Last Thursday I spent a good portion of the afternoon at Lakeland Linder Airport (LAL) in Lakeland, Florida. Many GAN readers have visited Lakeland at some point, I’m sure. This is the site of Sun n’ Fun, the second largest aviation gathering in North America. For almost 40 years the general aviation community has been […]
Politics for Pilots
The potential of STEM for GA
General aviators are the minority when compared to society as a whole. We are an aberration. However, we have an advantage. There is a tool in our quiver that we have not really put to good use yet. We know stuff. And the stuff we know is really, really cool, no matter how you look […]
Speak up, speak out, make a positive impression
“Help me,” is essentially what the email said. I’m paraphrasing, of course, but the message was simple, straight-forward, and common. How do I get the word out? Because I’m a sucker for a pro-aviation reader who reaches out for help, I answered the email, which led to another email, and ultimately a series of phone […]
Flying is expensive, but does it have to be?
Lately I have been seeing a lot of angst in the marketplace. Much of it aimed at the unconscionably high cost of flying, and the unattainably high cost of training to earn a pilot’s license. Let me be honest here. I have all the same economic problems the average aviation nut has. I am not […]
It’s more than just an image problem
Imagine that you and your significant other go shopping in a pricey store that’s known for its exclusive clientèle. Think Rodeo Drive, maybe. Walking through the door is a little exciting, if not slightly intimidating, but you make it past security and find yourself on the inside. It isn’t long before you realize that you’re […]
Spreading the word
Believe it or not, it’s not easy being an enthusiastic fan of all things aviation. In fact, it can be a challenging job. As with any complex issue, there are disparate factions, consistent dissenters, ne’er-do-wells, and outright bad actors wandering around out there, mixed in with the sincere, the noble, the well-intentioned, and the professionals. […]
Selling the best airport in the world
Jamie Beckett is a CFI and A&P mechanic who stepped into the political arena in an effort to promote and protect GA at his local airport. He is also a founding partner and regular contributor to FlightMonkeys.com. As the introduction to this column stipulates, I’m a CFI and an A&P. But an increasingly larger portion […]
Sharing your two cents
Jamie Beckett is a CFI and A&P mechanic who stepped into the political arena in an effort to promote and protect GA at his local airport. He also is an owner and contributor to FlightMonkeys.com. There is nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, that’s as consistently dull and lifeless as a public meeting when only […]
HOVA’s in the house
Jamie Beckett is a CFI and A&P mechanic who stepped into the political arena in an effort to promote and protect GA at his local airport. He is also a founding partner and regular contributor to FlightMonkeys.com. A curious thing happened when I stopped into my local FBO this past weekend. As I wandered past […]