CAA: GA News, "Passions and the polls: Do you have a real passion for flight?"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@cwnet.com>]

Friday, March 17, 2000

Passions and the polls
Editorials
GA News


Do you have a real passion for flight?

Are you concerned about today’s costs of flying and what the financial
impact might be in the future?

What about the airport where your airplane is parked or where you rent a
plane? Is its future secure from encroaching residential developments,
broadcast towers, new schools and churches or even trees?

Do you belong to AOPA or EAA or your state pilot association or your local
airport users and tenants association?

Have you ever attended a meeting of your city council, airport board, state
aeronautics division or legislative committee charged with writing laws
concerning aviation in your state?

During the recent Super Tuesday primary election campaigning we heard many
people asking Vice President Al Gore how he stands on reducing the national
debt. We heard Governor George W. Bush questioned concerning his stand on
the death penalty. Senator John McCain was frequently asked about gun
control legislation. Senator Bill Bradley’s stance on abortion was a
frequent topic during debates.

Did you ever hear or read about any candidate being questioned about his
views of aviation in America? Ironically, each candidate is criss-crossing
the country in chartered, private aircraft.

To the best of our knowledge none of the candidates took a stance on the
need to expand airports throughout the country or to protect the existing
fields.

Do pilots and airplane owners really have a passion for staying in the air?
Do we really want to keep flying affordable for our kids? Pilots need to
become well known to local, state and national politicians so they can be
heard when crises occur. We need to be active in political campaigns, not
seek help after the fact. Far too frequently we sit back without
participating in politics until something is about to happen in our own
backyard. It is frequently too late at that point.

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