The truth is simple, and weird. I am a refugee. Not by force, or circumstance, or because I am caught between two warring factions that are sworn to smite me should I show my face. No, it’s nothing so dramatic as that. I am a refugee by choice, as are thousands of others who are […]
Politics for Pilots
Roughing it, en masse
I was a very experienced camper when I was a kid. That’s not so much because I was a naturally adventurous youngster. The Boy Scouts showed me how to camp, explore, and make it back safely. I lived in New England then, and I have fond memories of waking up in a toasty warm sleeping […]
Standing tall in the face of opposition
Let’s be totally honest for a moment. Airplanes crash now and then. They ditch, make emergency landings, have system failures and, once in a while, one of them catches on fire. That’s all true. It’s also exceedingly rare. We need to be truthful and willing to speak on that topic. Because we can tell the […]
Let’s focus on the words, not the man
On June 29, President Obama gave the aviation industry a great gift. It may not appear to be a beautifully wrapped present with a bright, tidy bow on top. But it is. Some of us will recognize this opportunity for what it is. Others will not. That’s human nature. Some of us focus on the […]
Bring in the dignitaries
Last Thursday I spent a good portion of the afternoon at Lakeland Linder Airport (LAL) in Lakeland, Florida. Many GAN readers have visited Lakeland at some point, I’m sure. This is the site of Sun n’ Fun, the second largest aviation gathering in North America. For almost 40 years the general aviation community has been […]
The potential of STEM for GA
General aviators are the minority when compared to society as a whole. We are an aberration. However, we have an advantage. There is a tool in our quiver that we have not really put to good use yet. We know stuff. And the stuff we know is really, really cool, no matter how you look […]
Speak up, speak out, make a positive impression
“Help me,” is essentially what the email said. I’m paraphrasing, of course, but the message was simple, straight-forward, and common. How do I get the word out? Because I’m a sucker for a pro-aviation reader who reaches out for help, I answered the email, which led to another email, and ultimately a series of phone […]
Flying is expensive, but does it have to be?
Lately I have been seeing a lot of angst in the marketplace. Much of it aimed at the unconscionably high cost of flying, and the unattainably high cost of training to earn a pilot’s license. Let me be honest here. I have all the same economic problems the average aviation nut has. I am not […]
It’s more than just an image problem
Imagine that you and your significant other go shopping in a pricey store that’s known for its exclusive clientèle. Think Rodeo Drive, maybe. Walking through the door is a little exciting, if not slightly intimidating, but you make it past security and find yourself on the inside. It isn’t long before you realize that you’re […]