Posted on 11/04/2004 4:19:20 PM PST by Archangelsk
The Fox affiliate in the Orlando area is going to do a hatchet job on general aviation airfields tonight. Their breathless, stupid lead in (done appropriately by the typical bubble-headed blonde) goes something like this: "They provide easy access for the rich and their airplanes but are Florida's small airfields attracting terrorists to launch small airplanes against commercial airlines!!!!"
Calling Phil Boyer.
Folks not buying Pipers cost them millions. Cessna had similar challenges and they're doing quite well, thank you very much.
Just to let you know, your airport manager, Jerry Summers, was prominently featured during the piece. He mentioned putting in 178 new hangars and extending the runway.
When I was in high school, there was a girl on our ROTC drill team who was also in CAP. She claimed she could tell an airplane's manufacture just by the sound of its engine. (heh)
Well, sure enough we heard the distant roar of an engine, and she said it was a Cessna. A few seconds later the Janator came around the corner of the building on a riding lawnmower.
From that day forward, for us, Murray = Cessna. :P
I know general aviation provides essential services, including often the only access during disasters. I feel no obligation whatsoever to educate the willingly ignorant.
I agree with your post. Even with the AOPA and state aviation associations, GA struggles to fend off attacks from the ignorant in the media. "The Right of the People to Keep and Fly Aircraft", should be in the Constitution.
I stick by my opinion that product liability was a major factor in Piper's demise. Stuart Milar, CEO of Piper, did extreme things to try to compensate for the rash of Malibu accidents. While the Malibu was grounded, he bought first-class airline tickets for the owners.
I was a vendor to Piper during their demise and during the resurrection of the New Piper Aircraft in the 90's.
Cessna had their fair share of product liability lawsuits. I was a vendor to them, too. But Cessna did not have the grounding of a fleet, like Piper did, nor the extreme reactions from management.
Jerry Summers? So Orlando Country Airport was the in the piece, I'll have to see if I can get the video.
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