Spring Impressions
During one week in April I spent three days at Sun ’N Fun, then spoke at the Illinois Aviation Conference and also the North Carolina Airports Association. It was a helluva week.
By Ralph Hood
May 2001
What does Sun ’N Fun have in common
with the computer revolution and the last half of the 19th century in
America? Well, explosive growth, for sure, but have you ever wondered
why? It is a fact that all three grew like weeds during a period of very
low regulation, and there is a good argument that says that is why they
grew.
One current economics magazine, Ideas On
Liberty, points out that the surge in commerce and inventiveness in the
last half of the 19th century occurred before we developed regulations
governing the business world. We might say the same about the homebuilt/experimental
segment of the aviation industry.
Every year I park near the landing strip
set aside for ultralight operations at Sun ’N Fun. My walk from car
to show is devoted to watching the continuous landings and takeoffs of
these fascinating aircraft. It is perhaps my favorite part of the show.
Each year there seem to be more models of
more aircraft, happily buzzing around in circles and having a great time
doing it. One can’t help but note that this flourishing industry
has mushroomed with (relatively) little regulation. It is primarily a
grassroots industry, without the support — as near as I can tell
— of any giants of the industry. It grew because individuals wanted
the freedom of inexpensive flight. I say more power to them.
The Illinois Aviation Conference…
The most stunning thing that happened on
this trip was a hailstorm that beat the plu-perfect hell out of my rental
car and scared me half to death. The most stunning thing I heard was a
speech by Jim Coyne, head honcho at the National Air Transportation Association.
I swear to goodness, he gave a version of the old ’airplane in every
garage’ speech. Well, okay, he didn’t exactly say garage, but
he absolutely did imply that all God’s chillun gonna have airplanes.
Lord, I hope he’s right. I just can’t bring myself to believe
it, but I really do hope he’s right and I’m wrong. Considering
how many times I have been wrong in the past, that’s not a bad bet.
The North Carolina Airports Conference…
Is it just my imagination, or are airport
people getting smarter, better educated, and more businesslike every year?
I think I’m right on this one, and I think that trend is going to
become more so rather than less so in the foreseeable future. The public
is (finally) becoming aware of the crucial role played by airports, if
only because of the problems thereon, and the folks who build, manage,
and operate airports are going to be in the spotlight big time. The people
attending and presenting at the North Carolina meeting lend hope that
this part of our industry is in the hands of professionals.
At all three aviation functions, there is
evidence that aviation is becoming, on purpose, more involved in politics.
That is necessary if not desirable, and I am glad to see it. Like it or
not, we are greatly influenced by the guvmint, and I am glad there are
some in our industry with the tenacity and ability to fight our battles.
Lord knows I could never do it.
