career positions of privilege. That rankles many of those cut out of the process. As it should.
We did this to ourselves, of course. No matter which community we might identify ourselves with, we got lazy. We let others step into the breach to do the grunt work of managing our assets while we got busy living it up in ways that have led to a population of largely depressed individuals who feel cut off from their own society. Our solution has been to stress eat ourselves into a higher weight class, use credit to buy things we don’t really need, neglect our neighbors, and complain incessantly about the world around us.
Why doesn’t somebody do something?
That’s the crux of the situation. It’s also the answer. Because you are somebody. You can make a difference. Any of us can. It takes effort, however. And thought. And commitment to progress, which is entirely different than the intractable belief that if I don’t get what I want I’m going to make everyone suffer.
That’s how we got where we are today. It didn’t work. It doesn’t work. We have to shed our ego, rein in our animosity for divergent beliefs, and listen twice as much as we talk.
That sets the stage for progress. Diplomacy shouldn’t be a dirty word. Embrace it.
Let’s consider this dilemma in its simplest possible terms — the grocery store parking lot. You’ve been there. We’ve all been there. Shopping carts are typically strewn around the lot, taking up spaces, rolling into cars, scratching and dinging machines that cost tens of thousands of dollars. All because the prior user didn’t have the respect for their fellow shoppers to return the cart to its corral.
How hard is that? A small child can accomplish the task. This small inconvenience, this minor annoyance which compounds with so many others we encounter on a daily basis, increasingly vexes us. All because a large percentage of us don’t have sufficient consideration for our own neighbors to put away our tools when we’re done using them.
Let’s take this one step further, to the local airport. Regardless of size, shape, or utilization rates this is arguably one of the most potentially and profoundly beneficial facilities in town. Yet most languish unappreciated, undeveloped, and often considered by leadership to be little more than an expensive Albatross they can’t legally get rid of. They just don’t want to be bothered.
Unlike other public use facilities, the airport is only understood in practical terms by a small group of folks — many of whom feel abused by the management or ignored at the very least.
In truth the airport is an economic engine of tremendous potential in any town. But like any powerful machine, it has to be fueled up, well maintained, and operated with care to get the most out of it. Any fine machinery can be rendered useless when driven hard, left bereft of oil, and abandoned out in the weather to fend for itself.
Would you rather be gifted a classic well-tuned Porsche or a 1970s era AMC Matador that’s been sitting in the woods growing mold for the past few decades? One is a valuable piece of machinery that can get you to work on time. The other is a massive hole you can throw money into in the hopes that someday you’ll get some small percentage of it back. Probably from the junk man.
If there is no high school or college on the grounds of your local airport, your community is missing the boat. If local business leaders don’t periodically meet with airport users to explore the economic potential of the field and its unique possibilities, the dollars lost due to that disconnect will never be recovered.
As pilots, aircraft mechanics, aviation business owners, and interested residents, it is in our best interest to offer ourselves for public service. Establish an airport advisory committee that puts effective and beneficial utilization of the field at the forefront of its agenda. Discuss development of the airport as an asset to the community — a place where learning, recreation, business, and personal fulfillment all converge for the betterment of the residents and visitors to your area.
Or, just keep leaving your shopping cart in the middle of the parking lot for someone else to retrieve on your behalf.
Choose wisely.
Wonderfully thought out and beautifully written, Jamie.
As the founding Chairman of a County Airports Commission is a previous life, I couldn’t agree more with the “why don’t we do something?” ideal. But sometimes (at the risk of sounding devicive), *our* efforts are stymied by *them*.
The field where my flight school and I am presently based has no Airport Authority. It is owned by the city, and resented by our City Council, who see it as a playground for the wealthy (and our noisy and dangerous toys). Our City Manager (not elected, but rather appointed by the City Council) would love to shut down the airport, and is so frustrated by those restrictive federal grant assurances that he opposes any improvements that would further obligate us. And, of course, he and the Council block any attempt to establish an airport authority, commission, or advisory committee.
My personal solution is less than ideal – I’m shutting down the flight school and moving back to the opposite coast, to operate out of the great private grass strip which I helped to build forty years ago. That will be my gain (but, sadly, my present community’s loss.) Why doesn’t somebody do something?
Great thoughts however you failed to see the reality of most government-owned GA airports. They exist to create and maintain highly-paid government jobs for life. Government airports are funded primarily through FAA and state aviation grants, managed by the crony airport industry lobby members, for instance in my state the North Carolina Airports Association. They have made a science out of extracting taxpayer dollars from The Swamp and state capitols, and couldn’t care less about the needs and wants of non-turbine GA. Many do their best to drive away sport aviation and – God forbid – anyone who flies a UL or prefers grass runways and mogas. But there is a solution – support your local privately-owned airfields, or build your own and they will come. See BQ1, Gilliam-McConnell airport in Carthage, NC, with the world-famous Pik ‘ Pig fly-in restaurant. Its owner, Roland Gilliam, an icon of sport aviation in the Carolinas, carved his airport from forest land, 100% on his own nickel.
Sounds like PItt-Greenville (PGV). Built large hangers with COVID funds. I understand they’re having trouble leasing. But, they are building more turbine housing. Why? GA had a wash rack with the appropriate grease/ oil trap but the airport took it away from GA. Now the car rental companies wash their vehicles there with no plans to replace the GA rack.
Then there’s the matter of the airport actually being a tangible asset, and having management that actually cares.
From what I read, and logic would dictate, the primary compatibility problem with local residents is little local planes out going around and around in the pattern, ironically the same pilots complaining about traveling aircraft making straight in landings.
So, you owned an AMC Matador? Talk about choices. But seriously… Ouch! I hear you. And the point is well made as always. Thank you for keeping us focussed.
Leading with positives is the moral high ground in any contest. However, history shows objectors to technology fight dirty. Examples abound about resistance to cellular towers (‘horizon pollution’), receive-only satellite dishes, and notoriously complaining about the stench from a nearby hog farm from residents of a new development. Gratefully, the court ruled the farm was there first and the residents had no case. Winning against homeowners requires a two-fisted approach: one positive, one fist of steel. Gird up your loins before entering the foray.
Regards/J
One thing that I gripe about, is people who buy a house at the foot of a runway, and then complain about the noise. This is the same type that buys a house in a rural area, and then complain about the dirt and the farm animals,
One way to prevent this situation is for the airport folks to work with the city/county that owns and operates the airport to not allow housing development near the traffic pattern.
Rather, encourage businesses to locate on the airport or near the runway, which are much more tolerant of ‘airplane noise’.
One way to support an airport is to join or start an EAA chapter [ Experimental aircraft Assoc.] see; https://www.eaa.org/eaa
The EAA offers Ray pilot training scholarships, a Young Eagle program, a new ‘build and fly’ RC aircraft program….all for introducing young folks to aviation.
There are nearly 1,600 EAA chapters across the US…go find one or get some pilots together and start one at your local airport. It’s not difficult.
You don’t have to be a pilot to join. We encourage anyone interested in aviation to join, especially families with YE age children.!
Our EAA chapter 1541 at KLHM has 2 Saturday meetings a month, one a ‘famous’ EAA pancake breakfast, the other a lunch and a program, as well as offering Young Eagle flights for 2 hours.
The City has had an Airport Open House event for 2 years now, Our chapter members supplied 30+ pilot types to marshal aircraft and classic/exotic cars, offer a pancake breakfast and 2 flight simulators.
This last year we had over 5,000 people/ families attend this 1 day event.
A number of folks didn’t know that there was an airport in the city..!!
So, with a little effort, a lot can get done in support of general aviation.!!