What's Up - November 2013
You are Now Cleared for Take Off, or Maybe Not
By Larry Shapiro
I am now convinced that those of us that spend more than a little time at our local airport, for whatever reason, either as a pilot, a regular visitor or because the snack bar serves great breakfast or sells “must have” T-shirts… We all become very protective, we challenge every change, complain about every pothole and basically have an opinion about everything but seldom have any facts or involvement in all these “things” happening or not happening. Hence, my herd of self appointed experts on how to run (or ruin) an airfield, here is a really simple recipe for having your cake and having it turn out the way you want it.
Involvement!
The secret ingredient is simply “involvement!” Do you belong to your home base pilot’s group or association? Do you volunteer for clean up day at your airport? How about all those advertised meetings with the local “baby kissers” that want your vote so they hold some kind cockamamie get-together at the local airplane parking place with the hope of something good happening for them – not necessarily for you – but hopefully for you.
I’m sorry, did you just say you don’t have a pilot’s group? There aren’t any local watchdog groups that want to turn your airport into the next affordable housing development with two or three Little League Parks and an off-leash walking area for all the two and four legged poop patrollers? Hmmm, here’s a thought, start one!
I am only now becoming aware of how many well-intended groups meet at my beautiful Palo Alto Airport – known for the record holding number of potholes infesting the parking ramp and taxi ways, and an airport that now gets a recorded heads-up from the ATIS warning about the dip in our runway. What?
Yep, your heard me. Time, ink, and the fact that its 0200 is why I’m not going into details on how and why these problems exist. But I am going to beat up your eyes with how it’s going to get fixed. I, along with some other caring and responsible users of PAO are getting involved, are involved, helped select a new airport manager, actually spearheaded the charge that took the airport away from the current management organization and have helped change the tide by getting our city more involved, as in becoming an on-site owner rather than one living down in the Bahamas waiting for their rent checks. Now the city Fathers refer to our soon-to-be showpiece, destination location aviation center as “our” airport, not “the” airport, and that’s the way it should be.
I attended a meeting a few weeks ago at an hour that I would usually be watching The View, but I was intrigued with the agenda of the well-advertised meeting and I was hoping for a free donut, which sadly didn’t happen. Also, the amount of empty seats in the room troubled me more than the donuts. (Actually, I don’t eat donuts, I’m a fresh fruit or nuts lover.)
Let me say at the onset of this dissertation that The View couldn’t have been better than this meeting. As always the ones that should have been there weren’t. The ones that needed to be there joined that group as well. The ones that didn’t need to be there were there and therefore they are the leaders and decision makers because they showed up and they always do.
I learned a hangar full of new things such as people do care about our aviation neighborhood. I learned that they listen and actually respond, and I learned that we have a great Tower Chief and amazing controllers and I know that because they were not only sitting there with me, they called the meeting, ran the meeting, and actually listened and liked some of the suggestions made during our way-too-short get together. Ya could have knocked me over with a featha and I left knowing that during the coming year PAO will return to the way mother nature and the Pilots remember it from days gone by.
Not to ruin your day or spoil your already established opinions on how and why things are the way they are, but please take this to the bank or to your next ballot box: If you want change be part of that process and not a Monday morning quarterback that criticizes the status quo while still in your bathrobe.
I don’t want to forget to mention that meeting most of the tower staff and leadership was truly worth the time … they do a lot more than key the mic and they do what they do at the highest level of “right!”
Okay, let’s recap … ya want change? Step up to the plate and take a few swings at the ball. Volunteer for something, I really don’t care what! Suggest some public activities near your favorite tie-down. Here’s a thought: Remember those donuts I didn’t get? Go find some and haul them up to your tower and spend some time with those dedicated crossing guards that keep you from embarrassing yourself. Learn their names, find out what they do when they’re not there seven days a week, and ask what they need – that’s right – what they need.
Don’t fall down the stairwell, but they might like to hear a suggestion or two from you that might make your neighborhood safer and more efficient. You might get some answers to one or two of those questions you’ve been mumbling to yourself in the run-up area over the past century.
Not to wear out my donut theme but I’ll bet you dollars to donuts they might like some of the ideas you share with them … parish the thought, but you might actually give birth to a change right then and there in the middle of your second dunk.
Options! Another Emergency Procedure
Of the many things that hit the floor (or is that table?), is the question of why pilots seem to favor landing back at their small home field if they have an emergency of some sort, a situation guaranteed to shut down all of your runways (especially if you have only one) when they have options only minutes away with multiple runways, better odds of survival, more parking for the news media, and an opportunity for you to land at a field you’ve never been allowed to land at. Ain’t emergencies grand?
Please don’t spit, but the main reason they make the wrong call, and I’ve personally seen it too many times, is that their car is where they left it. I guess finding a ride back to your car parked two miles away is too strenuous after you just survived running out of gas and the excitement of knowing you didn’t shut down your home field or one like it for four hours, grounding seven flight schools and 37.5 student pilots, one of which was getting ready to solo that day. I’ll stop this tirade if you promise me that you actually read this and heard the message. If you didn’t get the message then send me your ticket and I’ll reimburse you for the postage.
New Subject
Did you know that there are printed rules and regulations on the operation of vehicles, other than those that fly, on and around the airport? I didn’t. I just guessed and used my favorite, often referred to as nonexistent, common sense.
Great Service
Ya know I am the first one to preach that supporting your local FBOs is good business. But because they are good, they are also busy. Don’t discount checking out some really fine small town FBOs. The lines might be shorter, the work good and pricing competitive. I experience this last month when one of my planes got a boo-boo and needed some immediate attention and I was more than 100 miles from home. Aside from great fish and chips, hamburgers and service, the Two-Niner Diner at the Petaluma Municipal Airport has always been on my favorites list. Now I’m adding great aircraft maintenance – no bubbleheads, not at the diner but at Mangon Aircraft Repair at the North end of the field.
One more thing, I had two airplanes (to be named at a later date) that needed the exact same interior repair. The one near the fish and chips came in $200 less than the one closer to our new Bridge, and was done three times faster. I guess the moral here is, the closer to the bridge the more things cost.
Mexico, The Hidden Secret
For those of you MythBusters fans, here’s a Bud for you! Mexico is a safe and beautiful place to fly to, and there are many reasons to do it aside from it being the real Southern California. The myths of every airplane being stolen, lost, and turned into jewelry is pure refried beans. It’s beautiful, easy to find, and if you stay away from the tourist traps and the flag waving Yanks, really cost effective with great food and fishing. If you don’t like fishing than go chase a little white ball around the park and then eat some great food. It’s no secret that I’ve been spending a lot of my time there doing all the above except the little white ball thing, especially down in Baja where the water is crystal clear, the Marlin jump out of the Sea of Cortez and call your name, and the Sushi is “World Class.” Questions?
APD 2013 Wrap Up
Once again our Airport Day was a major success. It gets better every year and that’s because more and more folks get involved with making it better. If you don’t have one at your Airport then start one. Call me and I’ll share all the secrets.
On Final
I survived the festival of free candy, stole as many Kit Kats as I could find or settled for some Mounds. Now I’m in training for my favorite month: November! Some really interesting “firsts” will prevail. I always celebrate the day of my birth on Thanksgiving, which in fact sometimes it really is. I remind you that it’s not the gift that counts – it’s the price. This year I get a “three-fer.” My Birthday, Thanksgiving and Hannukah all on the same day, WOW! That’s my kinda day.
I will once again be standing for the “Walk-In” with thousands of others down in San Diego on Sunday the 17th applauding my BFFL as she completes her fifth 60-mile Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure. This year it has taken on a new meaning for us as I am now a survivor as well. There’s no other way to say it, Cancer is the pits and this year Kimberly walked for me as well. Thanks Grammy, you’re the best.
Since I’m sure you have changed your clocks, and replaced the batteries in your fire alarms, and hopefully made your family a destination location … send me some pictures when you do it. If there’s an extra chair at your Thanksgiving table, invite someone in uniform to fill it, it’s a win-win and will make me very happy.
Until next time …
That’s Thirty!
“Over”
