Is your airport doing anything to promote aviation?

[astjp2]

Just curious to see what airports are doing to get new pilots in the air...mechanics on the field, or new buisnesses at your local airport. Our new manger wants to fire the roving security guards that have been around for over 40 years and install badge readers and cameras.....not good for getting new people involved in aviation. Makes them think that we are beyond the common man...tim

[flyguy]

Re: Is your airport doing anything to promote aviation?

We had, up until 1984, this little airport that was right on the East edge of San Francisco Bay. Rough little narrow runway that we a painted a skull and crossbones on because instructors from the fancy fields would not let their students fly into there. Two days of flying every weekend. Everything from Beechcraft twins and even a Texan, bunch of C-150's for rental and instruction, Taildraggers everywhere. Pilots always having a cook in outside the little operations shack beside the porch where everyone sat with cokes or coffee critiquing the landings. Place was like a game preserve, always laughing about the latest animal we had to dodge on the runway. Great fun. Airline flight engineer was the lessee. Then one day everything just fell apart. Site has been bulldozed ever since, nothing built on it.

Now I am in a town of about 35,000, about 60 miles east of there,with a 4,000 foot runway at the edge of town. Pilots come down and fire up their span cans or Citations, fly somewhere, fly back, put the plane in the hangar and go home. Place is neat, efficient but rather stupid sometimes, and depressing; zero sense of community.

We even have a airport commission that meets regularly, no pilots on it now because it has no power at all, and the guys don't see any point to wasting their time. I think the main problem, besides lack of community, is that the airport "belongs" to the recreational department and no one in the city knows anything about airports.

"City" suggested closing the airport a while back and the FAA stomped on them hard. Then they wanted to build a new one outside town so the city fathers could get their palms greased when the airport land in the city was sold to developers. California bureacrats saved us on that; deemed they would have to buy five times as much additional compensation land elsewhere and make it like a game preserve. End of that project.

Some of us have talked about trying to get the pilots organized and do some things to make the airport better understood by the general population, but so far there seems to be a general lack of interest with the aviator/owners here.

DC

[astjp2]

Re: Is your airport doing anything to promote aviation?

Well it seems that most people on this site are active on the internet but are not involved at their local parts?

[M Towsley]

Re: Is your airport doing anything to promote aviation?

Well, where I am at now there is really nothing to be active in. The airport board is more concerned about getting airlines in here than worrying about GA.

The small airport I was previously at had a core group of people, of which I was one, that wanted to promote aviation, etc. The city council morons were lucky to figure out the pointy end went forward. They had a non-aviation person, (guy in-charge of the cemetery), now in-charge of the airport and the cemetery. It becomes fairly pointless when it is one-step forward and three steps back.

[KewFlyer]

Re: Is your airport doing anything to promote aviation?

At our Warrenton Airport [ HWY] in Virginia, EAA sponsors Young Eagles, monthly/bi-monthly Boy Scout troop visits, Middle and HS group visits as well. Quite a few have taken lessons and two or three are interested in the mechanic side / A&P. The airport supports this activities. All these efforts are thanks to the EAA group at the airport. The airport flying school is pretty active as well as other local independent instructors. I see young mechanics working on their A&P or IA certifications coming out, primarily of the military... some are reserves or with regular jobs. No numbers nor statistics available.

[dewhitaker]

Re: Is your airport doing anything to promote aviation?

As the Young Eagle Coordinator for EAA Chapter 82 located at Barber Field, Alliance Ohio, I look forward to organizing our events. By the way, the EAA is going to roll out a new program, based on the success of the Young Eagle program, for adults. Look for more details of this in the Spring.

At my home base in Minerva, Ohio, I host a community picnic and invite the neighborhood. We have it in my hanger, everyone brings something to share, and I hop rides in the T-Craft. This helps to build goodwill, and hopefully it will catch on even more in the future years.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Is your airport doing anything to promote aviation?

We have called them "Bald Eagles" (for the gray hair, not just for bald guys) here for years. Take the adults up when the kids aren't ready. What we REALLY need is something for the teens who are interested. They are the real, near term, future.
I remember the dentist down the street who took me to meetings when I couldn't drive yet. Great guy.
Hank

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Is your airport doing anything to promote aviation?

I started the Young Eagles program here at Barber Airport the first year they ahd it. All with the able assistance of EAA #82 and Al Hansen . David is now manning the reins. I TRIED to do a Young Eagles/ Old Buzzards Day on the same day ; the Old Buzzards were to worn out to fly after the Event and just went home. I believe in FLYING and wish all the EAA members did so too!! Perhaps this will help out. Onward & Upward!!