All Hail The Aero-Heroes of 2010!

Final Compilations by ANN Editor-In-Chief/Trouble-Maker, 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, 2010 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 2010 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 persons/organizations or groups that qualify as our Aero-Heroes for 2010...  in something of an informal order -- Saving the 'best' for last. 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.

ANN will list our Top choices over the next few day's, but in order to kick off the New Year right, let's enjoy another selection from our Heroes List for 2010...

Aero-Hero: The 'New Guy' At EAA -- Rod Hightower

After all the turmoil of Oshkosh 2009 and the failed attempt to place Pete Bunce as the new President of EAA, 2010's announcement of Rod Hightower has turned out to be a relief. While most of us expected a 'Pober-Clone'" to be appointed to succeed Tom, we've have to admit to being pleasantly surprised, SO FAR, at the way that Rod Hightower has managed to assure us that he's his own man... and that his commitment to sport aviation is a powerful one, indeed.

Hightower has been a flyer since the age of 16, and has had what EAA calls a 'lifelong involvement' in aviation. Over the course of 5 years, he rebuilt the Boeing Stearman that he flies currently. Hightower was presented tot he sport aviation world at Oshkosh 2010, along with his wife and five children, while Poberezny noted that he had great plans for his involvement in the future, and that Hightower was chosen so that he could undertake tasks 'best suited to his experience and interests.' Hightower is a native of Missouri and is a director of the National Stearman Foundation. A businessman of 25 years, he has led companies both domestic and international with as many as 2,300 employees and annual budgets of up to $470 million.

Rod Hightower, Paul and Tom Poberezny

So... as the future EAA Boss, he has a tough road ahead of him -- taking over a 'family business' (face it, let's call it what it is) is tough enough if you're one of the family... and since he's not, he's going to have to deal with a number of issues that have torpedoed other similar successions in other family businesses. Add to that the fact that he's coming on board at true low point for the aviation business and at a time when the credibility of most aero-associations is in a terminal dive, and you have to wonder what he was thinking when he stepped (willingly, we assume), into what will eventually be the top spot oat one of the aviation world's remaining alphabet associations.

So far, though, so good. He's been accessible, non-evasive, and comes off as the genuine article... and after all the heartbreak of the AOPA succession (which we will address shortly), it's pretty much a major relief to see that EAA actually appears to have gotten this choice right. Aviation is in the throes of great change with much greater change in store... and EAA will have to take the hint because we strongly believe that the role, conduct, and position of the alphabet associations are in need of major change if they are not only to survive, but to play a significant role in redirecting the future of aviation along a path that will allow us all to survive a turbulent and evolving future.

As we noted, Hightower seems to be the kind of guy who may be able to deal with that and so far, we really do like what we see. We wish him well -- but have made it abundantly clear that he can expect to hear from us about our concerns and feedback, both positive and negative, whether he likes it or not -- and to challenge him on a regular basis...

His response?

"Bring it on..."

That's the right answer, Rod... and we look forward to (hopefully) more of the same. Welcome to the front lines in the fight to save the world of aviation...

FMI: www.eaa.org