What's Up - February 2014

Death! 

By Larry Shapiro

Hey Shapiro, is that anyway to start your column?  Maybe – maybe not. But then you probably didn’t lose a treasured friend recently and therefore aren’t feeling the loss I’m feeling.  You may have at sometime, yourself.  You might at sometime down the road. But death is just a word, sometimes a feeling, and it’s definitely part of life! 

Please remember, sometimes the word “death” is used in humor as well as in, “That was so funny I almost died laughing!” How about the expression, “That’s drop dead beautiful!   We’ve all said, at sometime or another, “You’re dead right or wrong! Or, “Hey, you’re a dead ringer for that person I saw on the cover of the Goofy Things Gazette.”  I know I’ve said, “I’d kill for an airplane like that,” never mind, by now you’ve got my point.

So where does the funny part begin?  Now!  As you know I live at an airport (in spirit) and when I’m not there chances are I’m at another airport, or airshow, or country, and where there is an airport there are airplanes.  (I know, you’re asking yourself, “Did he really say that?”)   Can you honestly tell me you don’t look at, and critique, aircraft paint schemes, the layout, the colors, or the lack thereof? But don’t we all do it?

I continue to ask, “What was that owner thinking?”  I look at it this way – we stress safety, safety, safety, and my thinking is, the colors and the design of your paint job should also include your paint job.  Why shouldn’t it? 

Try seeing colors like light blue, white, grey, and pastels at 5,000 feet, with a few clouds and a few other things on your mind.  I’m a firm believer of white on top if you don’t have a hangar, and any other bright colors that you might actually see so you can actually, “see and avoid.”

Rumors have it that most new airplanes are painted white and have decals applied to add the colors.  Okay, okay, I know some of the “half mil” ones may actually have paint … but I’m addressing the masses, not the other very fortunate ones.  Some day I’ll do a coffee table book called something like, “Airplane colors to spill your drink on.”

My disclaimer is that I’m not addressing the military or any other country without “N-numbers.”

Please note that I have not addressed the many avenues of how and where to get your paintwork done … I’m too old and I have limited space.  I will answer those questions on that subject personally via any media you own.

Kudos and Roses

I love picking a winner and choosing really good people to work with in our industry.  I lucked out many years ago by having the good sense of working with Jeff Fleming when it came to my aviation insurance needs and or questions.  He always gave me the gift of his patience and offering really good practical options.  Jeff has been rewarded this month by being appointed the West Coast Insurance dude for the AOPA Insurance agency, and with that honor, you will benefit by having an office open while we’re still awake on the west coast and the eastern part of America is sleeping.  Bravo Jeff, well deserved!

By the way, Jeff shared with me this week that Mexico now accepts your current United States issued insurance coverage instead of having to add or buy specific Mexican insurance.  You must have more than just an insurance card, you need a full copy of your policy – and it can be a copy.  I suggest putting it in a binder and keeping it handy, clean and looking professional.  This is now just one more Mexico flying myth that is history. I hope you all get to the point of recognizing that Mexico is waiting for many of you to come and enjoy great flying, food, and weather.  Let me know if you want a flying mentor for your first flight, I work cheap.

Partnerships

I heard something a little different the other day, but it was very interesting in regards to partnerships in airplanes.  Aside from the usual monthly fixed costs and established hourly flying rates plus engines reserves … I met a group that also includes that for every hour flown you are committed for at least half an hour of your time towards working on the annual inspection.  Before you scream, ”What?”  I’m not telling you I think this is a good idea, I’m just reporting the news.  It does have pluses and minuses depending on the make up of the partnership.

A Quick Follow Up!

For those of you that weren’t too happy with my comments referring to “The Crash before the takeoff,” come on – give me a break. If you want to really discuss it, at least have the courage to put your name or contact information with your comments.  You may not always agree with my thoughts, but I always promise you the truth as I see it and I also let you know where to find me.

IFR

It’s getting to be very difficult to stay instrument current out here in the west.  It’s also harder to keep your airplane clean.  So what does one have to do with the other?  We haven’t had any WX out here in the west and absolutely no rain.  No rain equals not much weather or free airplane washes.  If you want to get wet while flying out here you’ll have to spill some water out of your bottle into your lap.

So, How’s Business?

Thanks for asking. For reasons I can’t explain, again, when it’s cold we get busy. It’s been cold and we’re busy.  What I really like is that for the first time in a while we actually have two tail draggers for sale at one time.  I dare say if you don’t know what that means … the nose wheel is on the other end of the airplane …where they belong.  Want to guess what this one is?

On Final

So stamps have gotten more expensive again, gas still requires a bank loan, and the news I’ve heard from ramp rat conversations usually include where someone just bought gas under five bucks a drop.  Actually I did see one of those places and no, I’m not telling you were that was.  Here’s my favorite response, “Yeah, it may be cheaper but you don’t know how long it was in the ground sitting in those tanks.”  Yep, and I don’t care, it has a shelf life of at least three years and I feel okay with that. It will probably be all gone in the next five hours so, as Joy Behar would say, “Who cares?”

And finally, as we celebrate the season of the heart, “Valentine’s Day,” may I suggest to the Pilot part of this special day, don’t make aviation part of your invitation to show love … to you partners, do what ever you want … you rule.

On A VERY Personal Final Note

For those of you that have travelled with me this past year on the very bumpy road to recovery from Cancer, I have tears in my eyes as I report to you, and others like me that shared that journey, or still are on that same trip, don’t lose faith and have hope. I am now sitting on a fresh medical and my doctors say I’m now cancer free.  I thank you for your prayers and words of hope and I’m here for you.

Until next time …

That’s Thirty! 

  “Over”