All Hail The Aero-Heroes of 2008!

Final Compilations by ANN Editor-In-Chief/Blame-Taker, Jim Campbell

It is both the most "fun," and most difficult, task facing the ANN staff at the end of every year -- determining who, or what, did the most to promote the cause of aviation in the past 365 days... while also chastising those people or entities that did all they could to undermine the many successes the aviation/aerospace community has managed to accomplish.

Thankfully, 2008 was a year in which we saw the best and brightest among us step forward and work tirelessly on behalf of us all. No doubt about it... the challenges we faced in 2008 were numerous, and ongoing... so was the quality of expertise and passion brought to our defense by those who heroically demonstrated to the world the very best side of aviation... via their deeds, words and actions.

It is ANN's honor to recognize Ten persons/organizations or groups that qualify as our Aero-Heroes for 2008... in something of an informal order, starting from the 1st to the 10th. Let us know what you think of our selections... whom YOU would have liked be included or omitted from such a list. In the meantime, we thank the folks who made this year's list. Thank you, folks... we really needed you this year, and you didn't let us down.

Embattled FBOs

Can there be a much more difficult job these days than that of trying to keep an FBO afloat? Amid increased regulation, soaring costs of all kinds, and an overall outlook for the aviation industry that borders on just plain depressing, it takes an uncommon person to try to keep any fixed base operation afloat.

The plight of the small airport FBO is at best, complex, and at worst, doomed to failure. Aviation finds itself in a period of decreased activity due to complex economic issues… issues have resulted in reduced aircraft sales, reduced aircraft activity, and even an attack on many modes of aviation activity by folks who should know better -- our so-called lawmakers and regulators. It's no wonder that anybody trying to make a living in most segments of aviation are struggling to keep up. But, possibly, the plight of the small FBO is the one that stands to take the most damage in the difficult weeks and months ahead that may be required to put aviation back on more positive footing.

We have nothing but the utmost of respect for the "Mom-and-Pop" FBO's that are struggling to stay alive and doing so through a combination of smart marketing, ingenuity, and a heart-felt commitment to the aviation industry. While flying around the country in the last couple weeks, we found it increasingly evident that a number of FBO's have pretty much given up and have become the aerial equivalent of a ghost town.  But… there are a treasured few others that are doing their best to stay alive -- through community outreach to prove the value of their airport, through aggressive marketing and sales strategies, and by working in partnership with the pilots and clientele that have become their bread-and-butter…

These are the folks that will survive the economic malaise, and will ultimately prove to be the backbone of general aviation's imperiled future. To those folks who are struggling but surviving, we offer our admiration, support, and best wishes - and our commitment to making sure that issues of concern to them will continue to have prominence in Aero-News coverage. Keep an eye out in the future for a number of ANN and Aero-TV features that will not only discuss the issues involving many of today's FBOs, but will also single out those FBOs that survive (even a few that manage to flourish!) and how they've accomplished it.

FMI: www.nata.aero