I've always been more of a do-er than a watcher. I don't watch a lot of sports, and I'd rather be flying the plane, not on the ground watching.
That being said, I'd like to ask for your opinion about a situation today where I chose to speak my mind, and then walk away. Before someone misunderstands, it was definitely not the money, it was the principal that set me off. I'd also prefer not to use specific names and places.
For background, I've been flying GA for more than 30 years. I was a late bloomer because of the less critical wants and needs we all face in this journey called life, but because of my experience, I've always been very open and giving to anyone who displays even a hint or desire for anything aviation related. I highly prize the privilege that flight has brought to me, and I willingly share it with anyone, anytime. I've lost count of the number of first flights and joy rides I've given over the years. No need to go on any further with this.
A few years ago a small airport in our area decided to have a small fly in where anybody in the general area was invited to participate in a friendly little STOL competition. I wasn't there for that first gathering, but was told by one of the original participants that it was great. Not very many STOL capable machines, but everybody had a very good time. It was a good old fashioned grass roots fly in, the kind of stuff we used to do.
Anyhow, the next year the word started getting out, and before you knew it some of the bigger money STOL machines from around the country were involved, and eventually things were getting out of hand for the little airport, the fun was gone for the locals, and the so called, practice event, was moved to another airport in the region last year.
Here's the rub, the rest of the story, the part I call greed. This is my opinion. You might think otherwise, or my ducks might not be lined up properly, but I'd still like your opinion.
In the past several years this new venue, (which is a somewhat refurbished old airbase with new city management and an obviously greedy chamber of commerce), seems to have adopted the attitude that any event held at their airport is a potential cash cow. (Not just this event that I'm talking about, it's been a SOP for every event they've held in the past several years.) Pay to park, pay at the gate, pay pay pay. They even require you to pay a higher attendance fee if you fly in your own plane. It promotes a bad image for GA to the general public, as well as the flying community. You would think this little podunk place would realize how good things could be for all of us if they would simply put their hands back in their pockets. Poor management.
All I was interested in today was to watch to see how well a buddy was doing, and to get a feel for how things work. I'm a doer, not a watcher. I have thought for a couple of years that I might set myself up in a machine that I could use to play this game too. It was raining off and on today, so I drove. At least they didn't try to charge me to park, but when I attempted to walk thru the gate they stuck their hand out and demanded money for me to watch for a little while. Honestly, it wasn't the money, it was the principal. I told them to pound sand and walked away. I went over to the FBO to use the restroom before hitting the road, told them I wasn't giving them any money, and I was leaving. I was told that putting on an event like this costs the city thousands of dollars, bla, bla bla. Before we got into a reality check, what it really costs for something like this argument, I left. Recovering a few extra operating costs is one thing but..............
I buy av gas at this airport frequently. I have friends hangared there. Will I buy gas there anymore? Probably not. What happened to being friendly and generous, and promoting aviation good will towards the public? GA continues it's steady decline. Are these greedys helping or hurting? Why are we supporting places like this? Ask me for a donation, no problem. Force me to pay at the gate for something like this event. Kiss my grits. I'll go somewhere else and make my own airshow. Which I plan to do in the morning.
That being said, I'd like to ask for your opinion about a situation today where I chose to speak my mind, and then walk away. Before someone misunderstands, it was definitely not the money, it was the principal that set me off. I'd also prefer not to use specific names and places.
For background, I've been flying GA for more than 30 years. I was a late bloomer because of the less critical wants and needs we all face in this journey called life, but because of my experience, I've always been very open and giving to anyone who displays even a hint or desire for anything aviation related. I highly prize the privilege that flight has brought to me, and I willingly share it with anyone, anytime. I've lost count of the number of first flights and joy rides I've given over the years. No need to go on any further with this.
A few years ago a small airport in our area decided to have a small fly in where anybody in the general area was invited to participate in a friendly little STOL competition. I wasn't there for that first gathering, but was told by one of the original participants that it was great. Not very many STOL capable machines, but everybody had a very good time. It was a good old fashioned grass roots fly in, the kind of stuff we used to do.
Anyhow, the next year the word started getting out, and before you knew it some of the bigger money STOL machines from around the country were involved, and eventually things were getting out of hand for the little airport, the fun was gone for the locals, and the so called, practice event, was moved to another airport in the region last year.
Here's the rub, the rest of the story, the part I call greed. This is my opinion. You might think otherwise, or my ducks might not be lined up properly, but I'd still like your opinion.
In the past several years this new venue, (which is a somewhat refurbished old airbase with new city management and an obviously greedy chamber of commerce), seems to have adopted the attitude that any event held at their airport is a potential cash cow. (Not just this event that I'm talking about, it's been a SOP for every event they've held in the past several years.) Pay to park, pay at the gate, pay pay pay. They even require you to pay a higher attendance fee if you fly in your own plane. It promotes a bad image for GA to the general public, as well as the flying community. You would think this little podunk place would realize how good things could be for all of us if they would simply put their hands back in their pockets. Poor management.
All I was interested in today was to watch to see how well a buddy was doing, and to get a feel for how things work. I'm a doer, not a watcher. I have thought for a couple of years that I might set myself up in a machine that I could use to play this game too. It was raining off and on today, so I drove. At least they didn't try to charge me to park, but when I attempted to walk thru the gate they stuck their hand out and demanded money for me to watch for a little while. Honestly, it wasn't the money, it was the principal. I told them to pound sand and walked away. I went over to the FBO to use the restroom before hitting the road, told them I wasn't giving them any money, and I was leaving. I was told that putting on an event like this costs the city thousands of dollars, bla, bla bla. Before we got into a reality check, what it really costs for something like this argument, I left. Recovering a few extra operating costs is one thing but..............
I buy av gas at this airport frequently. I have friends hangared there. Will I buy gas there anymore? Probably not. What happened to being friendly and generous, and promoting aviation good will towards the public? GA continues it's steady decline. Are these greedys helping or hurting? Why are we supporting places like this? Ask me for a donation, no problem. Force me to pay at the gate for something like this event. Kiss my grits. I'll go somewhere else and make my own airshow. Which I plan to do in the morning.
